Bb. Pilipinas 2012 Press Launch

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2012

The search for the next Binibining Pilipinas titleholders has now formally started with the press launch held at the Gateway Suites on February 2. Present to officially open the search were Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) chair Stella Marquez Araneta, reigning Binibining Pilipinas titleholders Shamcey Supsup, Dianne Necio, and Isabella Manjon together with the pageant sponsors and past Binibining Pilipinas title holders.

The past two years saw the Philippines reclaiming its lofty position as the beauty capital of Asia with back to back top five finishes at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant. Apart from Miss Universe-Philippines Shamcey Supsup’s top five finish at the Miss Universe Pageant in Sao Paulo,  Brazil, Bb. Pilipinas-International Dianne Necio landed a spot in the semifinals and won Miss Internet Popularity at the 2011 Miss International Pageant. Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Isabella Manjon also won the Miss Charity award at the 2011 Miss Tourism Queen International.

With the strong showing of Shamcey, Dianne, and Isabella in prestigious international beauty tilts last year, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) now calls on single Filipinas age 17 to 25 years old to take a crack at becoming the next Filipina pride. Application to the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 pageant is now open to interested single ladies ages 17 to 25 years old, with Filipino citizenship, at least 5 feet 6 inches tall, at least a high school graduate, and of good moral character. Application forms may be downloaded from the Bb. Pilipinas official website, www.bbpilipinas.com.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply in person. Aside from the accomplished application form, the other requirements include: original birth certificate (authenticated by the National Statistics Office), certified true copy of high school diploma, Philippine passport (if any), close-up and full body photos, and written consent from parents (if under 18 years old). Applications are accepted from Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm at the BPCI office in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Launched in 1964, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant has become the biggest and most anticipated beauty event participated in by hundreds of aspirants from all over the country. After a rigorous selection process, the exceptional ladies who exemplify the true Filipina beauty, whose innate poise, grace and intelligence set them apart from the rest, is crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe, Binibining Pilipinas International, and Binibining Pilipinas Tourism respectively.

Winners of the celebrated beauty titles serve as official Philippine representatives to the most renowned international pageants. They will be joining Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970; Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979; Ruffa Gutierrez, Miss World 2nd Princess 1993; Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe 1st Runner-up 1999; Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005; Maria Venus Raj, Miss Universe 4^th Runner-up 2010; and Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 3^rd Runner-up 2011 in an impressive roster of beauty queens that the illustrious pageant has produced.

THE REWARDS OF BEING A BINIBINING PILIPINAS BEAUTY QUEEN

There is a world of difference between being just a beauty queen and being a Binibining Pilipinas queen.

Beyond the accolades, beyond the adulation and the rigorous physical demands, being a Binibining Pilipinas winner can actually be the stepping stone to fulfill one's dreams.

Take the case of Miss Universe Philippines 2010, 4th runner up Venus Raj. She went through the travails and sacrifices in order to bag her crown but in the end it was all worth it. In barely two years of being in the limelight after her impressive finish at the 2010 version of the Miss Universe pageant, Venus has fulfilled quite a number of her childhood ambitions.

She has acquired a residential condominium unit worth more than 3M wherein she poured part of her prize money as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010. She is also the face of Araneta Center endorsements and events, including those shown at the SMART Araneta Coliseum for which she gets hefty professional fees. She has also built a home for her Mom in their native Bato, Camarines Sur, helped send her relatives to school and contributed to uplifting their standard of living quite considerably. She does hosting jobs right and left apart from corporate guest appearances. She has even inked a movie contract with Regal Films. These she does apart from her regular modeling stints. She has become a very busy girl indeed even after her reign.

It comes as small wonder why Venus is practically mobbed every time she steps out in public. Her lovely face and figure is currently one of the most recognizable in the industry, being the product endorser of several big brands including Cream Silk, Pizza Hut, PS Bank, and Folded and Hung, among others. These endorsements do not pay peanuts and each campaign for a particular brand runs to several millions of pesos.

The media frenzy doubled in January 2011 when Binibining Pilipinas partnered with ABS-CBN. This augured well once again for Venus and the pageant in general as it benefited from the wide nationwide reach of the Kapamilya network. Today, Venus continues to rake in the revenues and popularity as a regular performer in top-rating shows like Umagang Kay Ganda and ASAP. She has also guested in most of ABS-CBN's live shows such as Kris TV, The Buzz, Pilipinas Got Talent and more. This is apart from her appearances in ABS-CBN's subsidiaries and other Lopez-affiliated corporate events.

It has been more than two years after she mouthed her now iconic "major, major" answer and wowed the world with her regal performance in Las Vegas during the Miss Universe 2010 tilt. In such a short time, Venus has harvested a treasure trove of popularity, love, endorsements and considerable material abundance.

Enter Binibining Pilipinas 2011. Venus' successor, Shamcey Supsup, charmed Brazil and placed 3rd runner up in the prestigious Miss Universe tilt, upping the ante for Binibining Pilipinas and local beauty pageants in general. Shamcey along with her co-winners Bb. Pilipinas International Dianne Necio and Bb. Pilipinas Tourism Isabella Manjon have restored the Philippines as the beauty queen capital of Asia. Dianne hogged the online voting for Miss International 2011 and was one of the top 15. Isabella on the other hand wowed China's audiences as Miss Charity in the hotly contested Miss Tourism Queen International.

Shamcey is now a much sought after endorser, architect, host and inspirational speaker for young entrepreneurs, artists and the youth. She attracts attention wherever she goes because of her simplicity, stunning beauty and intellect. Recently she was feted by People's Asia magazine along with the iconic Manny Pacquiao and other notables of the land.  Dianne continues to be a favorite in the modeling field while Isabella is now a familiar face on ABS-CBN's Toda Max. All three ladies are raking in the manifold benefits of being a Binibining Pilipinas beauty queen.

There is no debate the Venus, Shamcey, Dianne and Isabella found their niche in Philippine society. And most of the success and recognition they now enjoy stemmed from making that all important decision to join the Binibining Pilipinas tilt. Beyond the amazing prize pot and opportunity to represent the country globally, the post-pageant rewards are a veritable treasure trove of opportunity and material benefits.

So is being a Binibining Pilipinas beauty queen worth it?  You betcha!

The Binibining Pilipinas 2012 search is now in full swing. Application to the Binibining Pilipinas 2012 pageant is now open to interested single ladies ages 17 to 25 years old, with Filipino citizenship, at least 5 feet 6 inches tall, at least a high school graduate, and of good moral character. Deadline for submission of applications has been extended to February 4. Application forms may be downloaded from the Bb. Pilipinas official website, www.bbpilipinas.com.

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