The Philippines is Country of the Year 2015

As the year 2015 is about to end let’s recap our country’s successful year in the international beauty pageant scene.

Five lovely Misses Philippines have upgraded their titles to the following:

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (crowned wearing a gown by Filipino designer Albert Andrada)

Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong

Miss Globe 2015 Ann Colis

Miss International Queen 2015 Trixie Maristela

Miss Scuba International 2015 Cindy Madumma

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach was crowned wearing this figure-hugging blue gown
with a dramatic back done by Filipino designer Albert Andrada.

Our other candidates also placed in their respective pageants.

Hillarie Parungao – Miss World 2015 Top 10 and Multimedia Award

Janicel Lubina – Miss International 2015 Top 10 and Miss Best Dresser (dressed by Filipino designer Leo Almodal)

Parul Shah – Miss Grand International 2015 3^rd runner up and Best National Costume (created by Filipino designer Edwin Uy)

Rogelie Catacutan – Miss Supranational 2015 Top 20

Christi Lynn McGarry – Miss Intercontinental 2015 1^st runner up

Miss International Philippines 2015 Janicel Lubina was awarded Best Dresser
for her white sakura flower gown by Filipino designer Leo Almodal.

Miss Grand International Philippines 2015 Parul Shah won Best National Costume
with this golden Muslim-inspired piece by Filipino designer Edwin Uy.

International beauty magazines Missosology and Global Beauties have called us “Country of the Year” this 2015.

We now have a total of 12 crowns in the Big Four international beauty pageants.

Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz

Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

Miss World 2013 Megan Young

Miss International 1964 Gemma Cruz

Miss International 1970 Aurora Pijuan

Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez

Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman

Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago

Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry

Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell

Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong

The Filipina is truly a world-class beauty that stands out!

Let’s continue sending beautiful girls wearing exquisite Filipino designs to international beauty pageants.

From the country with the most beautiful women in the world and in the universe… isang Masayang Bagong Taon sa ating lahat!

Megan Young as Marimar will set your TV on fire

Tom Rodriguez as Sergio and Megan Young as Marimar

Miss World​ 2013 Megan Young​ from Olongapo City is the new Marimar​. 

Marimar is a Mexican TV telenovela that was originally broadcast in 1994 on Mexican media magnate Televisa. With Mexican actress Thalia​ playing the lead role as Marimar the series became a smash hit in many South American and Asian countries including the Philippines. 

Mexican actress Thalia played the role of Marimar in 1994

The telenovela is well-loved in the Philippines that this is the second time a 'Filipinized' version of it will be released. The role Marimar was also previously reprised by Filipina actress Marian Rivera​ in 2007.

The latest edition of Marimar starring Megan is set to premiere on August 24, 2015 on GMA, and will also be aired worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV.

Supporting Megan's in her biggest TV break to date is Tom Rodriguez​ who will play the role of Sergio.

Ariella Arida's towering heels

Check out Miss Philippines Ariella Arida​'s killer heels which she wore during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow.

The power heels boosted her 5 feet 8 inches height while discreetly hiding under the skirt of her yellow gown.

Ariella Arida won Miss Universe 2013 3^rd runner up. Venezuela’s Gabriela Isler was crowned Miss Universe 2013. 

From left: Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler (Venezuela), 3^rd runner up Ariella Arida (Philippines), 1^st runner up Patricia Rodriguez (Spain), 4^th runner up Jakelyne Oliveira, 2^nd runner up Constanza Báez (Ecuador).

Megan Young’s competitor in Miss World 2013 is crowned Miss USA 2015

Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan (left) and Miss World 2013 Megan Young

Olivia Jordan, USA’s representative to Miss World 2013, was crowned Miss USA 2015 in a glamorous coronation ceremony held Sunday night, July 12, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Olivia Jordan hails from Oklahoma.

First runner up was Miss Texas Ylianna Guerra. Second runner up was Miss Rhode Island Anea Garcia. Completing the Top 5 were Miss Nevada Brittany McGowan and Miss Maryland Mame Adjei.

The Rest of Top 11

Miss Alabama Madison Guthrie

Miss Delaware Renee Bull (first time for Delaware to be a finalist in Miss USA)

Miss Hawaii Emma Wo (one of the two Asian-Americans to make Top 15)

Miss Louisiana Candice Bennatt

Miss Michigan Rashontae Wawrzyniak

Miss Kentucky Katie George

The Rest of Top 15

Miss Arizona Maureen Montagne (Filipino-French-American candidate. She’s proud of her Pinoy roots)

Miss Illinois Renee Wronecki

Miss New York Thatiana Diaz

Miss Virginia Laura Puleo

Miss World 2013 was held in Bali, Indonesia where Olivia Jordan made it to the Top 20 and Filipina beauty Megan Young was crowned Miss World.

Miss USA, Miss Universe in shambles

Donald Trump and Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega

Hello, folks! You probably have heard the news. Miss USA​ and Miss Universe are in shambles. 

Things started falling apart shortly after Donald Trump, owner of Miss Universe, announced his US presidential bid. During his announcement speech, he laid out his stance on immigration reform.

"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," he said. "They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists."

Trump's anti-Mexican immigrants tirades had been strongly criticized by Latin immigrants and Latin countries.

How did his words affect Miss USA and Miss Universe? Please read on.

MISS USA AND MISS UNIVERSE BROADCAST CANCELLED

NBC ended its business relationships with Trump -- which meant canceling the upcoming telecast of the Miss USA pageant and next year's telecast of Miss Universe. Trump was also fired as the host of The Apprentice.

Univision, the Spanish language broadcaster of Miss USA in the US, also canceled the pageants’ broadcast.

The good news: Cable and satellite network Reelz stepped in and announced they will broadcast Miss USA saying “this special event, and the women who compete in it, are an integral part of American tradition.”

JUDGES, HOSTS, PERFORMERS, AND SPONSORS WITHDREW FROM MISS USA AND MISS UNIVERSE

Program hosts Cheryl Burke, who’s part Filipino, and MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts have bowed out of Miss USA

Co-host Jeannie Mai who has been part of the Miss USA and Miss Universe shows for five years has stepped down

Rapper Flo Rida, “The Voice” winner Craig Wayne Boyd, and pop singer Natalie La Rose confirmed they will no longer perform for Miss USA

Miss USA judges HGTV star Jonathan Scott, E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins, TV host and former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera and Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith all pulled out of the competition

Long-time sponsor Farouk Systems, makers of CHI and Biosilk, formally announced its withdrawal of its sponsorship of the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA pageants

NATIONAL FRANCHISES CANCELLED PARTICIPATION IN THE PAGEANT

The Miss Panama organization and the Telemetro television channel announced that they won't participate in or broadcast the Miss Universe contest this year

Mexico and Costa Rica have pulled its contestants out of the Miss Universe pageant

Bogota, Colombia withdrew its candidacy to host Miss Universe

MISS UNIVERSE 2014 PAULINA VEGA ASKED TO STEP DOWN

Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, who hails from Colombia, called Trump’s comments “unjust and hurtful.” How Trump reacted to Paulina's sober retort was far from surprising. He called her a "hypocrite."

Trump’s Twitter account @realDonaldTrump tweeted “Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown-Hypocrite”

Pressure on Paulina Vega to quit has increased over the past several days.

For our readers based in the US, do you support Trump’s stance on immigration?

Do you agree with the backlash Miss Universe Organization has been receiving after Trump’s comments?  

How does this affect our candidate Miss Universe Philippines Pia Wurtzbach’s bid to bring home the next Miss Universe Crown?

Share your thoughts. Cheers! :)

Working student from Manila crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2015

Miss Philippines Earth 2015 Angelia Gabrena Ong

Congratulations to the newly crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2015 Angelia Gabrena Ong of Manila. Angelia was crowned during the beauty pageant’s grand coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena last 31 May 2015.

During the Q&A portion, Angelia was asked by actress Zsa Zsa Padilla, "Do you believe in same-sex marriage? Why or why not?"

Angelia answered: "I think, it really depends on the person if he or she believes in (same) sex marriage but as for me, if the person feels that he or she needs to be married to show his or her love, then I don't mind having (same) sex marriage. If you feel that that is love, then so be it."

(From left to right) Miss Philippines-Ecotourism Jona Sweet (Iloilo City), Miss Philippines-Water Catherine Joy Marin (Bago City), Miss Philippines-Earth Angelia Gabrena Ong, Miss Philippines-Air Chanel Olive Thomas (San Antonio, Nueva Ecija) and Miss Philippines-Fire Carla Angela Valderrama (Siniloan, Laguna) 

Here is the full list of winners:

Miss Philippines Earth: City of Manila, Angelia Ong

Miss Philippines Air: San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, Chanel Thomas

Miss Philippines Water: Bago City, Catherine Joy Marin

Miss Philippines Fire: Siniloan, Laguna, Carla Angela Valderrama

Miss Philippines Eco Tourism: Iloilo City, Jona Sweett

This is the list of top 15:

City of Manila, Angelia Ong

Baguio, Sofia Deliu

Cabanatuan, Diana Mackey

Dinalupihan, Bataan, Myle Reyes

San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, Chanel Thomas

Guinobatan, Albay Jian Salazar

Lipa City, Paris Silva

Santa Cruz, Laguna, Alyanna Mikaela Cagandahan

Siniloan, Lagunam Carla Angela Valderrama

Bago City, Catherine Joy Marin

Iloilo City, Jona Sweett

Mandaue City, Mhon Theress Menaling

Cagayan De Oro City, Beatrice Alvarez

Iligan City, Jocehl Cristoria

Misamis Oriental, Mitsume Aguilar

Winners of the special awards:

Best cultural costume: Lipa City, gown designed by Chico Estiva

Best eco video: Ipil Zamboanga Sibugay, Maria Loraine Macay Grengia.

Miss SM Markets: Bago City, Catherine Marin

Miss Hana 2015: Manila, Angelia Ong

TV host Robi Domingo and Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, and Ginger Conejero hosted the pageant.

Congratulations to this year's batch of Earth warriors!

Congratulations to the winners of ProudlyFilipinoMade National Costume Design Contest

Hello, folks!

We would like to thank all those who joined ProudlyFilipinoMade National Costume Design Contest. We received nearly 200 designs from designers from all over the archipelago and even abroad.

I would also like to thank the judges for sharing their talent and time. They are…

Mr. Santi Obcena

2nd runner up Project Runway Philippines Season 2

Finalist MEGA Young Designers Competition 2010

Designer, Signature Style Collection for Boardwalk PH

Designer/Founder, House of Santi

Mr. Mac Taug

Muslim Filipino Fashion Designer

Fashion Designer at Fashion Institute of the Philippines - Ortigas

National Director, Miss Scuba Philippines

CEO, Mr. Moro Philippines Organization

Director, Mac Taug Couture

Mr. Joseph Aloysius Montelibano

Designer, Fiber Fair

Designer, The Pilipinas Men's Fashion Week

Project Runway Philippines Season 3 alumnus

Collaborated with American fashion designer Patricia Field in Sex and the City, New York costume designer Eric Daman in Gossip Girl, and Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles for House of Deréon

And now’s let’s proceed with the announcement of winners.

 4^th Runner Up

Entry 93

"Vinta"

Robert Jerico Francisco

Angeles City, Pampanga

3^rd Runner Up

Entry 173

"Sampaguita"

Amor Albano

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte

2^nd Runner Up

Entry 62

"Maharlikang Bulaklak"

Hady Sabbagh

Carmen, Cebu

1^st Runner Up

Entry 30

"The Pearl of the Orient is the Philippines"

Ronnie Gutierrez Visitacion

Goa, Camarines Sur / Brunei

Winner

Entry 146

"The Manuvu Princess"

Jay-R Gamboa Flores

Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

Congratulations to all the winners! Let’s continue supporting and celebrating ProudlyFilipinoMade designs and products.