Ready to win big

AFTER an impressive first salvo for Filipino beauties in recent international tilts, the pressure to excel weighs heavily on 2015 Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational Rogelie Catacutan.

She flew to Poland last Nov. 15 for the 2015 Miss Supranational competition, which will culminate on Dec. 4.

“I have no other choice but to win,” said the 24-year-old nurse from Cebu during a recent press conference at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City.

The first of the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas winners to compete, Ann Lorraine Colis bagged the country’s first victory in the 42-year-old Miss Globe pageant held in Canada on Oct. 8, while the last of the 2014 titleholders, Parul Shah, placed fourth in the 2015 Miss Grand international contest in Thailand on Oct. 25.

Another Binibini 2015 beauty, Janicel Lubina, finished in the Top 10 and received the “Best Dresser” award in the 2015 Miss International in Japan on Nov. 5.

Pressure

Catacutan is also saddled with the added pressure of sustaining the Philippines’ impressive performance in the Miss Supranational since 2012 when Binibining Pilipinas sent its runnerup Elaine Kaye Moll, who finished fourth.

Mutya Johanna Datul became the first Filipino woman to bag the Miss Supranational title in 2013, while Yvethe Marie Santiago cracked the semifinals and finished third in the Miss Internet race last year.

Catacutan said she studied the videos of the last three competitions to prepare for the tilt.

“I saw that they were charming, bubbly, catwalk divas. That’s what I am trying to do these past few weeks…polish my walk,” she confessed.

Catacutan added: “I have zero doubt that I can bring home the crown. I am very motivated. I have my [Binibining Pilipinas] sisters who are always there. We encourage each other to do well in our international contests.”

Her “sisters” agree.

ROGELIE Catacutan promises to make the country proud.

“I know she will be amazing. I have no doubt she will make us proud,” said 2015 Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental Christi Lynn McGarry, who will fly to Germany for the Miss Intercontinental pageant on Dec. 18.

Kind nature

Lubina, meanwhile, attested to Catacutan’s kind nature. “She’s very kind to me. I consult her about all the decisions I have to make,” Lubina said.

Colis, for her part, said: “I know Rogelie will do well. If it’s meant for us, our wishes will be granted.” She also asked Filipinos to “support our candidates.”

Catacutan promised to make the country proud. “I will do my best,” she said.

Catacutan will compete against 81 other delegates in the global tilt’s seventh edition.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. also announced that Catacutan made it to the Top 10 of the preliminary “Top Model” competition last Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Also in the prepageant contest’s Top 10 are representatives from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Paraguay, Panama, Slovak Republic, Rwanda and Poland.