Binibining Pilipinas at 60: Cradle of noble beauties

Binibining Pilipinas 2024 candidates parade on stage, with images of the former queens flashed on the screens behind them. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

Since its inception in 1964, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) has championed the best of the Philippines through the winsome ladies it has produced that showcased the diverse beauty of Filipino women, whose grace and wit have enthralled the world.

The most enduring national pageant in the country has produced all of the Miss Universe winners from the Philippines, including the first Filipino woman to win the title in 1969, Gloria Diaz, who was followed by Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018.

BPCI also sustained a 10-year placement streak in the Miss Universe pageant, which started in 2010 with Venus Raj who finished as fourth runner-up, and extended until 2019 with Gazini Ganados, the last Binibining Pilipinas queen to be sent to the global tilt, who finished in the Top 20.

The national organization has also produced the first Filipino woman to be proclaimed Miss Intercontinental, Karen Gallman who won in 2018, just four years since Bb. Pilipinas acquired the international pageant’s franchise in 2014. She was followed by Cinderella Faye Obeñita in 2021.

The first, and so far only, Filipino woman to receive the Miss Supranational crown is also a Bb. Pilipinas queen—Mutya Johanna Datul who won in 2013.

A Bb. Pilipinas queen also gave the Philippines its first win in the earlier iteration of the Miss Globe pageant through Maricar Balagtas in 2001, and in the international contest’s current form with Ann Lorraine Colis in 2015. Maureen Montagne followed them in 2021.

But the most crowns that the Bb. Pilipinas pageant has collected is from the Miss International pageant, totaling five, courtesy of Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005, Bea Rose Santiago in 2013, and Kylie Verzosa in 2016.

Several other Bb. Pilipinas queens and runners-up were appointed to represent the Philippines in several international competitions, and won, beginning with Diaz’s first runner-up Nelia Sancho who went on to claim the Queen of the Pacific crown in 1971.

Actress Joanne Santos won the Miss Tourism International crown in 1997, two years since clinching the Bb. Pilipinas Universe crown and competing in the Miss Universe pageant.

Michelle Reyes, who was first runner-up in 2001, was sent to compete abroad twice, and won both the Miss Tourism International and Miss Tourism World titles in 2001 and 2002. Noella Evangelista, who was second runner-up in 2003, was sent to the Queen of Tourism International that year and took home the title.

And before she got to compete in the Miss International pageant, 2002 Bb. Pilipinas Kristine Alzar competed in Europe and brought home the Miss Tourism International Ukraine Black Sea title. Her national successor Jhezarie Javier also competed in a contest other than Miss International, the Miss ASEAN competition where she won in 2005.

Meiji Cruz who was second runner-up in 2021 had BPCI’s blessing to compete in the Malaysia-based Miss CosmoWorld pageant as the Philippines’ first representative in 2022. She also won the title.

Several other Bb. Pilipinas queens have earned runner-up spots in various international competitions, or have advanced to the semifinals. Many other ladies have also brought home special awards.

All of these accomplishments by Bb. Pilipinas queens have earned for the Philippines its status as an international pageant powerhouse. And BPCI aims to honor the ladies and their contribution to the country by inviting them to an epic reunion on stage in this year’s Grand Coronation Night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City on July 7.

Forty ladies are vying this year to be included in the illustrious roster of Bb. Pilipinas queens, earning the titles Bb. Pilipinas International and Bb. Pilipinas Globe, which both come with the opportunity to represent the Philippines abroad.