Miss World Philippines 2013 Official Candidates

The Miss World Philippines organizer Cory Quirino Global Quest Incorporated has announced the official candidates and the date of the coronation night of the new Miss World Philippines. The pageant will be on August 18, 2013 with the venue to be announced soon. This is the 3rd edition of the Miss World Philippines pageant under this franchise.

Previously, the local pageant which determines the country's representative to the Miss World Pageant was the Binibining Pilipinas.

It started in 1992 with Marilen Espino but was replaced by Marina Benipayo weeks before the send-off party. Marina Benipayo made it to the Top 10. The next year, 1993, Sharmaine Ruffa Gutierrez made it as the 2nd Princess. In 1994, Cara Subijano made it to the Top 10 again.

CQGQI also made a bang on its first year of handling the local Miss World Philippines pageant. Gwendoline Ruais bagged the First Princess title, the highest placement Philippines achieved since Evangeline Pascual in 1973 who was also First Runner-Up. On it's second year, 2012, Queenierich Rehman also placed in the Top 15. Hopefully this year, Philippines would have a three-peat appearance in the Top 15.

Here's the complete list of the Miss World Philippines 2013 hopefuls:

 No.....Contestant .............................. Age......... Height............ Hometown

1.  Nicole Marable                         19                5'5"               Makati City 
2.  Roselle Marie Ferrer                 22                5'5"              Valenzuela City 
3.  Princesslyn Dignadice              24               5'6"                Negros Occidental 
4.  Khadija Nasser                          23               5'6"               Rizal 
5.  Zahra Bianca Saldua                 21               5'7"               Las Piñas City 
6.  Karla Patricia Alas                    21               5'6"               Las Piñas City 
7.  Samantha Mae Bernardo          20                5'7"               Puerto Princesa City 
8.  Frances Claire Vintola               19               5'7"               Dumaguete City 
9.  Pia Kamil Ochengco                 20                5'7"              Caloocan City 
10.  Janicel Lubina                            18               5'8.5"            Palawan 
11.  Mercegrace Raquel                   20                5'8"               Laguna 
12.  Angelica Lopez                         17                5'8"              Pasay City 
13.  Maria Paula Estenzo                 21               5'11"             Caloocan City 
14.  Vina Openiano                          21                5'9"               Laguna 
15.  Maria Lily Teresa Salazar         21                5'9"              Isabela 
16.  Aikah Dindah                            18               5'8"               Zamboanga City 
17.  Jennifer Hammond                    22              5'8"                Laguna 
18.  Omarie Linn Osuna                   20              5'7"                Olongapo City 
19.  Maria Paula Bianca Paz            24               5'7"               Nueva Ecija 
20.  Megan Lynne Young                 23               5'7"              Olongapo City 
21.  Jennyline Carla Malpaya          22               5'6"               Ilocos Sur 
22.  Patricia Lae Ejercitado             24               5'6"               Rizal 
23.  Ria Rabajante                            23              5'6"                Albay 
24.  Zandra Flores                            24              5'6"                Pasig City 
25.  Melanie Barret                          23               5'6"               Pampanga 
26.  Henna Kaizzelle Cajandig        21               5'6"               General Santos City

As to who among these ladies get to represent the Philippines in the Miss World 2013 pageant in West Java, Indonesia, we'll find out on August 18, 2013.

Maki Mercedez: An Ideal Super Sireyna

I wrote an article in 2010 entitled "Catching the Judges Fancy" after I got dismayed with how the pageants results went in a local beauty pageant for women in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. There was a contestant who was a league of her own and could have outwitted all the three finalists had she been given a chance to make it to the finals.

The article outlined the factors that could affect judges' decision individually and how it impacts the overall results collectively. Some of the factors I highlighted were; personal bets, judges' personal identification with the candidate's personality, competitiveness versus owning the experience, pageant format and most of all audience impact.

The reason why I got to a point of reminiscing that past event was because of the fact that whilst Super Sireyna's Maki Mercedez (aka) Jennelyn Mercado was an early favorite and was a front runner in the competition, it was the Kim Chiu look-alike Francine Garcia -- a wild card entry -- became the eventual winner.

It's not that Francine Garcia is not deserving  to win the title, but most pageant fanatics would note that Maki Mercedez was a complete package, the most ideal beauty pageant contestant you wish to send to international competitions.

She could outclass any other female contestants in an all-female beauty pageant.

The way she answered and positioned herself during the press conference days before the finals could put anybody in awe and inspiration. I wondered how many years she'd put on training to achieve that level of maturity, wisdom and humility.

Sadly, the show's format didn't give justice to her class.