Beauties all in a row

At the rate beauty contests are cropping up, time will come when — heaven forbid — we might run out of contestants. Come to think of it, we won’t, considering what a beauty-contest-crazy country we are. There’s a beauty contest for all reasons and for all seasons. It won’t be a surprise if somebody comes up with a Miss Traffic Jam or Miss Flash Flood, right?

Meanwhile, three former Bb. Pilipinas (Precious Lara Quigaman, 2005 Miss International; Denille Lou Valmonte, 2006 International; and Karen Loren Agustin, 2002 Universe) have just launched their own contest they called Turismo Pilipina 2008, with the grand finals slated for tomorrow night, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, aired on TV5.

Here are some who stand out among the 61 hopefuls from Up North to Down South, as picked by Funfare’s “beauty experts” led by Francis Calubaquib (with Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Felix Manuel who’s working as a nurse in New York):

• Miss Antique Emmerie Cunanan, 5’4”, 34-23-33

•  Miss Apayao Kate Lao, 5’5”, 33-23.5-34

•  Miss Bataan Christina Wells, 5’6”, 33-23-35

•  Miss Caloocan Keisha Gallardo, 5’5”, 33-24-33.5

•  Miss Davao del Norte Karina Cabiling, 5’8”, 34-23-35

•  Miss Ilocos Norte Jinkee Janelle Miranda, 5’6”, 33-24-35

•  Miss Mandaluyong Maila Lomotan, 5’6.5”, 33-22-34

•  Miss La Union Anna Bautista, 5’6”, 34-23.5-34

•  Miss Manila Karla Lacson, 5’8.5”, 34-24.5-36 

•  Miss Marikina Paula Figueras, 5’10.5”, 33-24-36

•  Miss Marinduque Beatriz Arenal, 5’7”, 34-24-35

•  Miss Masbate Ana Katrina Jardi, 5’4”, 34-22.5-33

•  Miss Mountain Province Parul Shah, 5’6”, 33-24-34

•  Miss Muntinlupa Ferina de Paz, 5’4”, 33-22.5-33

•  Miss Negros Occidental Grezilda Adelantar, 5’7.5”, 35-23.5-35

•  Miss Northern Samar Sherylee Sustiger, 5’7”, 34-23.5-35

•  Miss Pampanga Lorraine Vargas, 5’10”, 34-23.5-34

•  Miss Quezon City Roanne Aguilar, 5’7”, 34.5-24-34.5

•  Miss Zambales Kimberly Brandon, 5’8.5”, 34-23.5-34

Turismo Pilipina 2008 winner will receive P250,000 cash, a Talent Management Contract, and a brand-new house and lot courtesy of E.A Ygonna Development Corporation. She will also compete at the Turismo Pilipina International Pageant to be held in July 2009.

Ex-Binibini in NY marathon

From New York, this report from Felix Manuel:

1990 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (and 1989 Miss UST) Germelina Leah “Gem” Banal Padilla participated in and finished the ING New York City Marathon last Nov. 2. She ran together with her sister Geng and they were cheered on by fellow top models and beauty queens Anthea Robles (Bb. Pilipinas-International 1988) and Nol Cueto (Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up 1990) who are based in New York. Gem makes Philippine pageant history as the first Filipina beauty queen to ever participate in the marathon.

The New York City Marathon (ING New York City Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a major annual marathon (42.195 km) (26.2 miles) whose course runs through all five boroughs of New York City. It is the largest marathon in the world.

The race is organized by NYRR (New York Road Runners) and has been run every year since 1970. In recent years, it has been sponsored by the financial group ING. It is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world. Because of the popularity of the race, participation is limited to 39,000 entrants chosen largely by a lottery system, with preference given to previous participants.

Mutya screening set Nov. 15 and 16

Meanwhile, Roberto “Tito” de Venecia announced that the final screening for applicants for the 2008 Mutya ng Pilipinas will be held on Nov. 15 and 16 (Saturday and Sunday).

“The 40th edition of Mutya will include the participation of Scandinavia which is now the home of former Mutya Kirby Ann Basken who’s concurrently known as Miss Norway-Universe 2007,” said Tito. “We also expect the participation of Filipino communities in Australia, Mid-West, Germany, UK, Northern California and Italy.”

Three titles are at stake: Mutya ng Pilipinas-International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities.

One of the early entries from abroad is Loren Andre “Sugar” Burgos of Southern California. The younger sister of Jamie Burgos, the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Hohot Inner Mangolia in 2004. Sugar will compete for both the Mutya ng Pilipinas-International and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities titles. Grand finals will be held in Puerto Princesa City.

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