MEET THE NEW KID ON THE PAGEANT BLOCK, BIKINING PILIPINAS 2019
Everyone and their grandmother know the Philippines is home to some of the most ardent pageant fans in the world. So, when the people behind Bikining Pilipinas 2019 decided to put up a pageant that would celebrate women with beauty, brains and sex appeal, they hoped the Filipino people would embrace it like they have other pageants.
According to organizers Victor G. Naynes, President and CEO of RV International Talent Management, Events & Productions and Romeo Martin, Co-Founder & Managing Director of RV International Talent Management, Events & Productions, the goal of this pageant is to find a woman who isn’t the least bit shy about strutting her stuff in a swimsuit. They explain there’s a space right now in the Philippine showbiz scene for someone like that
“May agency kasi ako. Minsan tumatawag sa akin yung staff ng mga teleserye, magtatanong sila kung meron akong sexy na talent. Eh wala ako nun sa roster ko at the moment. Saka paano mo ba masusukat ang pagiging sexy? Mahirap kasi kung mag-re-rely ka lang sa pictures na pinapadala ng mga babaeng gustong maging artista. Lalo na sa panahong ito, napakadali dayaain ng mga pictures dahil sa Photoshop. Iba din yung nakikita mo sila sa personal para makita mo kung sexy talaga sila o hindi. Kaya naisip namin gawin itong pageant na ito.”
When he says “namin,” he’s referring to the triumvirate composed of himself, his business partner Romeo Martin and showbiz legend Direk Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz.
When he says “namin,” he’s referring to the triumvirate composed of himself, his business partner Romeo Martin and showbiz legend Direk Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz.
“Kay Direk Bobot galing yung concept nito. Naghahanap din kasi sila ng staff niya ng sexy actress na isasali sa Banana Sundae, yung gag show nila sa ABS-CBN. Sa totoo lang, our original plan was to do a small-scale bikini contest in Boracay. Kaso nung pumasok na yung mga sponsors namin, nag-evolve na ito into a legitimate national pageant. Kaya pinanindigan na namin. Bikining Pilipinas 2019 even has a theme song of its own, composed by the same musician who composed the Binibining Pilipinas one. We were inspired by other pageants, but yung elements na hiniram namin sa kanila, nilagayan pa namin ng sarili naming bali o twist. Anyway, sa panahong ito kasi, bihira ang sexy girls na gustong mag-artista. Kaya this pageant was thought up. Yung winner nito will become a contract artist of my agency and hopefully mapasama siya sa mga shows ni Direk Bobot.”
Victor and his team were pleasantly surprised by the caliber of the girls who auditioned for Bikining Pilipinas 2019. During the auditions, he says they were on the lookout for girls who were more than just pretty faces.
“Yung ibang girls sumali na ng Binibining Pilipinas, Mutya ng Pilipinas, Century Tuna Superbods, at iba pa. Yung mga kinuha naming candidates, sila yung merong beauty, brains and sexiness. Para sa akin kasi, hindi sexy ang pagiging sobrang payat or skinny. We looked for girls na may curves. ‘Di ba ang goal namin is to find someone who can be a sexy actress? Iba kasi ang requirements ng film and TV industry sa fashion. Kung magiging sexy actress ka, hindi ka pwede maging super payat. Kailangan may laman ka. Hindi high-fashion model ang hinahanap namin. Beauty is also a factor kasi merong iba na OK yung katawan nila, pero yung mukha nila medyo may kulang. Iba kasi yung maganda ka lang sa sexy ka talaga, ‘di ba? So dapat, total package. Masaya naman kami kasi marami kaming nahanap na ganun,” he says.
Details of what will happen on the coronation night are being kept under wraps, but Victor says the program will be similar to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. However, the Bikining Pilipinas 2019 girls will wear elaborate costumes built around swimsuits, not underwear. The panel of judges will be composed of Direk Bobot, actress Jenny Miller and some of the sponsors. One of the Kapamilya network’s top leading men is also in talks to be a judge.
The 28 aspirants will be whittled down to a Top 15. After that first cut, 10 more will be eliminated, leaving five girls in the running. From the Top 5, only three will move on to the final round. The Top 3 will battle it out to see who will be named second runner-up, first runner-up and Miss Bikining Pilipinas 2019. This year’s titleholder will receive a management contract from RV International, P100,000 in cash, and be first in line for certain opportunities to make it big in showbiz.
Victor hopes Bikining Pilipinas 2019 will become a success. He prays that Filipino pageant fans will embrace the new kid on the pageant block so they can give one fun, fearless female the opportunity of a lifetime, year after year.
“If Bikining Pilipinas 2019 becomes successful, we plan to do it again and again,” he says.
The Bikining Pilipinas 2019 Coronation Night will take place on May 1, 2019. It will be held at The Island, Uptown BGC at 6:00 PM. For ticket inquiries, call 0923-9989479 or 0945-8440658.
March 31, 2019
Lansbergh Place Condominium< Tomas Morato
Photos by Joy Arguil
Lansbergh Place Condominium< Tomas Morato
Photos by Joy Arguil
