Int'l Pageants
Bulakeña is Bb. Pilipinas Universe
By Bernadette Joven
Mar 7, 2004, 16:40

A 21-YEAR-OLD college student, Maricar Balagtas, from Plaridel, Bulacan, was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe at the annual Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Saturday night.

Organized by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc., the pageant also crowned two other contestants, Ma. Karla Bautista, who was named Bb. Pilipinas-World and Margaret Ann Bayot, who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-International. They will represent the country in the Miss World and Miss International pageants.

The three title-holders were chosen by a panel of judges headed by senatorial candidate Mar Roxas. Other members of the panel were the actor Richard Gutierrez, TV broadcaster Rea Santos, Conchita Bernardo, Cris Yanze, Justice Consuelo Santiago, Miguel Duran Ordoñez, Daniel Martinez, Jose Pardo, Vicente Carlos and Lito Montes.

Besides winning the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe crown, the 5-foot 8 Balagtas also collected most of the special awards including Ms. Red Bull Supreme, Ms. Philippine Airlines, Ms. Eacomm Internet, Ms. Lux 24-hour Beauty, Ms. Cream Silk 100 Percent Super Beautiful Hair and Best in Swimsuit.

In a group of jittery 10 finalists, Balagtas was the picture of poise and confidence, especially during the question and answer portion. When judge Rea Santos asked her what she would want to accomplish if she were to be the country’s leader for a year, she said she wanted to give priority to free education for all. Balagtas is a Mass Communications student at the Centro Escolar University.

The 21-year-old Bb. Pilipinas-World Ma. Karla Bautista hails from Cebu City and is also a Mass Communications student at UP Cebu. When asked by judge Vicente Carlos what role she would want to play if she were a movie star she said she would like to play a mother. “We wouldn’t be who we are without our mothers,” she explained.

The 5-foot 9 inch tall Bb. Pilipinas-International Margaret Ann Bayot, also won the People’s Choice award. A resident of Makati City, Bayot is a B.S. Tourism student at Centro Escolar University. She said she would like to be a flight attendant and own her own travel agency, in response to judge Jose Pardo’s query about what her greatest ambition is.

Previous winners of the Bb. Pilipinas pageants have become celebrities. Its two most famous winners to date are Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran-Floirendo, who were both crowned Miss Universe. However, since Floriendo won in 1973, the Miss Universe crown has eluded the Philippines. Miriam Quiambao, now a TV personality, was first runner-up during the 1999 Miss Universe pageant.

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