Filipino designers to dress future Binibining Pilipinas winners

After receiving negative comments on the use of gowns and costumes created by foreign designers, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) has invited Filipino designers to send in their creative national costume designs which will be worn by Binibining Pilipinas queens in international beauty contests.

BPCI chair Stella Marquez Araneta said that the deadline for sending of the designs will be on or before Tuesday, September 15, 2015.

Aside from Mrs. Araneta, members of the BPCI panel that will choose the winning national costumes include Conchitina Bernardo, Chit Guerrero of ABS-CBN, and designer Christian Espiritu.

The designers must submit their colored sketches with brief gown descriptions via email to bpci@aranetagroup.com following an 8 x 10 jpeg or pdf file format.

The BPCI sends delegates to prestigious pageants such as Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Globe, and Miss Grand International.

In January, the BPCI was severely criticized for allowing Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa to wear a national costume created by a foreign designer at the 63rd Miss Universe contest in Miami, Florida.

Lastimosa made it to the Top 10 but lost to Paulina Vega of Colombia.

Mrs. Araneta has said that she understands the passion of Filipino designers to clothe the Binibining Pilipinas queens for the international pageant stage and is open to the creations and designs of these brilliant Filipino talents.

Two of the chosen national costume designs are expected to be worn by 2014 Bb. Pilipinas Tourism Parul Shah and 2015 Bb. Pilipinas Tourism Ann Colis.

Shah is set to compete in the 2015 Miss Grand International contest in Thailand on Oct. 26 while Colis will join the Miss Globe pageant in Canada on Oct. 11. Shah will fly to Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 4 while Colis will leave for Toronto, Canada on Sept. 20.