Dear ABQ Readers:
As supporters of contestant Theresa Fenger (an ABQ favorite) continue to reel from her shocking disqualification from Bb. Pilipinas 2013 (read more here) the pageant takes a short hiatus for the Holy Week break. I’m sure the girls won’t go on hiatus though – they’ll be training, dieting and working out as much as they can.
In the meantime, ABQ continues with it’s review of the contestants and their performance at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Press Presentation held at the ballroom of the Makati Shangril-La Hotel on March 18, 2013.
In this post are my thoughts on Contestants 1 to 10. There are a total of 50 contestants, just scroll down to see my thoughts on them. Those highlighted in Red were the ones I liked the most. Unless specifically mentioned, they are not necessarily my Top Choices yet, but for me, they did outshine the others at the Press Presentation!
BTW, thanks to our lovely hosts for the evening: Bb. Pilipinas International 2012 Nicole Schmitz, Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2012 Katrina Dimaranan and Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up Janine Tugonon!
L-R Nicole Schmitz (Bb. Pilipinas International 2012), Janine Tugonon (Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up) and Katrina Dimaranan (Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2012)
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And now for my thoughts on
CONTESTANTS 1 TO 10…
1. Ria Rabajante – 23 years – Pasig City
Ria Rabanjante woke up a sleepy crowd at the Makati Shang-ri La with a spicy walk and a neat, pulled-back look while throwing smiles at the audience. Some pageant pundits in the crowd were whispering that Ria Rabajante was looking finer than ever saying they preferred this clean look of hers. Ria, who aims to become a film director one day, recieved loud applause during her solo walk in the Press Presentation – music to her ears I’m sure, because it’s always been her dream to join Bb. Pilipinas from the time she watched Miriam Quiambao place 2nd in Miss Universe 1999! For me, she’s a cross between Bb. Pilipinas World 2010 Czarina Gatbonton and Miss Univerwse 1st RU Janine Tugonon…
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2. Ma. Bencelle Bianzon – 23 years – Quezon City
Ma. Bencelle Bianzon admits that her prominent ears and dark complexion made her a frequent target of bullies in school. They called her ugly. I wonder what those bullies are saying now? Just look at Ma. Bencelle Bianzon: glittering smile, mysterious eyes and not a single ugly bone in her body! Golly, she should just beat them up since she’s an Philippines Army Reservist. But, I guess bullies are not worth half the attention you’d give to a fly. In her profile she says: I decided to join Bb. Pilipinas 2013 to prove that I can succeed in spite of what other people are saying behind my back. IMHO, Ma. Bencelle Bianzon has already proven it by qualifying to be one of the 50 official contestants this year!
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3. Zandra Flores – 24 years – Pangasinan
I saw this on Zandra Flores’ Model Mayhem page: Been in TV Commercials: The Range, United Carpets and Beds and DFS Dining. As a front cover of EONA by Alison Goodman. Modelled sportswear for Sports Direct and Asian clothings for an Asian Catalogue. Recently crowned as Miss Philippines Commonwealth International 2010 and Queen of Friends of Commonwealth International 2010. I’m thinking that all of the above happened in the UK since I don’t recognize the brand names. Why the UK? Because that’s where she studied Cellular Pathology. At University of Bradford. Isn’t that so trippy in a CSI way? AND, this beauty doesn’t only have brains, she also has talent! Zandra Flores sang “Loving You” at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show - click here to read more about it.
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4. Nicole Donesa – 18 years – Quezon City
Which Disney Princess does this fair maiden remind you of? Sleeping Beauty I say! Nicole Donesa‘s princess-like beauty has already gotten her a few TV commercials (in the US and Philippines) and couple lead roles in indie films. Nicole Donesa is primarily based in California (her family is all there) but she’s in Manila to vie for one of the three Bb. Pilipinas crowns. I first laid my eyes on her at the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent show where she sang “Someone to Watch Over Me”.
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5. Maria Sofia Gloria Mustonen – 23 years – Marikina
I kept wondering where I saw Maria Sofia Gloria Mustonen first… I thought she was friend of my daughter. Then I remembered – Miss Philippines Earth 2010! Maria Mustonen was Contestant #9, click here to see. Unfortunately, she was unplaced and I think it was because neneng-nene pa siya noon. But she has shed all vestiges of her little girl charm and has blossomed into a fierce femme. Maria Mustonen is now pagean-ready… at angat ang beauty niya, this time around. She gets her well-toned legs from playing soccer competitively and is a student at Benilde studying Diplomatic and Consular Affairs.
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6. Yvette Chantal Mildenberger – 19 years – Legazpi City, Albay
I have had the pleasure of meeting Yvette Chantal Mildenberger – by phone – when I interviewed her prior to her flight to South Korea to compete in the 23rd World Miss University pageant in December 2010. In the article I wrote for her, you’ll find out more about her German-Filipino roots, her teacher parents, the local pageants she has joined and won, her two Pitbulls and the training she had to go thru for the So. Korean pageant. Yvette Chantal Mildenberger plans to put up her own travel agency – a perfect choice since she studied Tourism at Aquinas, Legazpi City. I love her stately aura and can see her succeeding as an ambassadress for the Philippines!
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7. Maria Ivy Kristel Gonzales – 24 years – Quezon City
In some of her earlier photos online, you’ll see that Maria Ivy Kristel Gonzales was a ‘metal-mouth’ but now that she’s taken off her dental braces, you can see the power of her brilliant smile! Depending on her styling, this Ateneo law-student sometimes reminds me of Janine Tugonon our Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up. But Maria Ivy Kristel Gonzales still has a beauty of her own that is truly Pinay!
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8. Abbygale Monderin – 20 years – Antipolo City
Some very interesting things about Abbygale Monderin: she is a Sunday School teacher who is active in ministry. She is also the winner of Slimmer’s World Miss Bikini Philippines 2012, click here to see my article on that pageant! Abbygale Monderin has a very unassuming style and a relaxed walk, like as if she were on the beach simply enjoying herself and not in a pageant competing with 49 other babes. Abbygale is a very focused girl with clear goals in life: She is an HRM student (with Academic distinction) at World Citi Colleges and aims to work for Burj Al Arab, Dubai’s 8-Star Hotel.
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9. Katherine Anne Enriquez – 23 years – San Mateo, Rizal
“Take all avenues to success!” seems to be the motto of Katherine Anne Enriquez. In her quest for fame and glory she’s now trying the beauty pageant road. Before joining Bb. Pilipinas, Kate Enriquez was an aspiring actress having appeared on some ABS-CBN shows and even landing a small role in the movie “Sisterakas”. She was also a Marketing Coordinator for an events firm but left that job to join the pageant. The smile is what i love best on Katherine Anne Enriquez; she reminds me of singer Acel Bisa and gives a fresh vibe to this year’s batch of Bb. Pilipinas beauties!
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10. Anna Carmela Aquino – 22 years – Isabela
Anna Carmela Aquino gets that lovely lean look not just from her DNA but from working as a member of the Kislap Sining Dance Troupe of Philippine Normal University. She even won the troupe’s Female Dancer of the Year award in 2010. In the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Talent Show, Anna Carmela Aquino had me seated on the edge of my chair as she danced with 6 pots all balanced on her head! If I had known that this Math Major was a professional dancer who even traveled abroad to perform, then I wouldn’t have been so nervous. Suffice it to say, none of the pots broke and she left stage with vigorous applause from the audience. Her best assets for me: The eyes and the leggy-look.
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The coronation night of Bb. Pilipinas 2013, the Gold Edition will be on April 14, 2013. It will be aired live on ABS-CBN. But I hope you’ll step out of your homes that night to watch the show live with us at the Araneta Coliseum. It IS the 50th Anniversary of Bb. Pilipinas after all! You can get tickets at TicketNet – hope to see you there!
