From Russia with love

EMIN will serenade the contestants. Photo by Armin Adina

There is chance that the Binibining Pilipinas coronation rites Sunday would sound a bit like the 2013 Miss Universe pageant held in Moscow last November.

For the national pageant’s ceremonies, Russian musician Emin will provide musical numbers, and reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela will be the “star,” as the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. chair, Stella Marquez-Araneta, put it.

Emin is set to perform his song “Amor,” an up-tempo original composition that he showcased in the 2013 Miss Universe finals. He will also sing a ballad, another one of his compositions, to serenade the girls.

Message of love

The Russian pop star noted that his song “Amor” carries the message of love and is bound to “make a connection.” He announced that his record label, Warner Music, is donating all proceeds from the iTunes sale of his other song, “In Another Life,” to survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The music video for “In Another Life” features some of the 2013 Miss Universe contestants, including the Philippines’ Ariella Arida (who eventually placed fourth).

“I personally picked her,” Emin told the Inquirer. “She’s absolutely beautiful. She’s a nice person, too. She was right for the video. She was meant to be there.”

The donation drive, he said, does not have a time element. “It will not be for just a month or a year, it will be forever,” Emin said, adding that the proceeds will go directly to the international group Cordaid, a partner of the Miss Universe Organization.

Emin hopes to make the Filipino fans excited about his music. “Maybe I can come back in six months or one year, to give a full show,” he said.

After his stint in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, Emin will fly back to Russia for a series of shows. He will next bring his music to Australia, Brazil, the United States and several countries in Europe.

Before he leaves the Philippines, Emin hopes to “catch some sun.” He explained, “Living in Moscow, I don’t get that much sun.”

The 2014 Bb. Pilipinas coronation program will be hosted by Anne Curtis and Xian Lim, with 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj and 2011 Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup as anchors. ABS-CBN will air the ceremonies Sunday.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a media partner of the pageant.