Bb. Pilipinas Santacruzan 2011

May is the month of flowers and fiestas in the Philippines. It is also the month Catholic Filipinos dedicate to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Last Sunday, May 15, the country's loveliest belles participated in a religious and cultural procession along the streets of the Araneta Center in a Grand Santacruzan like no other.

   

Binibining Pilipinas 2011

   After grueling months of anticipation, pageant-crazed Philippines finally has it's new set of queens for 2011. Perhaps the most competitive batch ever fielded, the finals night proved to be a battlefield for the country's diverse, lovely, and accomplished ladies. Licensed architect and U.P. magna cum laude graduate Shamcey Supsup was crowned as BBP-Universe, while  comeback kid Diane Necio finally fulfills her dream after being crowned BBP-International. Completing the royal court are Isabella Manjon (BBP-Tourism), Janine Tugonon (1st Runner-up), and Mary Jean Lastimosa (2nd Runner-up).

   Congratulations to Binibining Pilipinas and media partner ABS-CBN for putting up a superb show this year and best of luck to the new queens. Shine forth and bring honor to our country. 

(L-R: Isabella Manjon (Tourism), Shamcey Supsup (Universe), Diane Necio (International)

   See highlights of the pageant below:

Days Before Bb. Pilipinas 2011

   Only a few days left and the Philippines will have its new set of queens. But as the judgment day comes near, a lot of the candidates are stepping up their game and really giving their 101% best for the crown. Recently, renowned photographer Raymond Saldaña released new set of Fadil-like photos of the girls and I was just blown away with the caliber of beauties in this batch. Some previously unpopular candidates stood-out in this photoshoot even outshining the heavy favorites. Here's the two best photos for me:

   It's really going to be one tough battle in the finals night and even if I have my own personal favorites, I believe that it's gonna be anybody's ballgame. The one who'll shine where it really matters most deserves to win. Just who that is? Tough luck! Let's just leave that task to the (hopefully) competent and able judges. Meanwhile, here's the rest of my 10 picks basing on the photoshoot:

Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Press Presentation

   Last Tuesday (March 8, 2011) saw an outpour of beauties at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza as the 40 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2011 were finally presented to the press looking radiant and sexy in their orange swimsuits. The girls come from various and interesting backgrounds but  all share a common mission - and that is to win one of the crowns at stake from the country's most prestigious beauty pageant and get the honor to represent the Philippines in the international pageant stage. The press people and pageant pundits are one in saying that this year's batch is perhaps the strongest ever fielded in the history of the pageant. Yes indeed. Let's check the girls out:

Pageant Archive: Bb. Pilipinas 2010

Bb. Pilipinas - Universe          : Maria Venus Raj

Bb. Pilipinas - World                : Czarina Catherine Gatbonton

Bb. Pilipinas - International  : Krista Kleiner

First Runner-Up                        : Diane Necio

Second Runner-Up                  : Helen Nicolette Henson

Full Video:

Binibining Pilipinas 2011 Official Candidates

   This year's edition of Binibining Pilipinas is very much awaited by pageant fans not just locally but overseas as well. With Venus Raj's successful stint at Miss Universe last year, everybody expected the beautiful Filipinas to follow suit and try their luck this year. And boy, they did not disappoint. When it rains, it really pours. In my humble opinion, this has got to be the strongest batch of contestants ever for Binibining Pilipinas. Proof of that is on the video you just saw and the decision of the BBP organization to increase its number of official candidates from a mere 24 into a whopping 40! 

   With this wide selection of deserving candidates, it will be a daunting task for the judges to choose the best girls to represent the Philippines in various international pageants. The least I could do is support the girls and give tips on areas of improvement so that they can look their best in the finals. And this early, here are my top ten early favorites to win the crown.