Exciting ‘firsts’ in the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant

The three new Bb. Pilipinas beauties (Universe, World and International) will be chosen in the usual glamour-and-glitter ceremonies at the Araneta Coliseum on March 19 (a Saturday), to be covered live by GMA 7.

As is Funfare’s "tradition," I’m putting out a special report by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib who have drawn a list of the "firsts" in the pageant which is marking its 42nd anniversary this year.

The annual search is an ongoing project of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), a non-stock, non-profit organization with a humanitarian mission (raising funds for the less fortunate, etc.), founded by Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta.

On Tuesday, March 8, the official candidates of this year’s pageant will be presented to the press at the Oasis Floating Restaurant, located at the second floor of Gateway in Cubao, Quezon City, just across the Araneta Coliseum. Will one of the three major winners duplicate the record of their predecessors?

Here’s the "beauty experts’" special report:

The past editions of the pageants have produced international winners who include:

• Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz, 1969 Miss Universe

• Maria Margarita Roxas Moran, 1973 Miss Universe

• Aurora McKenny Pijuan, 1970 Miss International

• Mimilanie Laurel Marquez, 1979 Miss International

• Joanne Zapanta Santos, 1997 Miss Tourism International

• Maricar Manalaysay Balagtas, 2001 Miss Globe

• Michelle Cueva Reyes, 2001 Miss Tourism International and 2002 Miss Tourism World

• Kristin Reyes Alzar, 2002 Miss Tourism International-Ukraine Black Sea

• Noella May Buhion Evangelista, 2003 Queen of Tourism International

Here are some "firsts" in the history of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant:

• The first pageant was held in 1964 with just 15 delegates. Ma. Myrna Elizabeth Sese Panlilio won the first Bb. Pilipinas title.

• Elvira Gonzalez was the first to compete again. She was second runner-up in 1964 and fourth runner-up the following year. She is also the first Bb. Pilipinas alumnus to have a daughter (Charlene Gonzalez Bonnin) who competed and won the pageant.

• In 1965 Louise Vail Aurelio was the first Bb. Pilipinas winner to enter the semifinals of the Miss Universe pageant (Blesilda Candida Guia Epifania mueler Ocampo was the first Filipina to make it into the semifinals of the Miss Universe pageant in 1954).

• Louise’s first runner-up, Isabel Barnett Santos, became the first winner of the Ms Photogenic award in the pageant and also became the first Bb. Pilipinas runner-up to compete in an international pageant.

• The pageant is also the first to produce numerous award-winning actresses: Elizabeth Luciano Winsett (aka Liza Lorena), first runner- up in 1966; Pilar Delilah Veloso Pilapil (1967 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe); Gloria Diaz; Melanie Marquez; and Jessie Alice Selones Dixson (1986 Bb. Pilipinas-International).

• In 1968 the BPCI acquired the franchise of the Miss International pageant. A separate pageant was held to choose the country’s representative. Nenita Tuazon Ramos won and was given the title of Miss Philippines. She was also the first Bb. alumnus to enter the semi- finals of the Miss International pageant.

• It was in 1969 the pageant produced two winners. The winners of the Bb. Pilipinas and Miss Philippines titles would compete in the Miss Universe and Miss International pageants respectively.

• Nelia Sancho, Gloria Diaz’s runner-up, was handpicked in 1971 to compete in the Queen of the Pacific pageant; she won.

• In 1970 a separate pageant was held to choose the country’s representative to the Miss Young International pageant in Japan. Carmencita Hufano Avecilla became the first winner of the Miss Young Pilipinas title.

• 1970 was also the pageant’s first televised edition. The late Joey Lardizabal hosted it.

• It was in 1971 when three winners were first crowned: Bb. Pilipinas, Miss Philippines and Miss Young Pilipinas.Afew months after the pageant, a special title of Miss Charming Philippines was also given to first runner-up, Milagros Guttierez.

• 1971 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Vida Valentina Fernandez Doria was the first Filipina to win the Miss Photogenic title in any international pageant. Evelyn Camus, Miss Philippines, was the first Filipina to win runner-up honors in the Miss International pageant.

• In 1972 the titles were classified Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Bb. Pilipinas-International. Both carried the name of the founding organization.

• 1972 Bb. Pilipinas-International Yolanda Adriatico Dominguez (second runner-up in the Miss International pageant) was the first ever Filipina winner in the national costume competition in any of the international beauty pageants.

• 1973 marked the first year Bb. Pilipinas sent a delegate to the Miss Maja Internacional pageant in Spain. First runner-up Nanette Macapagal Prodigalidad was our country’s bet.

• Maria Margarita Moran was the first Filipina ever to win both the Miss Photogenic and Miss Universe crown. She also became the first non-American Miss Universe winner to crown her successor in her native land.

• 1974 was the first year when four queens were crowned. (Bb. Universe, International, Maja and Young). Guada Sanchez Bb. Pilipinas-Universe winner became the first Filipina to compete in her homeland during the 1974 Miss Universe pageant. She also attended at the 1974 Miss USA pageant to promote the event.

• The 1975 edition of the pageant had the highest number of candidates at 53. Eventual Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Rosemarie Singson Brosas, an usherette during the 1974 Miss Universe pageant, arrived on the last day of screening straight from the airport. She won as Miss Photogenic and the first ever Best in Swimsuit award. She later finished fifth in the Miss Universe pageant making her the first Bb. product to land a runner-up position (Lalaine Bennett, Miss Philippines 1963, was the first Filipina to land in the final five of the Miss Universe pageant).

• In 1977 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Anna Lorraine Tomas Kier, became the first Bb. to be crowned by a foreign Miss Universe winner, Rina Messinger of Israel.

• Pinky Alberto, on her own volition, withdrew during the 1977 Miss International pageant, making her the first Filipina to do so.

• A separate search for the Miss Young Philippines was held in 1981. The international pageant was held here and Joyce Ann Fellosas Burton won the pageant. She was technically dethroned because she did not meet the minimum age and citizenship requirements. She, however, was allowed to compete in the international pageant, finishing as one of the semi finalists and is still listed as the titleholder. She also became the first woman to win both the Miss Young and Bb. Pilipinas Universe (1985) titles.

• Josephine Relucio Bautista (Singh is her real surname), Bb. Pilipinas Maja 1981, was the first Filipina to win a Miss Friendship award. Aside from that, she also won two other awards in the pageant, Miss Popularity and Best national Costume; she was a semi finalist as well.

• Maria Isabel Pagunsan Lopez, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1982, is the first controversial Bb. winner. She enthralled the whole country with her liberal attitude and exotic charm. She became the queen of the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines.Rosita Cornell Capuyon (real surname is Nakamura), Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1983 was the first Filipina to compete in the Mrs. World pageant.

• The first Bb. Pilipinas Tourism titleholder, Marie Avon Boyle Garcia, was proclaimed in 1987.

• 1988 marked the first year when the winners were crowned wearing their gowns instead of the traditional swimsuits.

• Ma Rita Apostol became the first and only winner of the Miss Flower Queen title in 1989.

• Lilia Eloisa Marfori Andanar, Bb. Pilipinas International 1989, was the first Filipina to win the Miss Friendship award in the Miss International pageant.

• Anjanette Palencia Abayari became the first woman to be stripped of her title for failing to meet residency and/or citizenship requirement. Ma. Lourdes Talam Gonzalez, originally Bb. Pilipinas Maja, replaced her.

• Sharmaine "Ruffa" Rama Guttierez was the first Bb. Pilipinas Elite Model Look titleholder. She was handpicked to represent the country. A year later, she competed and won the Bb.Pilipinas World crown. She was the only girl in pageant history to ever compete and at the same time crown her successor in a pageant. She was also the first Binibini to shine in the Miss World Pageant.

• The 1994 pageant was held in October 1993 in anticipation of the Miss Universe pageant. Ruffa already did her final walk even before competing in the Miss World pageant. She was, however, given recognition in the 1995 edition of the pageant.

• Charlene Mae Bonnin Gonzalez was the first Filipina to win the National Costume award in the Miss Universe Pageant.

• Aileen Marfori Damiles, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1996, was the first woman in the Miss Universe pageant to be voted as Miss Photogenic on the Internet. Bb.Pilipinas-World, Daisy Garcia Reyes, was the first Filipina winner of the Miss Personality award in the Miss World Pageant.

• Nina Ricci Caldo Alagao, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2000 holds the most number of special awards won in the pageant at seven.

• Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002, Karen Loren Medrano Agustin holds the record of being the only Filipina to compete in four international pageants (Miss Universe, Miss Globe, World Coffee Queen and The International Models and Talent Managers Association fashion competition by John Robert Powers).

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