BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2023: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (CONCLUSION)

BINIBINING 31:  CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - April Angelu Barro.  She's attractive and seems to have a sweet personality, though I don't think as much as she is aiming for The Miss Globe title, she has enough charisma to go head-to-head with the frontrunners out there.  She's a solid contender, at most.  I - 8; TMG - 8.

BINIBINING 32:  ORTIGAS, PASIG - Sharmaine Magdasoc.  There are many pageant fans and pundits who are hyping her as a semifinal shoo-in, but to be blunt, I don't quite see it especially in the communications department.  I - 8; TMG - 8.

BINIBINING 33:  DAVAO DEL SUR:  Katrina Anne Johnson.  She's a pretty mestiza noting she's the child of a Filipina mother and a deaf American father so she has skills in sign language.  She looks like she has an inside track of making the cut.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 34:  CEBU - Mary Joy Dacoron.  There was a big brouhaha over her national costume as her original costume featured her totally clad as an actual Santo Niño*3, as some decried it as blasphemous, so in the national costume competition she opted for a Filipiniana dress and carrying a small statue of said icon instead.  Normally candidates from this province are almost assured to place in almost any national pageant like this one and most especially Miss Universe Philippines, but this year it seems this lone representative from the "Queenly" province is otherwise not making much inroads.  I - 7.5; TMG - 8.

*3 Literally Spanish for "Holy Child", it's a grandiose, regal depiction of a child or baby Jesus that is very common and highly revered in these shores.

BINIBINING 35:  RIZAL PROVINCE - Sofia Lopez Galvez.  She is another one buzzed about by many pageant fans and pundits, and I can agree with them as she is a very confident communicator and is good looking in a native way.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 36:  HERMOSA, BATAAN - Mary Chiles Balana.  She has a background in civil engineering and is studying her masters in construction management and her advocacy is about sustainability in construction-related projects.  She could be a possibility for the finals.  I - 8.5; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 37:  MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL - Pia Isabel Duloguin.  She's good looking and a strong communicator judging from her background being a graduate in broadcasting.  She could become a semifinalist possibility.  I - 8.5; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 38:  DINALUPIHAN, BATAAN - Lea Macapagal.  She's good looking and a confident speaker, so she looks like she has an inside track into the finals.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 39:  BULACAN - Lorraine Jara.  She has a plucky story as an entrpreneur who has a cancer advocacy as her mother passed away from it.  She's another contender for the finals.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 40:  CATANDUANES - Candy Marilyn Völlinger.  She's an actual medical doctor in this batch and she's renowned for her gift of gab.  But most regard her as one of the plainer ones in this batch, so will her gab be enough for her to advance?  I - 8; TMG - 8.

With all 40 Binibinis accounted for, here is my "Fearful" Forecast:

FINAL FIVE:  05 PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA, 11 CABANATUAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA, 24 BATAAN, 29 LAGUNA, 33 DAVAO DEL SUR

TOP 12:  03 PAMPANGA, 06 PALAWAN, 14 ALBAY, 16 GENERAL TRIAS, CAVITE, 19 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ, 35 RIZAL PROVINCE, 38 DINALUPIHAN BATAAN

BUBBLING UNDER:  08 ANGELES CITY,  12 SANTOLAN, PASIG, 18 MORONG, BATAAN, 21 BATANGAS, 22 QUEZON PROVINCE, 23 MANILA, 26 CAMARINES SUR, 27 TARLAC PROVINCE, 28 TARLAC CITY, 36 HERMOSA, BATAAN, 39 BULACAN

It seems to be a four-way battle for the crown among 05 PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA (Gianna Llanes), 11 CABANATUAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA (Kiaragiel Gregorio), 24 BATAAN (Anne valencia Lakrini), and 29 LAGUNA (Trisha Martinez), with 33 DAVAO DEL SUR (Katrina Anne Johnson) a possible usurper.  Let's see how everything will unfold tonight.  Best of luck to all the Binibinis.

JUST ME!

JOSEPH

 

BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2023: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 3)

 

BINIBINING 21:  BATANGAS - Paola Allison Araño.  She has some buzz as a semifinal possibility.  She's good looking and she has a solid advocacy about boosting blood donations.  But I have my eye on other standouts out there, though.  I - 8.5; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 22:  QUEZON PROVINCE - Anje Mae Manipol.  She made Top 20 at Miss World Philippines 2022 and parlayed her agricultural advocacy from that pageant to this one.  She indeed could be one of those likely to advance further.  I - 8.5; TMG - 8.5. 

BINIBINING 23:  MANILA - Zoe Bernardo Santiago.  Most pageant bloggers don't seem to be that into her, but I like her a lot for some reason--she's currently studying in Sweden and has learned to speak Swedish, Norwegian, and Hebrew, and she seems to be a strong communicator.  I wouldn't count her out as a possible semifinalist.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 24:  BATAAN - Anna Valencia Lakrini.  She made the Top 12 in last year's Bb. Pilipinas pageant and even then was touted as a favorite.  That status as a favorite still remains, and she may finally be able to snag a title this time.  I - 9.5; TMG - 10.

BINIBINING 25:  CALOOCAN CITY - Yesley Cabanos.  I find her features slightly angular, and she's generally solid, but I think she needs to make a more standout impression when she speaks as she's not as polished as the top contenders out there.  I - 7.5; TMG - 7.5.

BINIBINING 26:  CAMARINES SUR:  Rheema Adakkoden.  She seems to be the darkest complexioned candidate in this batch, so her diversity advocacy may be very apt for her.  She's actually half-Indian (like Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Venus Raj), and she may be able to make a play for the finals.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 27:  TARLAC PROVINCE - Zeah Nestle Pala.  She's trying to have a bite of 22 QUEZON PROVINCE's agricultural advocacy, and although she's attractive and polished, I think the other lady has the big edge over this one.  Still, she could be considered a worthwhile contender to a semifinals possibility.  I - 8.5; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 28:  TARLAC CITY - Katrina Mae Fallorin Sese.  I'm not that into her features as other pageant fans out there but her background as an academic overachiever (went to college at 14 and graduated at 18) and that might give her an inside track to the finals.  I - 9; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 29:  LAGUNA - Trisha Martinez.  There are many pageant fans and pundits who hyped her as the one to beat, saying she's in the same mold as Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza and Miss International 2018 1st runner-up Ahtisa Manalo.  I do see what they are seeing, though I noticed her diction is not as spontaneously effortless as Kylie or Ahtisa, though she's effective in communicating her ideas.  Still, since she has about 1 1/2 years before seeing action in Japan, she'll have ample time to address that once she garnered the plum title.  I - 9.5; TMG - 9.5.

BINIBINING 30:  GENERAL LUNA, QUEZON - Charismae Almarez.  I like her advocacy about patronizing local products like footwear--I wonder how close is the city of Marikina is in relation to this province as both are known for their footwear.  She's another solid contender though I'm not sure if her advocacy is enough to give her strong inroads into the finals.  I - 8; TMG - 8.

COMING UP:  BINIBINING 31 TO 40 plus the "FEARFUL" FORECAST

BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2023: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 2)

BINIBINING 11:  CABANATUAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA - Kiaragiel Gregorio.  She previously competed at Miss Philippines - Earth 2016 and ended up with the Air elemental title (which is also equivalent to 2nd place), and with the winner being the controversial Imelda Schweighart*2, when Imelda resigned from her title after her disastrous Miss Earth stint, this lady opted not to take on the mantle as she preferred to prioritize her studies in London, UK.  Hence the Miss Philippines - Earth 2016 title was assumed by the one who ranked below her instead, Loren Mar Artajos.  It's interesting that she's back in the pageant fray after seven years, and with her strong communication skills and polished presence she can make for a play for the winners' circle.  I - 9.5; TMG - 9.

*2 It's reported that Imelda has entered the Miss Universe Germany contest this year.  Let's see if she;ll see action at this year's Miss Universe in El Salvador.

BINIBINING 12:  SANTOLAN, PASIG - Xena Ramos.  She's an architect and an actress who seems to be a strong communicator with significant charisma.  She seems to have an inside track to make the next cut.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 13:  ORIENTAL MINDORO - Samantha Dana Bug-os.  She has been showing signs of improvement throughout her stint in this pageant, so maybe with further development she can make more serious inroads next time if she decides to pursue this path.  At this point though, she is not generating buzz or making a standout impression.  I - 7.5; TMG - 7.5.

BINIBINING 14:  ALBAY - Isabelle Bilasang.  She has a pretty face and is a very confident communicator, so she can make serious inroads into the next round, and maybe, just maybe make a play for the winners' circle.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 15:  AKLAN - Jessilen Salvador.  There are pageant fans buzzing about her because of her showbiz ties, as she's the sister of actress Maja Salvador.  But even if her communication skills seem solid, it seems she doesn't have much substance at this point otherwise.  Will her pedigree be enough to secure her a slot in the next round?  I - 8; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 16:  GENERAL TRIAS, CAVITE - Atasha Reign Parani.  Like the two representatives from Nueva Ecija (05 PALAYAN CITY and 11 CABANATUAN CITY) she's a talent working for ABS-CBN, so se's equipped with a gift of gab that she can make serious inroads to the next round.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 17:  ILOILO CITY - Tracy Lois Bedua.  Her native features have an appeal and she seems polished though not as strong a communicator as other out there.  Still, she can be considered a worthwhile contender.  I - 7.5; TMG - 8.

BINIBINING 18:  MORONG, BATAAN - Andrea Marie Sulangi.  She has a trim figure and appealing dusky native features.  Though she has a good advocacy regarding cancer research and awareness and a standout background as being an electronics and communications engineer, she doesn't seem quite polished enough as a communicator to parlay those ideas together yet.  She can still make a possible play for the finals, though.  I - 8; TMG - 8.5.

BINIBINING 19:  ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ - Julia Mae Mendoza.  She has a standout advocacy towards HIV/AIDS awareness as her sister died from this disease seven months ago.  There are some angles where she resembles a slightly duskier, angular version of Miss World 2013 Megan Young, though she hasn't quite captured Megan's luminescence at this point.  Still she seems to have an inside track to the finals.  I - 9; TMG - 9.

BINIBINING 20:  CAVITE - Julianne Rose Reyes.  She's attractive, but she's generally more a solid-but-not-a-standout contender in this batch.  I - 7.5; TMG - 7.5.

COMING UP:  BINIBINING 21 TO 30