BinibiningPilipinas 2013, A Treasure Trove of Talent

Sixteen of the fifty official 2013 BinibiningPilipinas candidates strutted their stuff at the BinibiningPilipinas 2013 Talent Competition recently held at the Gateway Mall Activity Area.

The lovely girls displayed an array of talents that ranged from singing to magic to hula hooping. The roster of judges included Bong Osorio, ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Head , Tim Yap Philippine Star Columnist, Samboy Lim, Ginebra San Miguel Coach, RJ Ledesma, TV host and Uno Magazine Editor, Shamcey Supsup, Miss Universe 2011 3^rd Runner Up, Chit Guerrero, ABS-CBN Special Projects Head, and BinibiningPilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) board member Conchitina Bernardo, and artist Betsy Westendorp.

Singers were aplenty in this year’s crop of binibinis. Candidate no. 31 Maria Angelica De Leon, 19, wowed the audience with her vocal prowess as she sang an opera song. The daughter of veteran actors Christopher De Leon and Sandy Andolong who took up Professional Cookery in New Zealand is now back in the country to make a name for herself. She is a professional model who sings just for fun. “I practice singing at home, that’s really it. Singing is just a hobby,” shared Mariel when asked how she prepared for the competition.

Candidate no. 3 Zandra Flores, 24, showed off her unique set of pipes as well when she sang Loving You. This lass who hails from Pangasinan and graduated from the University of Bradford in the UK with a degree in Medical Sciences has joined various beauty contests and singing contests abroad. “Loving Youis my ‘ready’ song. It’s the song I always sing when people ask me to, because I know the lyrics by heart,” Zandra divulged. 

These binibinis also prove to be graceful at all times. Candidate no. 10 Anna Carmela Aquino, 22, an educator at San Beda College, Rizal and Philippine Normal University alumna and dancer kept everyone’s eyes locked as she chanted and danced with several pots on her head in an Ifugao costume.

Some of these beautiful participants have unusual stories of how they developed such talents, like candidate no. 40 Jan Helen Villanueva whose performance was a fusion of modern ballet and gymnastics. “I had asthma when I was little, so I was encouraged to try different sorts of sports to help me overcome it. I did volleyball, badminton, swimming, and eventually, gymnastics,” Jan says.

ChadleenLacdo-o, singer and Operation Smile beneficiary, and ABS-CBN talents added to the afternoon's star value by performing at the event. The event was hosted by BinibiningPilipinas-Tourism 2012 Katrina Dimaranan and United Promotions Sales and Marketing Manager Gines Enriquez.

The talent competition is just one among the string of activities in the 50 candidates’ plates. The winner will be proclaimed during the grand coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum which will be telecast live via ABS-CBN on April 14.

The BinibiningPilipinas 2013 pageant is presented by the Araneta Center, ABS-CBN,CreamSilk, Pond’s San Miguel Brewery, Ginebra San Miguel, San Miguel Food, Petron Corporation, and San Miguel Global Power, together with Avon, JAG, Pizza Hut, PAL, David’s Salon, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Joylong Vans, Picture City, Gold’s Gym, Dale Carnegie Training Center, Entrepreneur School of Asia, and Charter Ping An Insurance Corporation.