Bb. Pilipinas 2010 Official Headshots are here

(L-R)
1st Row: Mariella Castillo, Rachel Ann Bustamante, Patrixia Sherly Santos, Selena Antonio
2nd Row: Nicole Kaufmann, Patricia Lae Ejercitado, Laurese Ann Caparas, Ana Marie Morelos
3rd Row: Laica Joy Jimenez, Maria Venus Raj, Krista Mae Arrieta, Reina Mae Maerina
4th Row: Gwendoline Ruais, Mary Ann Ross Misa, Jam Charisa Libatog, Toni Alyessa Hipolito
5th Row: Rose Ann Aguilar, Helen Nicolette Henson, Kate Princess Alimurong, Marie Ysabelle Matubis
6th Row: Czarina Catherine Gatbonton, Dianne Necio, Mhirra Hernandez, Angelica Damian

I have reservations with some of the girls’ shots (because a lot of them really look good in person) but I would add that this is an excellent batch of candidates – even stronger than last year’s because I still could not come up with my predictions for the March 6 Coronation Night.

Below is the video clip of the candidates’ guesting during the Anniversary Presentation of Master Showman Presents on GMA-7 last weekend.

video courtesy of YouTube/deybid007

6'1" Gwendoline Ruais and 6' Reina Mae Maerina towering over singer Jose Mari Chan during the candidates' guesting in Master Showman Presents. (Photo Credit: Bruce Casanova)

Bb. Pilipinas 2010 Focus: The repeater and the crossovers

Time and time again, ladies who failed to win a Binibining Pilipinas crown in their first attempt would join again in a year or two or three to try their luck and see if their fate would improve. Perfect examples would be Desiree Verdadero who was part of the 1982 group but came out victorious two years later and Maricar Balagtas who made a double attempt before finally bringing into fruition her objective in 2004.

In the same light, contestants and/or winners from other competitor beauty contests would enlist as candidates in the hopes of nailing a crown that is obviously more prestigious, not to mention high profile. Carlene Aguilar was the very first Miss Philippines-Earth in 2001. She took the big risk when she joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2005 and was not disappointed. She walked away with the title that earned her the ticket to Miss World.

This year’s batch has at least four contenders who belong to the aforementioned categories. One is a repeater and three are crossovers. Let’s look at them individually:

Candidate #8 Ana Marie Morelos (Photo credit: Gelbert Aplal)

Candidate #8 Ana Marie Morelos was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas 2007 and eventually placed 4th Runner-Up in the Miss Tourism International Contest in Malaysia. This beauteous 5′7″ lass – a nurse by profession – knows how to play the game. She was still this innocent-looking girl when she joined her first beauty pageant, but had all the luck in her favor given her exotic looks and graceful charm. As an official candidate of Binibining Pilipinas 2010, she has considerably upped her ante. She looks fiercer and more confident. Will she win one of the crowns? Possibly. Some pundits would rate her a longshot, but I personally feel that she can easily enter the semis and perhaps, squeeze herself into the Top 5.

Candidate #15 Jam Charisa Libatog

Candidate #15 Jam Charisa Libatog is another crossover. She won the title of Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Puerto Princesa 2008 and went on to compete at the Miss Tourism International 2008 in Malaysia, just like Ana Marie above. Honestly, I cannot give her an outright thumbs-up to win the Binibining Pilipinas this year because of the stiff competition. But who really knows? She just might surprise everyone, but gut-feel tells me that she won’t. A semi-final slot is the best I can see her reaching.

Candidate #10 Maria Venus Raj during her stint at Miss Philippines-Earth 2008.

Maria Venus Raj, Candidate #10, was crowned Miss Philippines-Eco Tourism 2008 when Karla Paula Henry won. This year, she is entering Binibining Pilipinas as one of the favorites to win come March 6. Her statuesque height (5′10″) and very exotic looks are likely to score high on the judges (especially among foreign members of the panel) and will make a breath-of-fresh-air representative to an international pageant instead of the usual mestizas and chinitas. This brown-skinned beauty is counting on that.

Candidate #16 Toni Alyessa Hipolito

The repeater in the batch is Candidate #16 Toni Alyessa Hipolito who first joined the Bb. Pilipinas fray back in 2008 when Jennifer Barrientos, Patricia Fernandez and Janina San Miguel (eventually replaced by Danielle Castano) were declared winners. If you ask me, nothing much has changed in Toni compared to how she looked two years ago. If any, her level of self-confidence must have significantly jumped and this somehow prompted a second try for one of the 2010 crowns. I wish her luck because this 5′5 1/2″ candidate has some mighty glamazons (Gwendoline Ruais, Maria Venus Raj, Mary Ann Misa) crossing her way.

Let’s wish these ladies the best of luck!

V-day movie watch: “Valentine’s Day”

Can’t think of where to bring your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife/partner on Valentine’s Day? Well, let’s make things very easy so you can concentrate on where to impress your significant other for dinner and after-movie drinks. Here’s a new movie, aptly-titled – what else – Valentine’s Day from Director Garry Marshall (of ‘Pretty Woman’ fame) and the cast is an all-star list that crosses over all age demographics for a film that will make everyone swoon or get tickled red. Can you imagine Julia Roberts with Anne Hathaway, Taylor Swift with Taylor Lautner, Ashton Kutcher with Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah with Jamie Foxx, Jessica Alba with Jessica Biel? And there’s more!

Big cast with a big heart!

Here is the full trailer of “Valentine’s Day”

video courtesy of YouTube/movietrailers411

Mark the date – February 12. The movie will open simultaneously in the Philippines and the US.

Here are the 10 Best (U.S.) Companies to work for

Fortune Magazine always comes up with its own list of “The 100 Best Comnpanies to Work for” every year. I always read this special issue with interest given the fact that I run a Human Resource Services company. I would check on organizations on the list which have already set up offices in the Philippines and explore the possibility of offering them our services. It always ends up a win-win situation if I end up approaching them at the right place and time.

Instead of giving you a long list of 100 companies who are ideal employers, let us focus on the Top 10 so that you will get a pretty good idea why they reached that level of global recognition.

SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions, SAS helps customers improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.

1. SAS tops the list. Its average tenure is 10 years, and annual turnover is just 2% compared with the industry average of 22%. It is highly profitable and ranks as the world’s largest privately owned software company.

Edward Jones

2. Edward Jones weathered the recession without closing one of its 12,615 offices or laying off a single employee (the British division was sold in October). Salaries were frozen, but profit sharing continued.

Wegmans Food Markets

3. Wegmans Food Markets is rated one of the best groceries in the US. It has never had a layoff in its 94-year history. More than 4,000 employees, 11% of the workforce have been here more than 15 years.

4. Google, the search engine king, is hiring again. It plans to add thousands of employees to its payroll in 2010. Though a few perks have been cut in recent years, Google engineers still get to devote 20% of their time to projects of their choosing.

5. Nugget Market has been prompted by the tough economy by giving them cards good for 10% discounts on US$500 of groceries every month. At one employee-appreciation event, the executive team surprised everyone by washing the cars of all associates.

6. Dreamworks Animation SKG is where animators love the culture of collaboration and openness. Studio has upped releases from two-a-year to five every two years.

7. NETAPP execs increased efforts to take care of employees during a tough year, including an employee stock-option exchange and updates to incentive compensation.

8. Boston Consulting Group is tops in pay and benefits: new consultants are able to earn up to US$184,000 (counting salary and all bonuses).

9. Qualcomm works hard to provide an environment where “good people can do their best work.” Some elements: stock options on hire, baseball games, surfing lessons, kayaking tours, white-water rafting, bonfires, bowling, and volunteering opportunities.

Camden Property Trust

10. After stock of Camden Property Trust tanked from a high of US$80 in 2006 to a low of US$17 in 2009, founders Ric Campo and Keith Oden rallied workers across 13 states with messages such as “Turn off CNBC –the moderators know less than you do about the way forward.” By year’s end, the stock had rebounded to US$42.

I must admit that none of these ten organizations have direct operations in the Philippines (although there are some in the Top 100 like Starbucks, Accenture, Colgate-Palmolive, Microsoft and S.C. Johnson who are) but who knows what kind of international expansions some of them may have in the offing.

But if you’re based in the US, it won’t hurt checking them out and the remaining 90 in the Top 100 so you can widen your career options for 2010.

Here is the link to the complete list of “Top 100 Best Companies to Work for“

Happy job hunting!

source: Fortune Magazine

What do you think of the new Apple iPad?

I don’t easily get hooked on the latest gadgetries available. I usually wait anytime between 6 months to one year before even making serious contemplations on getting one or if I really need it and maximize its usage. I’ve had my share of being a test user for a newly-released unit and it’s tough discovering the glitches and shortcomings when my excitement is peaking. Since then, I allowed the more excited buyers to get ahead of me and, in the process, learn from their first-hand experiences.

But Apple’s latest release, the iPad, is truly tempting me to no end. This very attractive-looking tablet gives the impression of an iPhone-meets-LCD case high-tech unit. Only half an inch thick, it weighs just around a pound and a half with a 9.7-inch multi-touch screen (1024 x 768 resolution). According to Apple, its internal 25 watt-hour battery lasts ten hours (or so I wish given my experience with the quick-draining counterpart in the iPhone.) It also comes with 16, 32 or 64GB of Flash plus…each version is available with or without 3G.

Given these specs, am I buying it? At the initial price of USD499, it costs the equivalent of a decent laptop here in Manila. Am I ready to part away with some hard-earned money to experience the new iPad? Not just yet. I must admit that having all my favorite books inside one can get me craving for one but that won’t convince me to queue and get all hyped up. But using the iPad as my computer for web browsing might do the trick in the end. Oh well…

Now I don’t want to say anything with finality. I will be visiting the US come March so things might change while lingering inside an Apple store once a unit is placed on display. Oh dear…

Below is a video introducing the Apple iPad and do give your opinion if it looks like a good buy to you, my dear readers.

video courtesy of YouTube/2010appletablet

I’m still in deep thinking mode for this one…

Bb. Pilipinas 2010 Focus: The Showbiz Edge

Beauty pageants are typically used by contestants and its winners as springboards to brighter career opportunities. For some, entering showbiz has become an inevitable proposition – much like previous Binibining Pilipinas winners like Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman, Maria Isabel Lopez, Joanne Santos (Quintas), Miriam Quiambao, Dindi Gallardo, Nina Ricci Alagao, Carlene Aguilar etc. So it doesn’t come very often when the reverse happens, i.e., someone already from showbiz joining the Binibining Pilipinas and winning a title (or placing in the Top 5) and then going back to the klieg lights of both TV and movies. Perhaps, it can be quite a risky move but not for the likes of Ruffa Gutierrez, Maggie Wilson, Rich Asuncion and even Sandra Seifert (who used to be a TV host before joining and backing out of Binibining Pilipinas and then rejoining the Miss Philippines-Earth and winning the same).

This year, one candidate stands out because of her very familiar face. Candidate #11, Krissa Mae Arietta Kleiner is already a permanent fixture in her home studio, GMA-7. She was initially the ‘Gobingo‘ girl of Arnel Ignacio when she started in the biz a couple of years back. From there, she went on to guest in several TV shows and regularly performed on Sunday’s SOP before landing full support roles in primetime shows like “Darna” and “Gagambino.” Following her fellow network colleague Rich Asuncion who joined and placed 1st Runner-Up in last year’s Binibining Pilipinas, she was groomed by the GMA Artist Center to be their bet this year. And for a good reason at that – Krissa Mae has excellent chances of actually bagging one of the crowns come March 6.

Krissa Mae Kleiner during the Bb. Pilipinas 2010 Talent Competition (Photo Credit: Bong Tan)

Although Krissa Mae is currently being tagged as the girlfirend of R&B Singer Jay-R, she continues to shine on her own given the fact that she has already paid a good chunk of her dues as a showbiz upstart. The 5′8″ Fil-American is serious about becoming a beauty queen. She believes that representing the Philippines in the international pageant arena is one way of paying homage and/or giving honor to one’s motherland.

Gorgeous Krissa Mae Kleiner (Photo credit: Felix Manuel)

I believe this girl has a lot to offer. In the talent competition of the pageant alone, she surprised everyone with her martial arts-themed song-and-dance number that might just net her the Miss Talent award. But more than this, Krissa Mae Kleiner has what it takes to join the troika of Binibining Pilipinas winners this year – not just because of her showbiz edge, but owing to the fact that she is beautiful, articulate, ever-smiling and more than ready to be one of the shining symbols of Filipina beauty in the global stage for 2010.

Good luck, Krissa Mae!

Want to watch the latest TV commercials of the Presidentiables?

Spin doctors (and advertising agencies) in the Philippines are having a heyday competing with each other in presenting the most novel, most inspiring, most eye-catching, most convincing and most effective TV commercials for the Philippine Presidential bets for the national elections come May, 2010. Here are the latest batch of them and see how the contenders have slowly evolved from the start of their respective campaigns up to now.

Here is Sen. Noynoy Aquino doing rap with the youth, common masses and nephew Baby James (Yap).

video courtesy of YouTube/botohan2010

Here is Administration bet Gibo Teodoro doing a Top Gun in his “Lipad” TVC.

video courtesy of YouTube/giboteodoro

Here is Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon’s “Sleepless” TVC.

video courtesy of YouTube/PINASWATCHER4

Here is Sen. Manny Villar’s TVC with Comedy King Dolphy as his biggest endorser (as if!)

video courtesy of YouTube/mannyvillarvideos

Here is Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s MTV pitch to the youth (c/o rapper Gloc 9)…very yellow and very catchy!

video courtesy of YouTube/micgen01

Personally, all of the above are effective commercials and it just depends on who you are supporting right now. I have never been secretive about holding on to Sen. Noynoy for the Presidency, but I doff my hat to the four others for coming up with truly solid TV campaigns.

And the battle (for your votes) continues!!!

Pink’s amazing performance at the Grammy Awards

I really need to share this with you, my dear readers. Did you watch Grammy Awards the other night? And if you did, don’t you find Pink’s performance of the song “Have You Ever Live” simply amazing and breathtaking? I mean, I haven’t seen anyone pull out a stunt like that while singing. She was hoisted in the air and hanging by her legs on a long piece of white cloth. Not only that she was twirling like crazy during her number. Any weak-hearted person would easily throw up. And it did not stop there, she was lowered down again and submerged in a pool of water for about 30 seconds and then hoisted back up. This time, she was twirling wet and whisking water all over the audience like an inverted human sprinkler. Whew! Talk about outclassing Beyonce’s (which was presented right before Pink’s number) fabulous “If I Were A Boy” act, she slew the other guest performers.

A wet and dripping Pink, right after she was submerged in a pool of water, then hoisted back in the air and delicately hanging by her thigh and lower back.

For those who missed it and want to see the whole thing, click on the video below and you will see what I mean.

video courtesy of YouTube/genennium

Bravo, Pink!

The ladies of Bb. Pilipinas 2010

In the recently-concluded talent competition of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 at the Ali Mall in Cubao, QC, the 24 Official Candidates were also presented to the audience. Here are photos of the ladies during the said event and see if your early favorites continue to be on top of your armchair list.

Gwendoline Ruais

Maria Venus Raj

Krissa Mae Kleiner

Ana Marie Morelos

Toni Alyessa Hipolito

Dianne Necio

Jam Charisa Libatog

Helen Nicolette Henson

Angelica Damian

Patricia Lae Ejercitado

You can further dissect by watching the video below showing the 24 ladies introducing themselves during the same event.

video courtesy of YouTube/mabuhaybeauties1

Who’s hot and who’s not?

Bb. Pilipinas 2010 Talent Competition

Last Saturday, the talent competition of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 was held at the newly-upgraded Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City. Seven of the 24 official candidates participated in the special pre-pageant competition, the winner of which will be formally announced during the coronation night on March 6 at the Araneta Coliseum. Particular stand-outs in their respective presentations were Selena Antonio who performed a gymnatic-inspired number, Rachel Ann Bustamante with her innovative dance number that combined jive, tango and belly dancing, the baton-twirling Dianne Necio and Krissa Mae Kleiner in a song-and-dance piece combined with martial arts.

Here are the videos of the talent competition. You will also see all 24 ladies parading in front of the audience. Many thanks to ecurb of OPMB Worldwide for these clips.

Part 1

Part 2

Here are some photos of the ladies who joined the talent competition. Photo Credit: Bong Tan of Missosology.org.

Krissa Mae Kleiner in her martial-arts themed number

Rachel Ann Bustamante in her multi-dance genre performance

Dianne Necio and her skillful baton twirls

Selena Antonio doing her gymnastics-inspired dance number