It’s a parade of beauty and intelligence as Binibining Pilipinas staged its 50th year last April 14th at the Araneta Coliseum.
13 candidates compete for the most coveted crown of Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Bb. Pilipinas-International, Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism and Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational in one of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country.
The big winner is Laguna’s pride, 24-year old, Ariella Arida, who was crowned as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.
A Chemistry graduate from UP Los Banos, Arida impressed the judges during the question and answer portion with her answer on what women can teach men.
“One lesson in life that women can teach men is being sensitive. Men are more logical when it comes to decisions. They’re rational and straightforward. Unlike women, we use our hearts and we tend to get emotional when we make our decisions. Sensitivity is something that we women can teach to men,” she said.
Arida, also won the Best Swimsuit Award and would be representing the country in next year’s Miss Universe Pageant.
Other winners were Bea Santiago as the Bb. Pilipinas-International, while Joana Cindy Miranda is the Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism and Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational went to Johanna Datul.
Judging the Filipina beauties were ABS-CBN Chairman Gabby Lopez, Cabinet Secretary of the Philippines Rene Almendras, Chilean Ambassador Roberto Almendras, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, Boy Abunda, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Louis Ng, Philippine National Police Director General Allan Purisima, Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Azkals James Younghusband and Liliana Zawadsky.
The event was hosted by Martin Nievera and Dawn Zulueta.
Since its inception in 1964, Binibining Pilipinas have been able to produce two Miss Universe winners with Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973.
Three had won Miss International with Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005.
In the recent years, Philippines also bagged three consecutive success at the Miss Universe having Venus Raj in 4th runner up in 2010, Shamcey Supsup in 3rd runner up in 2011 and Janine Tugonon at 1st runner up in 2012, all crowned beauties of Binibining Pilipinas.
