Showbiz materials among Bb. Pilipinas bets

It’s beauty-gazing time again as the 2002 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, no doubt the country’s foremost spectator "sport," unfolds tonight at the Araneta Coliseum (covered "live" by GMA 7), with three of the more than two dozen aspirants sure to go home with the three major titles at stake: Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (who goes to Puerto Rico for the Miss Universe Contest in May), Bb. Pilipinas-International (Japan, sometime in October) and Bb. Pilipinas-World (London, in November).

For sure, showbiz talent scouts will be glued to their TV sets (if they’re not at the Big Dome). Here are the 10 bets for the semi-finals, also deemed to be "showbiz materials" by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Francis D. Calubaquib, Joey Cezare, Gery Yumping and Felix Manuel (back in London where he’s now working as nurse), at random:

• Lakambini Teodoro Alto (#4), 21, from Makati City, a UP BS Metallurgical Engineering graduate (5’5", 117 lbs., 35-25-35).

• Sherlyn Salanga Ram (#9), 20, from Baguio City and a student at St. Louis University (5’7", 117 lbs., 34-23-36).

• Jazel Rosales Mañalac (#11), 19, from Dinalupihan, Bataan, and a Foreign Service student at Lyceum where she was named Miss Foreign Service (5’8.5", 126 lbs., 33-25-36).

• Sherilene Bautista Parcon (#12), 21, from the Cagayan Valley, who has won several titles (Miss Cagayan, Bb. La Salle and Miss NCRAA; 5’8.5", 125 lbs., 34-25-36).

• Gilmarie Lourdes Pacamarra (#13), 18, from San Jose, Camarines Sur, has travelled to Vienna and Austria (5’8.5", 123 lbs., 35-26-36).

• Margaret Ann Bayot (#15), 19, a BS Tourism student at CEU (5’8", 118 lbs., 35-25-36).

• Katherine Anne Ramos Manalo (#17), 22, one-time Face of the Week of this paper’s Star Mode and member of Singles for Christ (5’7.5", 128 lbs., 36-26-36).

• Karen Loren Agustin (#19), 19, a student at John Robert Powers International, who was a semi-finalist in last year’s Miss Global Queen Philippines search (5’5", 112 lbs., 35-23-35).

• Ma. Lourdes Diaz Magno (#20), 22, from Gapan, Nueva Ecija, and member of, among other socio-civic organizations, the People for Peace International (5’5", 110 lbs., 32-23-34).

• Ma. Criselda Parawan Osorio (#23), 23, from Parañaque City, a UST Fine Arts graduate and personal witness to the Sept. 11 bombing of the World Trade Center (5’5", 110 lbs., 34-24-35).

Tonight’s pageant will be hosted by former binibini beauties Miriam Quiambao and Charlene Gonzales, with Derek Ramsey. Performers are Billy Crawford, Ogie Alcasid and the Hotlegs.