Search for Bb. Cebu 2018 begins
Armed with lessons learned from their first pageant attempt last year, the Binibining Sugbu Charity Foundation, Inc. and the Sacred Heart School for Boys Batch (SHS-B) 1985 Foundation, Inc. return as they begin their call for the second batch of ladies who wish to claim the Binibining Cebu crown.
In a press conference at The Pyramid, Cebu, I.T. Park yesterday, Bb. Cebu creators Kenneth Lim, Cary Santiago, Kenneth Cobonpue, and Raymond Tio, alongside their first queens Bb. Cebu 2017 Apriel Smith, Bb. Cebu Tourism Samantha Ashley Lo, and Binibining Cebu Charity Maria Gigante also looked back on the past year and pictured just how the pageant and the charity’s future would play out. Last year’s Sta. Fe representative and Bb. Cebu 2017 semifinalist Natasha Manuel, was also present as she now holds the position of Binibining Sugbu Charity Foundation, Inc. Executive Assistant.
“Last year, for a lot of us [SHS-B 1985 Foundation members], Bb. Cebu was the first pageant we have ever watched,” SHS-B 1985 Foundation president Kenneth Lim begins. “This year, we’re going to have an easier path.”
Lim says that the cities and municipalities have reached out to them and are looking forward to working together once again.
Creative director Kenneth Cobonpue is clearly pleased with their feat last year. The challenge now according to the renowned designer is thinking of ways to make the event better.
“I think last year was a very hard act to top. Our pre-pageant events were on a different level. Cary and I have been talking and brainstorming on how we could do it better,” Cobonpue says.
Geared to outdo their own work during the inaugural staging, a few elements have been tweaked to keep things exciting. For one, Cobonpue eyes to utilize more Cebuano talents and developing them for the global dreams of the competition.
“We want to use more Cebuano talent, and reinvent, develop new performances. This will be a celebration of Cebuano creativity. Our makeup artists and designers, everyone was Cebuano. The only ones who are not from Cebu were the performers. We wanted to rely on star power then but we should be confident in our own talent. We’ve been compiling a list of possible performers. There is a big community of musicians. We want to bring them out and what they can show to the rest of the country,” Cobonpue explains.
The task of finding muses to represent 54 cities and municipalities is no easy feat. As the organizers begin to scour the province, talk of opening the pageant not only for native Cebuanas but also those who identify as a Cebuana (as long as you’ve spent at least six months as a resident in Cebu) came through.
The organizers, who have since promised to bring nothing less than world class on the table, muses that opening the competition to those of other cultures could be one way of tipping the global scale to Cebu’s favor.
Master couturier and pageant chair Cary Santiago says that Cebuanos should act local but think global – seeing as many foreigners have made a home in Cebu. The designer sees that it wouldn’t be so bad to open the competition to those who think they can represent Cebu regardless of roots. Santiago presses that the world is getting smaller, and hopes to let this borderless culture start in Cebu through the pageant.
The Binibining Cebu queens also had their, rather divided say on the matter.
“I agree with Mommy Cary. Making a borderless world for everybody gives Cebu a big opportunity to make ourselves known. It’s touching for me to find someone who is not Cebuano but can speak for Cebuanos with the same passion that we do,” 24year-old Gigante quips.
Lo found the topic a bit close to home, having no Cebuano blood in her veins.
“I think I’m living proof. I moved to Cebu years ago. Cebu has become my home and I’m very proud to represent them [Cebuanos]. Out of all the places in the world, there’s this love in Cebu. Why should we contain what’s here and keep the rest of the world outside. These gentlemen [organizers] and Mommy By KARLA RULE
Photos by YASUNARI RAMON TAGUCHI
Cary, they are global, well-rounded people. They brought their creativity to all parts of the world. We owe it to the rest of the world to knock down borders and accept everyone,” Lo, a Nursing student, reasons.
For 22-year-old Smith, the beauty queen-model is a bit torn. She thinks that it would make more sense for a Cebu native to represent the area in national and international levels, and somehow fears that it wouldn’t be Bb. Cebu without having someone from Cebu wearing the crown.
“But it’s okay. It depends on the situation. So, I’m 50-50,” Smith, who hopes to join Bb. Pilipinas again, says.
Winning not only a crown but also a job, the three winners have been keeping busy throughout their reign. After their life changing journey – apart from the career opportunities that have opened for them – the trio have taken steps to live up to their titles’ purpose.
As promised, the winning cities and municipalities will be receiving a prize in kind through their muses. Smith of Badian town in the South of Cebu aims to bring back sportsmanship as a way of preventing the youth from engaging in drugs. The volleyball player also wants to bring back Filipino children’s games like takyan, patintero and jackstone.
Gigante of Bantayan gears her community transformation goals towards livelihood workshops. Combining her love for fashion and outreach work, the Philosophy major plans to teach residents basic sewing and utilizing sustainable materials.
Matching her project with her eco-friendly advocacy, Lo recently accomplished her labor of love for the town of Asturias after a successful turnover of a solar panel system for the local infirmary.
Bb. Cebu hopefuls could take a leaf or two from the inaugural queens’ books. Smith, for one, advises: “Be yourself. The secret is your personality and attitude towards your co-candidates and organizers. Second, your skills.”
Gigante, who says she got her dream job of representing Cebu through the pageant, reminds Bb. Cebu aspirants to keep an eye on their intention.
“Always have a grasp on your sense of purpose. I have to remind myself that it’s not so much about the things that I stand for, or my beliefs and causes. We’re really just instrumental to a larger cause. That and have fun,” Gigante says.
As for Lo, it’s doing your homework. “Something I learned from my mother is to always be gracious towards every opportunity presented to you. I was the farthest from being a beauty queen. In the end, you really have to do your homework. Stay focused. Take care of yourself and know who you’re working with,” she says.
The pageant will officially begin on August 24 with the presentation of Bb. Cebu candidates at SM Seaside City Cebu. The Philippine Terno Competition will be staged closer to home compared to last year’s trip to the municipality of Argao. The Terno Competition this year will be on September 7 at SM Seaside City Cebu, followed by the Swimsuit Competition on September 28 at the Cebu Grand Convention Center. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino welcomes Bb. Cebu once again on October 26th for the grand Coronation Night.
The Bb. Cebu title holder will take home P500,000 in cash and P300,000 in kind; Bb. Cebu Tourism winner will be granted P300,000 in cash and P 100,000 in kind; while P200,000 in cash and P50,000 in kind awaits the Bb. Cebu Charity title holder.
This year’s edition of the pageant welcomes former candidates, and is open to all naturally born female citizens, at least 5’4” in height when barefoot, and must be 17 years old on or before August 1, 2018.