The Overseas-Trained Bb. Pilipinas Queens

It was the idea of BPCI head Madam Stella Marquez-Araneta, Miss Universe franchise holder for the Philippines, to send past Binibining Pilipinas titleholders to Bogota, Colombia and in Venezuela for pageant trainings. But this practice were criticized by pageant enthusiasts in the Philippines telling that a trip to Colombia was just a waste of time and money because after all the Philippines has more beauty titles than Colombia. It was only Miss Universe 1999 First Runner Up Miriam Quiambao turned out to be the big winner among the overseas-trained Bb. Pilipinas queens. Here are our past Bb. Pilipinas Queens who underwent pageant trainings in Latin America:

VENEZUELA

1999

Miriam Quiambao

A month before arriving at Trinidad and Tobago for Miss Universe 1999,  BPCI sent Miriam Quiambao to train at beauty school in Venezuela under the guidance of Osmel Sousa for a week. The training focuses on make-up tutorial, passarella (walking), and  speech.   At the end of the Miss Universe 1999  she placed  1st Runner Up to Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana. 

2001

Zorayda Ruth Andam

Zorayda Ruth Andam, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2001, spent almost a week in Caracas, Venezuela under also with beauty queen czar, Osmel Souza. She underwent  days  of intensive training in stage hair and make-up, projection,  pasarella or walking, speech lessons and social graces. The very same  training  that  Miss  Philippines  Universe  1999, Miriam Quiambao went through! Zorayda bears a striking resemblance to Miriam. However, she failed to enter the Top 10  but won 2nd place in the Best National Costume Award.

COLOMBIA

Venezuelan training is very expensive and Binibinis are not ready for the surgical procedures programs under Osmel Souza so BPCI sent titleholders in Stella Araneta's homeland, Colombia.

2002

Karen Loren Agustin, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002 went to  Colombia for training under the supervision of  Javier Murillo, a well-known trainer of  Miss Universe 1994 First Runner Up Carolina Gomez. Also with her were  her co- Binibinis :  Katherine Ann Manalo ( Bb. Pilipinas- World) and Kristine Alzar (Bb. Pilipinas International)

Katherine Manalo who participated in Miss World 2002  placed in the Top 10. Kristine Alzar and Karen Agustin failed to enter in the  semi-finals.

Javier Murillo, a well-known pageant trainer in Colombia

2003

Kapampangan beauty Carla May Balingit, Bb. Pilipinas 2003 had a month-long pageant training in Cartagena, Colombia. She competed at Miss Universe 2003 but unplaced.

Before going to Japan for Miss International 2003, Jhezarie Games Javier was trained in Venezuela and Colombia on grace and poise, and attended Nippongo classes at

 Berlitz Center. She was unplaced

2004

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2004 Maricar Balagtas took up  a crash course in poise, make-up, dressing properly, ramp modelling in Colombia. Maricar also didn't place in Miss Universe 2004 held in Ecuador.

2005

Gionna Cabrera, Miss Universe Philippines 2005 won Miss Universe Miss Photogenic Award.  Natalie Glebova of Canada was crowned as winner

Note : Trainers of Precious Lara Quigaman, Miss International 2005, were fellow Binibinis Maan Bayot ( Semi-Finalist - Miss International 2004  , First Runner Up -Miss Maja Mundial ) and Karen Agustin who were both trained in Colombia prior to their joining their respective international pageants

2006

Like her predecessors, 2006 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Lia Andrea Ramos underwent a month long training and make-over  under Colombian pageant gurus Javier Murillo and designer Alfredo Barraza.  She won Miss Photogenic Award in Miss Universe held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, USA.  Also with her in Colombia are her fellow 2006 Binibini titleholders : Anna Maris Igpit, Bb. Pilipinas World 2006 and Denille Lou Valmonte, both are unplaced.

2007

Anna Theresa Licaros  failed to make the cut despite being one of the favorites (including Japan, Korea, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico) during Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico. She took up a crash course in poise, make-up, dressing properly, ramp modelling in Colombia

2008

Jennifer Barrientos, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2008 didn’t  make the cut on the 15 semi-finalists in  Miss Universe 2008 Pageant in Vietnam. Jennifer wore a simple beige gown with front slit and crystals by Alfredo Barraza she fitted in Colombia.

2009

Miss Universe Philippines 2009 Bianca Manalo  went to Colombia prior to arriving in Nassau, Bahamas for Miss Universe for final touches.  Like other Binibinis, she  trained in “poise and grace” in Colombia before she competes with around 80 other contestants from the same number of countries in the 58th Miss Universe Pageant. A report from RCN Colombia told that Bianca had underwent a surgery to remove excess fats on her belly and to give her body the needed sexy curves.

The video also reported that had  some colorization procedure to improve her skin tones/ complexion before flying to the Bahamas.

Video 

2011

Shamcey Supsup was the last Miss Universe Philippines who was sent to Colombia to train for Miss Universe. She stayed in Colombia for 10 days for final touches of her training including final fittings for her wardrobes, evening gown and national costume before proceeding to Sao Paulo, Brazil where she placed as Third Runner Up.