Traffic stood still as the parade of forty lovely candidates of Bb. Pilipinas 2016 passed by around the streets of Araneta Center on Saturday, April 9.
More than the press presentation, talent competition and the national costume show, much awaited by the public is the annual parade of beauties where 40 comely Binibinis rode on vintage Miata cars and wore summer-themed rainbow-colored bikinis designed by Domz Ramos.
The parade of beauties drew a sizeable crowd and if the public could be the judge, votes would go to the most crowd-pleasing and genuinely approachable candidates, which for this year’s batch, are aplenty.
The candidates, like Maria Gigante, Nicole Manalo, Paula Rich Bartolome, Faith Garcia and Angelique de Leon, were so overwhelmed by the crowd’s warm reception which they said have helped take away the pressure and boost their morale. They were also proud to see small children waiting to see the parade while they expected the usual admiring men to come and take selfies with them.
The annual parade, which was joined by the reigning queens Miss Intercontinental 2015 1st runner-up Christy McGarry, Miss International 2015 Top 10 Janicel Lubina and Miss Supranational 2015 semi-finalist Rogelie Catacutan, is the last of Bb. Pilipinas preliminary-activities prior to the exciting grand coronation night to be held on April 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, telecast live on ABS-CBN.
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, who has just been honored by the Philippine Postal Corporation with the issuance of special commemorative stamp featuring her own image, is expected to return from New York in time for her scheduled press conference on April 14. Wurtzbach could not wait to see who would inherit her title as the Philippine representative to the 2016 Miss Universe pageant. That lucky girl could come from this list, based on the candidates’ performance during the press presentation, fashion show and parade of beauties: Maxine Medina, Nicole Manalo, Nicole Cordoves, Kristine Estoque, Paula Rich Bartolome, Kylie Verzosa, Maria Gigante, Dindi Pajares, Apriel Smith, Jennifer Hammond, Angelica Lopez, Maria Lina Prongoso, Jennyline Malpaya, Angelica Alita and Sheena Dalo.
Dark horses are Joanna Eden, Edjelyn Gamboa, Faith Garcia, Sarah Bona, Vina Openiano, Kimberlie Penchon, Angelique De Leon, and Angela Fernando.