From left to right: Binibini 22 Tracy Sunio, Bacolod City, Binibini 19 Liezle Jones, Ormoc City, and Binibini 5 Nicklyn Jutay, Iloilo City. | PHOTOS: ARMIN P. ADINA
About three months since the selection of the official candidates of the 2024 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, the national competition is still anybody’s game, with popular bets facing tough competition from emerging frontrunners.
National pageant rookie Myrna Esguerra, who just relinquished her Miss Abra crown to her 2024 successor in March, has made quite an impression from pageant observers and fans, and has been running circles around the earlier favorites with her impactful showmanship.
The 22-year-old student and model has consistently delivered strong performances at the press presentation, national costume show, sustainable fashion show, swimsuit fashion show, and grand parade of beauties, that several pageant sites have placed her high on their prediction lists.
“I feel ecstatic about it. You know this is the 60th anniversary of Binibining Pilipinas. And the same time, this is the first time that Bb. Pilipinas has a representative from Abra province, so I’m really feeling excited about it,” Esguerra told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
She is also among the five ladies who topped the national costume competition, alongside another emerging favorite, Monica Acuno from the town of Kalayaan in the province of Laguna.
The Laguna lass is not new to national contests, having competed in the 2023 Miss FIT (Face, Intelligence, Tone) Philippines pageant. But she is still on a quest to snag a crown for herself so she can represent the country in an international tilt.
Caloocan’s Mae Kimberly De Luna is also getting noticed in a field of formidable aspirants. Although not a pageant rookie, her last national competition was five years ago, finishing third in the 2019 Miss Bikini Philippines contest where 2022 Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Tamondong was first runner-up.
Marikit Manaois from Baguio City has been a charming opener to this year’s batch of delegates. As Binibini 1, she has always started the solo parades of the entire roster, and has elicited excitement from spectators with her arresting beauty.
One of the youngest contestants at 19, Christal Jean dela Cruz from Zambales has shown that she can compete among more established beauties. Some observers have also cited the 2023 Supermodel International Philippines titleholder’s resemblance to The Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne.
Liezle Jones from Ormoc City has also generated interest among avid Binibining Pilipinas followers for her beauty. While Nicklyn Jutay from Iloilo City has delivered mad “pasarela” (pageant walk) during on-stage events.
These ladies pose strong competition to seasoned aspirants Trisha Martinez, Flordeliz Mabao, Vienne Feucht, Vera Dickinson, and Phoebe Godinez for any of the two crowns at stake.
Two winners will be proclaimed, and will be crowned Binibining Pilipinas International and Binibining Pilipinas Globe, and take home P1 million each at the Grand Coronation Night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on July 7.