Cebu beauties to compete in major pageant

Among the hundreds of hopefuls from all over The Philippines, two beauties from Cebu have made the roster of 25 official candidates to compete in this year’s biggest beauty pageant in the country, the Binibining Pilipinas.

Models Association of Cebu models and beauty titlists, Stephanie Rose Basubas Señires (Miss Cebu 2006) and Mai Sy Honorio (Miss Cebu 2008 runner-up) made the cut from among 170 re-called hopefuls for the Bb. Pilipinas slots.

According to their manager, Valeriano Tomol III, Señires and Honorio went to Manila for the screening on Jan. 27, where they were interviewed.

The final screening took place last week, followed the release of the official results. The formal announcement of the 25 successful candidates will be made this week by the organizing group, Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), headed by Stella Marquez Araneta.

Bb. Pilipinas has become synonymous with "beauty for a cause." The pageant was envisioned as a prestigious fundraising activity for projects that would benefit orphans, indigent families and other less fortunate members of Philippine society.

Young Filipinas are given the opportunity to be carriers of the humanitarian missions that make up BPCI’s primary goals. Its role in uplifting less fortunate fellow Filipinos through economic support generated from corporate sponsorships and other benefactors is the reason for its existence.

To date, the organization has produced several international winners including Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969; Margie Moran, Miss Universe 1973; Miriam Quiambao, 1999 Miss Universe first runner-up; Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970; Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979; Ruffa Gutierrez, Miss World 2nd Princess 1993; and Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005.

Señires and Honorio will vie for any of the three major titles at stake — Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, Bb. Pilipinas-World, and Bb. Pilipinas-International — to be able to compete in international pageant derbies.

The inclusion of Señires and Honorio is sure to merit high expectations given the impressive track record of MAC models in Bb. Pilipinas in the five years since MAC joined its screenings.

Runway favourite Melanie Ediza was a runner-up at the Bb. Pilipinas 2005, while model-TV host Anna Maris Igpit was named Bb. Pilipinas-World 2006. Karla Bautista, who is now an international flight attendant, reached the top five at the Miss World 2004 beauty pageant and was also proclaimed Queen of Asia and Oceania.

Tomol revealed last week that he had been encouraging Señires to enter the pageant after her successful stint in Miss Cebu 2006, but she chose to leave for the United States to work after graduating from the University of San Carlos with a degree in psychology.

Last October, Señires told Tomol she was ready to join the prestigious search. As part of her preparations. Señires will officially represent Cebu City.

Tomol decided to field Honorio in this year’s Bb. Pilipinas for her eagerness and professionalism, which he believes are true qualities of a beauty queen. The 21-year-old nursing graduate will officially represent Maasin City.

While there’s no telling yet what their chances are, Tomol said both beauties, who underwent "advanced behavourial training" with fellow MAC model agent Roger Alferez, have already made an initial good impression for being professional and on-time for the screenings and other activities.