Miss Earth-Air Yllana Aduana grateful for Miss FIT Philippines journey

 

By: Armin P. Adina

INQUIRER.net / 10:44 AM July 10, 2024

Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana with the 2024 Miss FIT Philippines behind her onstage

Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana with the 2024 Miss FIT Philippines behind her onstage. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

Reigning Miss Earth-Air Yllana Marie Aduana has now become one of the most iconic Filipino beauty queens in recent memory, and she fondly looked back on her first national title that she said helped mold her into the woman that she has become.

Talking to INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of the 2024 Miss FIT (Face, Intelligence, Tone) Philippines pageant’s preliminary competition at the Music Museum in San Juan City on Monday, July 8, she said the contest is really special for her.

ADVERTISEMENT

“[This] was the pageant that really paved the way, and really opened multiple doors of opportunity for me. And this is also the pageant that paved the way for me to meet my ProMedia family (her management company), who really treated me like family, too,” said Aduana, who hosted the event.

FEATURED STORIES

ENTERTAINMENT

Bimby, Josh bond with mom Kris Aquino’s friend in PH

ENTERTAINMENT

Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024 Jasmin Bungay breaks Gloria Diaz ‘curse’

ENTERTAINMENT

Daniel Padilla’s brother JC, non-showbiz fiancée marry, expecting first child

As a competition that promotes holistic fitness, the Miss FIT Philippines is looking for a queen beyond her pretty face, emotional and intellectual intelligence, and toned physique, she said, emphasizing the pageant’s search for someone who is “holistically fit in all matters and all levels.”

Sharing her journey as a candidate in the said contest, Aduana said, “I also took the platform to really share my advocacies. Back then in 2021, I shared about my story of being able to conquer bulimia nervosa. And with that platform I was able to connect myself to people, and that molded me to become a good spokesperson that I am now.”

The licensed medical laboratory scientist said she wants the title to go to a queen who is not only holistically fit but also a great representative of the Miss FIT Philippines brand, and “someone who has an edge to join the national competition in the future.”

After clinching the Miss FIT Philippines crown, Aduana took part in the 2022 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, where she advanced to the Top 12, and also received the Face of Binibini award. A year after, she returned to the Miss Philippines pageant two years since her first participation, and bagged the top prize. She was later crowned Miss Earth-Air at the 2023 Miss Earth pageant held in Vietnam in December.

The new Miss FIT Philippines queen will be crowned at the culmination of the final competition at the SkyDome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City on July 11. Twenty-three candidates from all over the Philippines are competing this year.

Read more: https://entertainment.inquirer.net/565605/miss-earth-air-yllana-aduana-grateful-for-miss-fit-philippines-journey#ixzz8fYSELOus

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

Binibining Pilipinas 2024: Seasoned aspirants, national winners try luck

Binibining Pilipinas candidates #30 Trisha Martinez (Pila, Laguna); #39 Flordeliz Mabao (Rizal); #36 Samantha Acosta (Bulacan); #4 Shaira Rona (Mandaluyong); #14 Vienne Feucht (Calamba, Laguna); #26 Phoebe Godinez (Lapu-Lapu City); and, #34 Vera Dickinson (Tarlac). Images from Armin P. Adina

By: Armin P. Adina

The Binibining Pilipinas pageant is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and seasoned aspirants have enlisted for a chance to be included in the elite roster of queens, among them are returnees and those who have already claimed titles in other competitions.

Trisha Martinez from Pila, Laguna, and Shaira Rona from Mandaluyong have returned to give another shot at finally becoming Bb. Pilipinas queens, while Bulacan’s Samantha Acosta has crossed over from the Miss Philippines Earth pageant.

Also joining the national pageant’s milestone edition is Rizal’s Flordeliz Mabao, who was crowned Miss Scuba Philippines in 2019, and finished third in the 2019 Miss Scuba international pageant. Tarlac’s Vera Dickinson, meanwhile, was second runner-up in the 2022 Miss Aura Philippines pageant.

Representing Lapu-Lapu City in the 2024 Bb. Pilipinas pageant is 2022 Hiyas ng Pilipinas Tourism Queen International Phoebe Godinez, while Calamba, Laguna, is fielding 2023 Miss Rotary and 2021 Miss Bikini Philippines first runner-up Vienne Feucht.

Martinez has some unfinished business to settle. She was already supposed to represent the country in an international competition after earning the Miss Philippines Tourism crown in the 2021 Miss World Philippines pageant, but her global tilt did not push through. She inched closer to another opportunity to raise the Philippine flag abroad when she cracked the Top 11 in the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, where she was also “Best in Evening Gown.”

“All beauty queens dream of representing the Philippines internationally. So that’s why I’m here. I’m trying my luck. I’m trying, hoping I’d be destined to be able to represent the Philippines in an international stage,” she told INQUIRER.net in an interview.

For Mabao, Binibining Pilipinas is the reason she got into pageantry in the first place. “Ten years ago, before my mother passed because of breast cancer, she told me that she wanted me to join Bb. Pilipinas. So that’s why I started joining beauty pageants. And finally, here, after 10 years, I’m in Bb. Pilipinas,” she said.

Acosta, meanwhile, said she resonated with the national pageant’s thrust. “I’ve always had the heart towards children, and I’m very much happy that BPCI’s (Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.) vision is the same as my advocacy, Harvesting HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Empowerment). And I’m really looking forward to more of our charity events with Binibini,” she said.

Two winners will be crowned and will be proclaimed Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe, and they will take home P1 million each, and earn the right to represent the Philippines in the 63rd Miss International pageant next year, and The Miss Globe 2024 contest later this year.

The 60th Binibining Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on July 7, Sunday. Phenomenal P-Pop boy group SB19 will return to the pageant stage, with Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano also set to perform.

And like in the last three editions, an all-female hosting team will handle the ceremonies this year, and will be composed of 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Universe MJ Lastimosa, 2016 Miss Grand International first runner-up Nicole Cordoves, 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa, and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray.

The four Binibining Pilipinas queens will also be joined by more than a hundred of their Binibini sisters for a grand reunion of queens on stage, the magnitude never before seen on any pageant here or anywhere else.

How Ahtisa Manalo, Alexie Brooks got their respective The Miss Philippines titles

Miss Cosmo Philippines Ahtisa Manalo and Miss Eco International Philippines Alexie Brooks. Photos from THE MISS PHILIPPINES / FACEBOOK

By: Armin P. Adina

INQUIRER.net / 03:00 PM May 27, 2024

Ahtisa Manalo from Quezon Province and Alexie Brooks from Iloilo City were two of the frontrunners in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant whose exuberant fans ignited their own intense campaigns online. And while they may not have captured the top prize, the ladies ended up having their own national titles eventually.

Manalo was crowned as the first-ever Miss Cosmo Philippines, while Brooks received the Miss Eco International Philippines crown, and both of them will be representing the country in global contests. But how did they end up getting those two titles, both under the Miss Universe Philippines pageant’s sister search The Miss Philippines?

Voltaire Tayag, executive vice president of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPH) exclusively shared with INQUIRER.net the process they followed in awarding the two additional titles, as well as the Miss Charm Philippines and the Miss Supranational Philippines crowns.

“I spoke with them (Miss Universe Philippines delegates) individually, and asked them if they will be open to getting a different crown,” he said at the sidelines of the post-coronation media conference of newly-crowned Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo held at Belmont Hotel in Pasay City on May 24.

It was only nine days before the final show when MUPH announced that four more titles under The Miss Philippines will be awarded to winners who will be chosen from the roster of Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegates.

The four additional titles were awarded after the culmination of the national pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City early morning of May 23, with the Miss Supranational Philippines title going to Baguio City’s Tarah Valencia and the Miss Charm Philippines crown going to Pampanga’s Cyrille Payumo.

Manalo was second runner-up in the just-concluded competition, while Valencia was third runner-up. They were brought back to the stage at the end of the show along with Brooks, Payumo, and their fellow Top 10 finalists Anita Rose Gomez from Zambales and Raven Doctor from Palawan, and Top 20 semifinalists Alexandra Rosales from Laguna, Bianca Tapia from Hawaii, Christina Chalk from the United Kingdom, and Kayla Carter from Northern California.

“The 10 delegates who competed for the four crowns in The Miss Philippines were the highest-ranking delegates who were eligible for one of more of the titles and voluntarily expressed their desire to be considered for titles under The Miss Philippines,” Tayag shared.

“Eligible delegates were given the choice to either accept of waive their right to be considered for the titles under The Miss Philippines. We have the utmost respect for the decision of the eligible delegates who opted out,” he added.

Tayag also explained that for finishing as second runner-up in the national pageant, Manalo had first dibs on the crowns at stake, and chose the Miss Cosmo Philippines title, making her the country’s official bet to the first-ever Miss Cosmo pageant in Vietnam in October.

The three other winners, meanwhile, will be competing in international competitions in 2025, because their predecessors are the Philippines’ bets for the 2024 editions of their respective global tilts.

Batangas, Makati bets lead Miss Philippines Earth 2024 medal tally

 

Ira Patricia Malaluan (center) with Gwen MariePerion (left) and Jeyzel Ann Reyes/MISS PHILIPPINES EARTH FACEBOOK PHOTO

By: Armin P. Adina

The Miss Philippines Earth 2024 pageant is nearing the homestretch, with all the preliminary events concluded and the coronation night just a few days away.

And months after the official delegates have been chosen, a few ladies have reaped medals from the auxiliary activities, with Ira Patricia Malaluan from Batangas City leading the pack, followed closely by Sam Samara from Makati City.

Both ladies have collected a total of three medals. The Batangueña beauty topped the “Darling of the Press” poll, while the Makati lass won the beach wear competition.

Additionally, Malaluan finsihed second and Samara placed third in both the evening gown and swimsuit competitions.

Kristel Codas from Iligan City topped the talent competition, and placed second in the beach wear contest, while Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche from Matanao, Davao Del Sur, won the swimsuit competition and finished third in the beach wear contest.

Miss World Philippines queens ‘seek strong, independent’ ladies who ‘break the mold’

Miss World Philippines queens ‘seek strong, independent’ ladies who ‘break the mold’ | Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez (left) and reigning Universal Woman Maria Gigante/ARMIN P. ADINA

By: Armin P. Adina

INQUIRER.net 

The Miss World Philippines Organization (MWPH) has made a call for applicants earlier this year, signifying the national pageant’s return after a year-long hiatus. Two of the queens the search has produced have shared what they seek in the aspirants.

Tracy Maureen Perez, who bagged the main title in 2021, and Maria Gigante, who joined the national search a year after, spoke with INQUIRER.net at the post-coronation dinner of the 2024 Limgas na Pangasinan pageant at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen early morning on April 27.

Both queens were part of the selection committee of the provincial pageant that was held at the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol Building in Lingayen on April 26.

“I’m looking for the next Tracy Maureen Perez, and she has to be strong, independent and knows what she wants in life and goes after it relentlessly,” said Perez, who finished in the Top 13 of the 2021 Miss World pageant held in Puerto Rico.

Gigante, recently-crowned Universal Woman, said, “I’m looking for a Miss World and a Universal Woman [who] breaks the mold. Both are going to be effective communicators, but somebody who offers something we’ve never seen before. Also someone who is independent and who is unique and who knows what she believes in, but also knows how to allow others to stand in their power.”

She said she joined the Miss World Philippines pageant because she wanted to post back-to-back wins for Cebu and succeed Perez for the national title. “Although it didn’t happen, but we did make history as the first country to have sent a delegate for the first time, and to clinch the crown, for the second edition of Universal Woman, in the new era of beauty,” Gigante said.

Perez commended her, and said, “I’m so happy for my friend. We’ve known each other for the longest time, and I’m so, so, so proud of her and all of her achievements.” Gigante finished in the semifinals of the 2022 Miss World Philippines pageant, but was appointed by MWPH to represent the country at the second Universal Woman contest in Cambodia.

The two also shared how MWPH impacted their lives. “It really did change my life for the better, for the best even. It was a dream come true. I’ve always really wanted to represent the Philippines, and it was actually my third try before I finally got to say ‘Philippines’ in the world stage,” said Perez, who first joined in 2019, then tried out for the 2020 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, then returned to Miss World Philippines in 2021.

“When I came back, so many opportunities just opened for me. And I really never thought that I will be able to do all these things before, so I’m really grateful to my Miss World Philippines family for opening so many doors for me,” she continued.

Gigante also shared her aspirations for the national pageant. “I hope that we can continue that legacy, with more Cebuanas, more Filipinas, and celebrate more diversity, more inclusivity, and more open mindedness when it comes to what it means to work collectively as a community,” she said.

The last time MWPH held a national contest was in 2022, with Gwendolyne Fourniol taking the top title. But because the Miss World pageant was postponed that year, the organization put off its search until the reigning titleholder got to compete in her global tilt.

Fourniol’s Miss World contest finally pushed through in February, and MWPH opened applications for the 2024 national pageant in March. No further details about the final screening and date of competition have been released as of this writing.

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegates turn up the heat in swimsuit portraits

(from left to right) Cyrille Payumo, Pampanga; Ahtisa Manalo, Quezon Province; Victoria Velasquez Vincent, Bacoor | Images: Facebook/Miss Universe Philippines
 

By: Armin P. Adina

The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant continues to excite Filipino pageant fans, this time with the release of the official swimsuit portraits of the delegates.

The national pageant organization shared on its official social media accounts the photos of all the delegates to this year’s competition.

The roster already included Kananga’s new representative, Phoebe Arrianana Torita, who replaced Natasha Jung who backed out after the press presentation of the contestants.

Jung had previously competed in the Miss World Philippines and Binibining Pilipinas pageants and was crowned Miss Caloocan a few months before winning the Miss Kananga title.

She had already participated in the official presentation of the delegates to this year’s competition held at the grand ballroom of Hilton Manila at the Newport complex in Pasay City on Feb. 18.

This year’s edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant did not accept individual applicants. Delegates must be sent by “Accredited Partners” who are authorized to select the official candidates.

The contenders have either won their respective local pageants, or were appointed by the Accredited Partners.

These partners are responsible for preparing the delegates for the national stage, and providing for all of their needs as they compete for the crown.

This year’s delegates are competing to succeed Michelle Dee, who became the most awarded delegate in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant.

Dee finished in the Top 10 of the competition, topped the fan vote, was the leader in the national costume poll, was one of the three “gold finalists” of the “Voice for Change” initiative by Miss Universe crown provider Mouawad, and received the “Spirit of Carnival” award from Carnival Cruises.

No final date of competition has been announced as of this writing, but the eventual winner will represent the Philippines in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year.

Here’s what you’ll need to join the 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant

 Reigning Binibining Pilipinas winners (from left) Atasha Reign Parani, Anna Valencia Lakirini, Angelica Lopez and Katrina Anne Johnson. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

By: Armin P. Adina

Here's what you will need to join the 60th Binibining Pilipinas pageant

Avid pageant aficionados had been brimming with anticipation as to when the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) would make its “the search is on” announcement for the 60th anniversary edition. And the wait was finally over after the organization made the call before Valentine’s Day. Now they followed it up with the list of requirements that the aspirants must meet.

Interested applicants will need to download the official application form at www.bbpilipinas.com and submit their accomplished form at the BPCI Office on the 8th floor of Aurora Tower on Gen. Malvar St. at the Araneta City in Quezon City.

The competition is open to Filipino citizens who are born in the Philippines, or have reacquired their citizenship under RA 9225. Those who have also earned natural Filipino citizenship even when they are born outside the Philippines may still join. They may or may not have resided within the Philippines.

Applicants will also need to show their high school or college diploma, present a medical certificate for both physical and mental health and well-being, and a certificate of good moral character provided by a school, church or professional organization.

Ladies also need to bring their photo set cards composed of one close-up and one full body shot. A copy of their birth certificate will also be required.

The deadline for applications is set on March 22, but no final screening schedule has been announced as of this writing.

Bb. Pilipinas is the first and longest-running national beauty pageant in the country. It has produced the country’s most well-loved international beauty queens since its establishment in 1964.

To date, the national competition has collected four wins in the Miss Universe pageant, five victories in the Miss International pageant, two crowns each from the Miss Intercontinental and Miss Globe tilts, and several more triumphs in other contests.

Last year, Bb. Pilipinas queens posted podium finishes in their respective global competitions. Nicole Borromeo was third runner-up in the Miss International pageant, while Anna Valencia Lakirini was second runner-up in the Miss Globe contest.

Angelica Lopez, who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas International during the national pageant’s 59th edition held last year, is scheduled to compete in the 62nd Miss International competition on Nov. 12.

Yllana Aduana gets ‘double points’ in Miss Earth 2023 ‘Best Bikini’ voting

Miss Philippines Earth Yllana Marie Aduana’s official bikini photo/MISS EARTH FACEBOOK PHOTO

By: Armin P. AdinaINQUIRER.net 

MANILA, Philippines — Yllana Marie Aduana, the country’s representative in the 2023 Miss Earth pageant, is among the two top vote-getters from Asia and Oceania in the first round of online voting for “Best Bikini,” along with host delegate Do Thi Lan Anh from Vietnam.

The two leaders from each of the four geographical regions from the first round of voting conducted on Facebook have earned the opportunity to get double voting points for a period of 24 hours, between 11 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 11 p.m. on Dec. 17 in Vietnam (Manila is ahead by an hour from Vietnam).

“Continue voting for your favorite delegate for her chance to directly enter the Semi-Finals,” the Miss Earth pageant said on social media. To vote, visit https://www.missearth.1voting.com.

The leaders from Africa were Fifaliana Valisoa from Madagascar and Courtney Jongwe from Zimbabwe, while for the Americas, the top vote-getters were Gretha Matiauda from Paraguay and Jhosskaren Carrizo from Venezuela.

Victoria Lazarova from Bulgaria and Noa Claus from the Netherlands, meanwhile, topped the voting for European delegates.

The 86 delegates participated in the preliminary competition held in the city of Da Lat, the capital of Lam Don Province in southern Vietnam, on Dec. 16. The ladies paraded in swimsuit and in national costume during the event.

Aduana brought “Maria Makiling” to the Miss Earth stage in Vietnam with her national costume inspired by the Philippine mythological deity. Mount Makiling, named after her, is found in the province of Laguna where she is from.

Patrick Isorena designed the costume, with an intricately-detailed golden armor, headpiece, and back ornamentations with dangling crystals. Aduana walked the stage with a rolling skirt designed like a mountain with protruding palm fronds. It also opened at the front, where she stepped out to unfurl pieces of flowy white fabric attached to her waist. For the swimsuit round, she paraded in a crystal-embellished tangerine two-piece string bikini.

Aduana will attempt to become the fifth Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Earth, following Karla Henry in 2008, Jamie Herrell in 2014, Angelia Ong in 2015, and Karen Ibasco in 2017.

Reigning Miss Earth Mina Sue Choi from Korea will crown her successor, who will be chosen at the end of the coronation program at the Van Phuc City development project in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 22.

Yllana Aduana asks for support in Miss Earth 2023 popular voting

By: Armin P. AdinaINQUIRER.net 

Miss Philippines Earth Yllana Marie Aduana (center) with (from left) Mongolia’s Munkhchimeg Batjargal, Vietnam’s Do Thi Lan Anh, Myanmar’s Soung Hnin San and Cambodia’s Pouvjessica Tan / MISS EARTH FACEBOOK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Yllana Marie Aduana, the country’s representative in the 2023 Miss Earth pageant, was included in the five highest vote-getters in the contest’s “Best Appearance” poll. And now she hopes to enjoy the support of netizens as the voting for “Miss People’s Choice” has rolled out.

“Please also keep on voting for me for Miss People’s Choice awardee [face holding back tears emoji][Philippine flag emoji][orange heart emoji][Earth emoji],” the medical laboratory scientist posted on social media.

As part of the Top 5 for the “Best in Appearance” voting, Aduana enjoyed “double points” for the “Miss People’s Choice” poll for 24 hours. Asia dominated the earlier voting, with the delegates from Mongolia, Myanmar, Cambodia and host country Vietnam joining the Filipino delegate.

For the first time ever, the Miss Earth pageant will reserve a spot in the next round for the leader in the popularity poll. “The winner of the ‘Miss People’s Choice’ will be granted a direct entry to the Semi-Finals,” the organizers posted on social media. Fans may cast their votes through the Eventista voting platform, missearth.1voting.com.

The ultimate winner of the “Best Appearance,” meanwhile, will receive a special gift. The leading delegate will be announced on Dec. 12, the Miss Earth pageant added.

Aduana is on a quest to sustain the Philippine’s impressive record in the Manila-based international pageant. Four Filipino competitors have captured the title—Karla Henry in 2008, Jamie Herrell in 2014, Angelia Ong in 2015, and Karen Ibasco in 2017.

The 2023 Miss Earth pageant will hold its coronation show at the Van Phuc City development project in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec. 22. The ceremonies will be streamed live on the pageant’s new YouTube channel @MissEarthChannel, and will be telecast in the Philippines on Dec. 24, 10 a.m., on A2Z channel.