Binibining Pilipinas Trivia

1964 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Myrna Panlilio and the country’s other top ramp models appeared in a travelogue fashion show, Sights & Sounds of Pacifica ’68, a Honolulu TV format aired every Sunday, filmed in Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Mexico City. Myrna was a finalist in the 1964 Filipina Maid of Cotton

1964 semifinalist Edna Keyes was introduced in Lalaine, Mahal Kita (1964, topbilled by Lalaine Bennett 1963 Miss Philippines and Miss Universe 3rd runner up). Edna was also Miss Luzon, 1st runner up to 1964 Miss Philippines International Gemma Cruz.

1965 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Louise Vail Aurelio, an American mestiza, was a track and field athlete from Iloilo. She appeared with 1964 Miss International Gemma Cruz in Sunduan which was featured in Sampaguita movie Romansa sa World’s Fair (1965, topbilled by Susan Roces and Romeo Vasquez).

1965 2nd runner up Sehba Mulok (real name: Georgie Reisland), a Muslim princess by birth from Kiamba, Cotabato, appeared in People’s Pictures movies using Soraya as her screen name. Her film credits include Captain Barbell Kontra Captain Baka and Hong Kong 999 (both in 1965)

Other Muslim princess who have joined the pageant include Emraida Kiram (1966 candidate and later Miss RP-World 1966), Yasmin Kiram (1968 semifinalist and later 1970 Miss Caltex finalist) and Ava Quibranza (1979 Bb. Pilipinas- Maja)

1967 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Pilar Pilapil was crowned by Claudine Auger, 1958 Miss World 1st runner up who became a Bond Girl. Neil Sedaka was the special guest during the pageant.

1968 3rd runner up Tina Artillaga entered showbiz eight years after the contest, first in Hoy Mister, Ako Ang Misis Mo (1976) starring Joseph Estrada and Elizabeth Oropesa, and then in Mga Sekretaryang Walang Silya (1976).

1968 Miss Philippines International 2nd runner up Fortune Aleta is presently the honorary Consul of Monaco to the Philippines. She’s a cum laude Optometry graduate from CEU. Fortune was also 1968 Mutya ng Pilipinas 1st runner up (Jane de Joya).

Nineteen days before she was crowned 1969 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gloria Diaz was one of the seven finalists in the 1969 Quest for a Model search won by Maricar Azaola who became Gloria’s 3rd runner up in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. It was 1963 Miss Caltex Elsa Payumo who tapped Gloria to join the Bb. Pilipinas contest.

1970 Bb. Pilipinas International and 1970 Miss International Aurora Pijuan was one of the members of the 12 Young VIP Council of Rustan’s in 1968 (along with Camay Girl actress Maritess Revila and 1969 Queen of the Pacific runner up Emma Ruth Yulo).

1970 1st runner up Imelda Pagaspas was in the cast of the longest running afternoon soap, Flordeluna (1979 – 1983), starring Janice de Belen.

1972 2nd runner up and Miss Photogenic Polly Penson was paired with Dolphy in Bornebol, Special Agent (1974). She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas in 1974 and placed 2nd runner up in the Miss Asia pageant that year.

1975 Bb. Young Pilipinas Jean Saburit made her acting debut in an episode of Habang May Buhay on Channel 13 after her reign. Leroy Salvador was impressed and included Jean in the cast of Tang Tarang Tang for three seasons. Her first movie was Kapten Batuten (1977), first starring role was in Kaladkarin (1980) and first title role was in Babae sa Ulog (1981). Jean won the Miss Yukata (Best in Summer Kimono) Award in the 1976 Miss Young International

1976 1st runner up and Best in Swimsuit Celita de Castro portrayed the young Vilma Valera in Rosa Negra (1962, topbilled by Lolita Rodriguez). Celita was crowned Miss Hawaii USA in 1977 and was one of the semifinalists in the Miss USA 1977 (for Miss Universe) pageant. She also appeared in Eddie Romero’s Banta ng Kahapon (1977) and had a supporting guest role in Charlie’s Angels (starring Jaclyn Smith, Farah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd) Season 2/3 Pretty Angels in a Row which was aired on Sept. 28, 1977. Celita was also 1974 Miss Oahu Filipina and 1975 Miss Hawaii Filipina.

1976 semifinalist Azenith Briones did a few movies between 1977 and 1979 including Omeng Satanasia (with Dolphy, her first movie), Patayin si Mediavillo (with FPJ), Mission: Terrorize Panay (with Ramon Revilla), Magapatuka Na Lang Ako Sa Ahas (with Chiquito) and Sabotage II (with Tony Ferrer), among others. She was also 1975 Mutya Miss Tourism 2nd runner up.

1977 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Anna Lorraine Kier starred in top rating sitcom Duplex as the love interest of Al Tantay, played the nurse of Dindo Fernando in Flordeluna and did hosting chose in Business Talk. Anna was also 1976 Miss Teenage Philippines.

1977 Miss Maja Pilipinas and Artist Choice Award winner Bambi Arambulo got her break in showbiz three years after her reign when she was introduced in Temptation Island (1980) in which she shared top billing with fellow beauty queens Azenith Briones, Jennifer Cortez, Dina Bonnevie. She also appeared in Ang Agila at ang Falcon (1981, with Ramon Revilla Sr.) Bambi was also 1976 Filipina Maid of Cotton.

1978 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Jennifer Cortez was persuaded by award winning cinematographer Romy Vitug to join the Bb. Pageant while she was shooting her first movie, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978, directed by Celso Ad Castillo). Her other movies include Tatak Angustia, Daniel Bartolo, Tatlong Hari and Temptation Island, all in the early ‘80s.