Kim Chiu shows off unique birthday cake from Goya.

MANILA, Philippines -- The “Binibining Universidad” proved to be a unique contest searching for peace emissaries in universities established to spread unity by appointing a public service delegation throughout the country.

The first of its kind in local pageant industry, “Binibining Universidad” sends winners to “World Miss University” to represent the country. Grand finals of “Binibining Unibersidad 2011” will be held today, June 23, at the UP Theater. At the helm are Ms. Arlene Vergara and Gareth Blanco as director.

Like most beauty contests, the pageant also serves as stepping stone to showbiz career opportunities for contestants, but the organizing committee argued that its goal is to empower the Filipino women.

“Actually we’re trying to empower Filipino women through this pageant so we could prepare them to be our future leaders,” explained Judith Arlyn Vergara, the President/CEO of Binibining Unibersidad Peace Emissaries, Inc (BUPEI).

“This is why we are into empowering Filipino women and we are into gender equality. We really want to help the Millenium Development Goal. The Philippines should address by 2015 the eight concerns of the MDG and with our organization, we are focusing on gender equality and empowering Filipino women,” she said. “We urge all Pinays to share and promote what is the meaning of a true Filipina. This is the inspiration behind this pageant and for me this is the right channel to promote peace through Global Unity.”

The “World Miss University” pageant was established in 1986 Seoul, Korea by the UN Affiliated NGO, International Association of University Presidents. The event was participated by 60 outstanding female university students, or what they called “Peace Emissaries” from around the world.

The “Binibining Universidad” is patterned after the “World Miss University.” Ultimately, the queens produced by these young pageants will implement different projects in social change in the campuses in line with the title Ambassadors of Peace & Social Change.

The advocacies carried out by campus queens are also dubbed B.E.A.U.T.Y. for Balanced Lifestyle (Health & Wellness), Environmental Awareness & Responsiveness (Climate Change, 3Rs, Environmental Preservation), Advocacy Assertiveness on Anti – Drugs Campaign and Disaster Management Information Drive, Unified Program on Cultural Peace (Basic Peace Education for Ecumenical, Inter-faith, & Socio-Civic Related Affairs), Transformational Education and Youth Leadership.

The ambassadors

Title-holders become part of Ambassador for Peace and Social Change (APSC) enabling them to carry certain advocacies nationwide.

Among those sent by BUPEI to international beauty pageants are Wendy Lucas (Ms. Cagayan State University & Ms. PASUC 2008) for International Model of the Year 2009 in Korea and Ms. Tourism Intercontinental 2010 in Malaysia; Ella Castillo from De La Salle University – College of St. Benilde for Ms. Global Teen 2010 and won as Ms. Global Teen for Asia & the Pacific; Sabrine Al-Tawil from Philippine Colleges of Science and Health for Ms. Friendship International in China; and Yvette Marie A. Santiago (Ms. Bicol University) for Ms. World University 2010 in Seoul, Korea and won the Best Speech Award and Best in National Costume.

Kim Chui’s unique birthday cake

Kim Chiu was pleasantly surprised when she received a unique present from Goya, her latest product endorsement, during her birthday celebration at the popular Sunday noontime show “ASAP Rocks” of ABS-CBN.

The cake came in pink, Kim’s favorite color, and is made of Goya baking products like Goya Coca Powder and Goya Easy Melt Dark Chocolate Buttons. The small yet meaningful gesture was also the company’s way of showing its appreciation to the young actress for making Goya even more popular among Filipino consumers today through her cute Goya Twist TV ads that shows Kim’s versatility as an actress.

Goya products were also given to the “ASAP” audience after the show.

For the recipe of the Goya cake, go to http://www.facebook.com/GoyaChocolates.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Thursday, June 23, go to Daisy Reyes, Lady Valerie, Dr. Sol Alvarez, Mitzie Regala, Tommy Reyes, Rudy dela Pena, Paco Pili, Harold Chris Benedict Doles Orpilla III, Joselitoo Naidas, Aileene Eusebio, Jason Roland N. Valdez, L.S.A. Celeste, Cara and Manu D.C. Alegre and California-based Manny Parlan… Belated b-day greetings to Gigi Esguerra of Marilao Bulacan (June 22)...