#GettingToKnowYou:

Miss World Philippines 2018 Official Candidate #14 Monique Cuyugan Tuzon

“My name is Angelica Tuzon, however I go by Monique. I am 25 years old. I just got back in Manila from living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I graduated with a Communications- Mass Media degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte.

Being a Filipina in Charlotte, I really embraced my heritage representing the Filipino Community at Miss Asia Carolinas (2012) where I won the title.

I am currently a producer/reporter at Solar Entertainment Corporation. My hobbies are cooking and eating because it’s where I can spend quality time with my Lola. She is Kapampangan, so she has secret recipes that date back to our great great grandparents. I also love to travel. I actually took a year off after college to travel and backpack around Southeast Asia!

My advocacy is that I support same sex union and provide them with equal rights. Brief but meaningful.”

#MissWorldPhilippines2018

As it is right now, the raging battle in Miss World Philippines is shaping up to be a toss between the flag-bearers of the two beauty camps – Katarina Rodriguez for Aces & Queens and Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez for Kagandahang Flores.

Both ladies are strongly stepping it up in the competition. They performed excellently during the Beach Beauty/Swimsuit Competition in El Nido, Palawan where they made it to the Top 7 Finalists in the challenge. And where the singer in Alyssa proved mightier in Talent (she is one of the 7 Finalists), Katarina scored it even by making it to the Sports Challenge activity.

Alyssa and Katarina (3rd and 5th from left) during the announcement of the Swimsuit Competition Top 7

The entire Blue Team won and each member made it as Finalists for the Sports Challenge

Both Katarina and Alyssa are dead serious in winning the highest crown. But only one will prevail in the end, and the other with a title that won’t be as prestigious as the one for Miss World.

What’s your take on the two, dear readers?

Miss World Philippines 2018 Candidate No. 34 Denielle Joie Nuñez Magno is 25 years old and is representing the Province of Pangasinan.

An experienced Flight Attendant, she is also an entrepreneur, after opening a cafe in the province where all the proceeds of the hot chocolate will go directly to Haven for Women-DSWD Regional Center. It is a shelter for abused women and children in Dagupan city

Denj has won several titles such as Miss Bayambang 2010, Bb. Zambales 2011, Miss Dagupan 2011, Miss Galicayo-Camilliana 2012 and Limgas na Pangasinan 2016 1st RU. She was also the Philippine delegate for Miss ASEAN Friendship 2017 in Vietnam.

Read my exclusive Q&A with her below:

1) What sets you apart from the 39 other candidates of MWP?

“I’d like to believe that being morena sets me apart from the rest. I always get compliments about my skin tone and how very Filipina my features are. They always recall me as ‘the morena girl’ and I’d like to take that as my advantage. I am so happy that people are starting to appreciate the true skin color of Filipinos and I’ll always be proud to showcase it to everybody.”

2) How has your advocacy in the competition helped form the character in becoming the person that you are right now?

“Actually, I was able to find my greater purpose through my advocacy. I am thrusting on an awareness campaign against Sexual Harassment back home. Being able to share a piece of me with everybody made me feel more significant in this world and I put myself responsible in this campaign that I’m pushing. I aim to educate everyone, most especially the youth that Sexual Harassment is never right and will never be okay.”

3) What good will it do the Miss World Philippines Organization if you win one of the titles on October 7?

“Miss World Philippines Organization will have nothing to worry about if I will get one of the crowns on Oct. 7. At the age of 18, I have already shared responsibilities with my mom by raising our family. I was able to sent my sisters to school even though I was still studying back then. At the age of 22, I worked as an OFW in Doha, Qatar. At the age of 25, I already established one of my goals in life and that is to put up a business of my own. I know how it feels to have nothing, I know how to work hard towards the accomplishment of my goals and I wouldn’t waste a single minute if the World would be given to me.”

When Sirene Sutton joined Bb. Pilipinas 2017 and came out of it without a title to be proud of, she was disappointed to say the least. She thought she gave it her best at the time. Months after the summer journey, she remained uncertain whether a second attempt in the nationals is worth reconsidering. Personally, though, I have always told her to give it one more shot because she has what it takes to become a big league winner.

I am aware that she has been training with Aces & Queens. Flag bearer of the beauty camp or not she has the goods and the preparation to make it. Let’s see if she will see through the edition this year and become a second-time Binibini and – fingers crossed – a titleholder this time around.

Binibini Watch List 2019:

Bea Patricia Magtanong

She has been wooed to join Bb. Pilipinas for the longest time. Priority was given to her UP Diliman studies, though. She completed her undergraduate degree in Economics first before heading to UP College of Law.

And now that the #IskolarNgBayan is a Juris Doctor (JD) 2014-2018, Patch has finally decided to hold true to the commitment of doing national pageantry.

2019 is when she will shine the brightest – beauty, brains and personality all in one package.

Watch out for her filing. Very soon.

#PatchMagtanong

The towering April May Short filed her application for Bb. Pilipinas 2019 yesterday and will return for her next interview today – the deadline for submission when many of the more familiar names and faces are expected to register.

She is definitely the #PrideOfZamboanga! Those long legs alone stretch like forever! Aces & Queens must be really proud of this national pageant newbie.

Here she is – Aya Abesamis – and her look during the submission of application for Bb. Pilipinas 2019.

I bet she will surprise more strongly in this second turn.

Dress: Marionne Jewel
Earrings: Chanel
Make-up: Albert Kurniawan
Hair: Teejay
Styling: Jamil Sultan

#AYAmazing
#AYAnasiya

Meanwhile, The uber lovely Nicole Guerrero shines bright during her filing of application for Bb. Pilipinas 2019 (photo below).

She is wearing a Mikee Andrei, with makeup by Raymond Galang and hair by Dave Grona.

#NicoleGuerrero

Get to know more about your #Binibini29 Cassandra Chan through dance.

She is a certified ballet dancer of the Philippine Ballet Theatre. What’s more, she graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication.

Watch the brief video clip below.

Arnold, Jonas and Nad: the three original pillars of Aces & Queens

I am posting in full the farewell message of Jonas Gaffud to Aces & Queens.

GOODBYE
Eighteen Years with Aces and Queens

When my friends and I founded Aces and Queens, our intention is to prepare young women to be queens for national and international pageants. Our group got bigger, as the number of girls we train or who asked to be trained by us, also grew. And we have trained them with passion, love and dedication without asking anything in return. Though we have permanent jobs, our only reward was to see them grow as persons, and bring honor to our country. We never knew it would be this big.

As much as I would love to continue training girls as head of Aces and Queens, I believe it is time for me to leave the group to pursue other endeavors. As such, I will focus on developing and sustaining advocacies which are close to our hearts: education of children, and raising funds for their causes, LGBTQIA rights & awareness, tourism for the Philippines and women empowerment.

I thank Aces and Queens, all the girls we have trained since 2001, everyone who has trusted me and above all, Filipino pageant lovers and supporters, without which we would not have achieved our successes in international pageantry.

Huge thanks to all camps, mentors, teams, groups, glam teams, designers for making the beauty pageant industry alive. I salute how the camps brought out the best in the Filipina. No one can take that away from them – their hardwork and dedication.

And many thanks to local and international organizations specially BbPilipinas Charities Inc and the Miss Universe Organization.

Let’s support our queens. We are Team Philippines after all.

Mabuhay at maraming salamat.

The entire Aces & Queens family

Is it just me or is the rivalry of beauty camps not as pronounced in this year’s edition of Bb. Pilipinas compared to the past number of years? Truth be told, it was only now in the homestretch of the competition that I am blogging about this subject matter when it was usually just a day or two of the announcement of Official Candidates that I would do so.

There are those who quip that beauty camps are divisive. But in a pageant-crazy nation like the Philippines, they are already embedded in the fabric of national beauty pageants. They are the crucial support system of the ladies in all the preparations, just as much as being the source of moral and emotional guidance as secondary parents of sorts. I believe that they are here to stay for good.

And then there are the brave Independents who weathered the ups and downs of the journey since Day 1. They have their allies here and there, but nothing that would equate to strength in numbers.

In tomorrow night’s Grand Coronation, expect the camp wars to still be felt, but not to stormy proportions. After all, half of the indies are still in the thick of the fight as front-runners. And if the breaks come their way, I won’t be surprised if they can successfully follow Catriona’s trail in 2018 when she decided to go through the entire thing as one.

Just to formalize now, below are the photo grids of the Binibinis from Kagandahang Flores (KF) Camp and Team Aces&Queens, plus the quartet of Independents in Bb. Pilipinas 2019.

The seventeen Binibinis from KF Camp

Twelve (12) ladies comprise the shortlist from where eight final choices will be fielded by Aces & Queens for Miss World Philippines 2019.

Nine of them are pictured above during the private screening held by the beauty camp. Here are hints on their identity:

1) a Fil British beauty, 2) a model and TV actress, 3) a runner up in a national pageant, 4) a speech pathologist, 5) a Balikbayan beauty, 6) a reigning queen and 7) a runner-up of a local pageant plus 8)the daughter of a beauty queen. The other beauties are first timers in beauty pageants.

Care to guess who they are?

Photo and hint credit: @gerryd16 #missworldphilippines2019 #acesandqueens

With our Queens starting off their international pageant missions next month, the cycle has reached the stage of building up a new batch of potential candidates for 2020.

Once more, Aces & Queens is opening its doors to young Filipinas who wish to be part of the beauty camp for 2020.

Check out the requirements in the poster above. You may email inquiries directly to: acesandqueens@gmail.com.

Deadline for submission: October 4, 2019.

#acesandqueens #batch2020

Atty Nad Bronce (2nd from left) with Megan, Kylie and Pia

The Q&A Mentor/Specialist of Aces & Queens – Atty. Nad Bronce – has now left the beauty camp.

#Repost @sigulanon
・・・
I think it is through my training sessions with candidates that I developed my passion for mentoring. I have to constantly learn and relearn skills, styles and strategies throughout my 18 years of being the Q and A trainer for A&Q. Haha. I have to love challenges as I need to constantly challenge myself. Overall, this has been a learning experience. More than that, however, it is the friendships formed that are more invaluable. Thank you to all former and present AQ members for the friendship! Thank you, Mama J and Mama Ru! Direk Jeff, Direk Ces, and Tito Gerry, thank you for “discovering” me. Haha. I am grateful. I am most thankful though for all the girls I have trained. To paraphrase Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach’s words, it’s the candidates- the girls- who are A&Q’s legacy. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to meet all of you and though my contribution is just a little, I am happy to have been part of your lives. Proud of all of you! Lately though, I’ve been thinking about new challenges in legal and policy work. Yes, the responsibility of training girls and see them grow into confident women is an honor, but I hope to focus on these new challenges for now. So with a heavy heart, I have to leave A&Q. You have been a family! Thank you, Aces and Queens! My gratitude to all of you! #acesandqueens

Now this is one teaser that I am dead serious about actually happening in 2020. And it’s not just because she could be one of the most gorgeous faces that any of our national beauty pageants will have next year. She also has such a spontaneous personality that blends with an engaging physical presence.

Daisha Jimenez gave it one pre-empted try a number of years back (in 2017 if memory serves me right) when she was introduced during a mock pageant of KF held at the House Manila. She did not push through with the actual application with Bb. Pilipinas, though. I was a bit disappointed then because she has all the makings of a winner. Good height (minimum of 5’9”), standout looks, excellent communication skills and, oh, she can also sing.

If you have watched the trailer of the upcoming teleserye of ABS-CBN titled “Make It With You”, Daisha somehow reminds me of the Billy/Belinda character that lead female star Liza Soberano is playing. Now it comes as no coincidence that I am making a comparison here. There simply is a striking semblance between these two. But that’s as far as I would describe the former because she has a marked identity all her own.

I really don’t care much whichever camp gets to field her (although I was told that she was supposed to join Bb. Pilipinas earlier this year under A&Q). The important thing is that she gets convinced to finally give her nod. And that 2020 is the year to do it. If the upload of her latest photo below is any hint, she could be considering it at the very least. And I am keeping my fingers crossed. She is definitely a keeper!

Eastern Visayas represent in today’s teaser. And this beautiful lady from Burauen, Leyte is sure to make heads turn in 2020. She is already decided on joining a national pageant. As to which, I will know soon enough.

Now before you think that Venisse Charm Costibolo is just a pretty provinciana who wants to try out for a national beauty pageant that may seem like a larger than life ambition compared to what your initial impressions are, let me add that she is not a greenhorn in the industry anymore. She was Reyna Ng Aliwan 2nd Runner-Up last 2017 – her highest reach in the recognized national level so far. Prior to that, she was Miss National PASUC 2016 (Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges), Miss Eastern Visayas State University 2016 and Ms Silka Leyte 2016 1st Runner Up.

To some, these achievements may be small-time. But to this stunner, she is proud to have started from the grassroots and trained her way slowly but surely before rising in the proper hierarchy of competitions in the provincial and regional sets.

About two years ago as well, the then 18 year-old Venisse (who stands 5’6”) was already recruited by Aces & Queens for their training. She did not pursue the whole nine yards of it, believing that the right time to make her debut in either Bb. Pilipinas or Mutya Pilipinas should happen after a year or two. Or when she turns 20. Both conditions are now satisfied.

This 2020, Venisse will charm (no pun intended) her way to your hearts soon!

Ever wondered about the individuals behind Aces & Queens now?

Well, the group photo below should answer your question.

Front row, sitting (l-r): Ian Mendajar, Raymond Galang and Mikee Andrei;

Middle row, standing (l-r): Dave Grona, John Jay Graciano Cuay, Cesar Evangelista, Gerry Diaz, Jim Ryan Ros and Maui Kline Potente;

Third row, standing (l-r): Direk Jeffrey Jeturian and Dave Ocampo.

Missing but part of the group: Carissa Cielo Medved, Albert Kurniawan and Atty JV Salud (Q&A mentor)

Photo credit: Dion Besa

#acesandqueens

ACES & QUEENS 2020
Passion. Mission. Vision
Passion
– for Beauties and Pageants.
Mission
– to help beauty queen wannabes.
Vision
-to produce national and International winners

Aces & Queens will be fielding ten (10) highly-competitive ladies for Miss Universe Philippines 2020. Except for four of them, I have already blogged about the six others the past month and a half.

This is a mix of familiar names with relatively new faces in pageantry. Earlier today, they filed their applications at the Empire Studios. Hopefully, all ten will be annointed Official Candidates next month.

First off is Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2018 Michele of Quezon City – easily the most popular in the group aside from being a TV personality of ABS-CBN.

Next is Mutya ng Pilipinas Global Beauty Queen 2018 Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol who is in her second attempt in national pageantry.

Third on the list is Maria Isabela Galeria of Sorsogon who was a Binibini during last year’s edition of Bb. Pilipinas.

The first-ever Binibining Cebu Apriel Smith is also in the roster. She was a Bb. Pilipinas candidate back in 2016 and is making her big return to the big league.

We also have Paula Ortega of Ligao, Albay – the younger sister of Gabriela Madarieta Ortega who was a former Binibini and Miss World Philippines candidate.

And then there is Riana Pangindian of Pasig City who was part of Bb. Pilipinas 2016. She is now a highly polished version and is ready to go full blast in MUP2020.

Lou Dominique Piczon of Cebu comes next. The Binibining Cebu Heritage 2018 is going for her very first plunge into a national competition. And boy, is she raring to go!

Eighth is Mari Danica Reynes who joined Miss World Philippines 2018 and is a very talented singer. While there is no talent segment in MUP, she will make up for it in other areas.

Chiara Lyn Markwalder of Leyte was part of Miss Global Philippines previously. With Aces & Queens, she has bloomed better than ever before.

Completing the group is Kia Moreno of Camarines Sur, the CebuPac FA who was seen last in Miss Philippines Earth 2019. She has now moved to Aces & Queens for MUP.

Know more about them soon!

For those curious about Hannah Arnold, she filed her Bb. Pilipinas 2020 application today. She is now under Aces & Queens.

#hannaharnold #bbpilipinas2020

There’s this other anticipated aspirant for Bb. Pilipinas 2020. And she will be filing her application today.

Of course, you know her very well.

Maureen Montagne is formerly with Aces & Queens and has now crossed over to KF Camp in her bid to win a Bb. Pilipinas crown.

Your thoughts, dear readers?

#bbpilipinas2020 #maureenmontagne