It was more a parade of beauties, when the hundred aspirants for Bb. Pilipinas 2011 were screened recently at the Gateway Suites, Araneta Center. It also paved the way for the reconciliation between former Bb. Pilipinas titlists who reportedly had a falling out with the pageant’s chair, Ms. Stella Marquez-Araneta.

2005 Ms. International Precious Lara Quigaman arrived during the screening to show her support to the incoming batch and to her mentor. She was also part of the screening committee. Quigaman, now a freelance web page writer and host, reportedly fell out of grace from Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) when she, along with other Bb. Pilpinas beauty titleholders, surprisingly created their own pageant called “Turismo Filipina” in 2008.

Co-founders, Karen Loren Agustin-Ostrea, who was the country’s bet to Ms. Universe 2002 and Denille Lou Valmonte, Bb. Pilipinas-International 2006, however, said that they never harbored ill feelings against their mentor, Ms. Marquez-Araneta.

 In fact, as soon as their project with the Department of Tourism ended, they were always there to support their mother pageant.

The three Bb. Pilipinas alumnae, along with Ms. Marquez-Araneta, BPCI Executive Directors Pitoy Moreno and Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo, Ms. Universe 2010 finalist Ms. Venus Raj, and other past and current titleholders, patiently screened the applicants who paraded in their casual chic best and sexy swimsuits.

Karen said that she and her co-beauty queens were impressed by beauty and intelligence of the current crop of applicants and expressed that she would be more than willing to help the final 24 candidates in their quest.

Bb. Pilipinas produced Miss Universe titlists, Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran-Florendo, Misses International Precious Lara Quigaman, Aurora Pijuan, and Melanie Marquez.

 Ms. Marquez-Araneta said of the unexpected reunion with her Bb. Pilipinas queens, “They’re back!”

The Bb. Pilipinas Coronation Night will be telecast live in April from their new media partner, ABS-CBN, after BPCI and the Kapamilya network inked recently a five-year alliance. The Ms. Universe Finals will also be telecast live in ABS-CBN from Sao Paolo, Brazil in September.

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Ladine, Vehnee are set for Kazakhstan

Asta Dauysy-Voice of Astana, a prestigious international festival has invited Ms. Ladine Roxas, 2001 Voice of Asia Grand Prize Winner, and prolific songwriter Vehnee Saturno, 2001 Voice of Asia Best Song Composer, to be guest participants in the cultural program of the 7th Winter Asian Games to be held in Kazakhstan on Jan. 31 to Feb. 5, 2011.

The festival will feature the past singing champions of Asia Dauysy-Voice of Asia International Festival from about 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific. Each champion participant will perform one original composition and one internationally known song. Ladine will sing “Go The Distance” and the 2001 Voice of Asia Best Song composed by Vehnee Saturno, “Where There Is Love.”

Multi-talented and hardworking Ladine is one who refuses to rest on her laurels. After her success in Kazakhstan in 2001, she released an international album “How Can I Make You Love Me?” in Europe.

Greatly influenced by her mentor and discoverer Vehnee Saturno, Ladine has indeed gone a long way from school programs and church choir singing.

 She has also tried writing a few songs which were included in two albums she recorded under Viva Records and the London-based Candid Records.

A versatile performer, Ladine has a wide repertoire that crosses from pop to R&B, Broadway to mainstream jazz, standard to Latin beat, etc. So far, she has performed in several countries, among them China (Beijing), Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Canada (Toronto), USA (Virginia and Los Angeles), United Kingdom (London, Blackpool and Manchester), Ireland (Dublin), Spain (Barcelona), Germany (Berlin), France (Nice).

By the way, Ladine and Vehnee are leaving today for Guam where she has been invited to perform for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in celebration of their Chinese New Year to be held at The Leo Palace Hotel from Jan. 28-30.

Ladine is also busy handling the bookings of bands like Music@ts, currently performing at Futian Shangri-La Hotel in Shenzhen; Music Society and MP3 (Music Power of Trio), both performing at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

For their trip to Kazakhstan, Ladine and Vehnee would like to thank Victor Ongkin, Emelio Uy, PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojaz II.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Jan. 28 go to Sen. Loren B. Legarda, Atty. Oscar Orbos, Bernardo Bernardo, Tina Maristela Ocampo, Josie Trinidad Lichauco, Rogelio “JB” Bangsil, Jr., Susan Paredes, Deeda Tanopo, New Jersey, USA-based Helen Banaria, Ric Jumasa, Andok’s Sandy Javier, Regina Yui-Dee, Manuel Silva, Nelson Rosario, Jules Lopez, Miguel D.C. Alegre, Jacob Dionisio of ABS-CBN, and my New York-based sister, Constancia “Ching” M. Schreiner… Happy wedding anniversary to Oliver and Jane Buenaflor, and Oscar and Sally Maliwanag…