MANILA, Philippines — Like its Golden Jubilee of 50 delegates, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) will also fill its 60th year celebration with 60 competing delegates.
Sixty is a special number for BPCI, as Madame Stella Araneta won the first-ever Miss International crown in 1960 as a candidate representing her home country, Colombia.
The 50th edition queens came home decorated from their respective international pageants. Ariella Arida won as Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up, Bea Rose Santiago was crowned Miss International 2013, Johanna Datul was crowned Miss Supranational 2013 and Cindy Miranda finished in the Top 10 of Tourism Queen International 2013. Lone runner-up Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach would, eventually, win the national title in her third try and be crowned Miss Universe 2015.
Despite its grand history, BPCI lost the national franchise to all of its titles, except the Miss International crown. Pageant observers, especially the sentimental aficionados, still believe that Binibining Pilipinas will remain strong, despite the odds.
BPCI crowned its last Miss World national winner in 2010. Czarina Gatbonton was the last Binibini queen sent to compete in the London-based pageant.
The organization crowned its last Miss Universe national winner in 2019, with Cebu representative Gazini Ganados winning the title. In 2020, the Miss Universe Philippines was created as a standalone pageant system for the national Miss Universe search.
In 2019, it crowned its last Supranational titleholder with Resham Saeed. The Supra title then went the rounds, first, with the ALV Pageant Circle (as well the the Miss World national franchise), before ending up with The Miss Philippines Organization.
Thereafter, Binibining Pilipinas crowned its last InterContinental queen with Gabbi Basiano in 2022. The national franchise went to the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization the year after. In 2023, the BPCI (should the franchise agreement be not renewed or extended) may have crowned their last Globe national winner with Anna Valencia Lakrini.
Tough edition
With 60 delegates competing for the lone remaining title of Binibining Pilipinas International, the going will truly be tougher this year. If the BPCI won't be adding one (or more) title(s) from other lower tier international pageant systems, then 57 delegates will end their Binibining Pilipinas journey empty-handed.
The national winner will, like her predecessors, compete in Tokyo only after her reign. Just like Hannah Arnold and Nicole Borromeo, she will wait until reigning national winner Angelica Lopez will have completed her stint in Japan or (if the bid is accepted) in a venue outside of Tokyo, for the first time in the pageant's history.
But the more profound question is, despite this latest hurdle/challenge, will the eventual 60th Binibining Pilipinas International winner also win a new crown for the country? Stay tuned!
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