Showbiz Look-alikes among Bb. bets

"This is the best batch ever!"

That’s the verdict of Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib on this year’s 30 candidates for the three Bb. Pilipinas crowns (Universe, World and International) at stake in tonight’s grand finals at the Araneta Coliseum, starting at 8 o’clock (to be covered "live" by GMA 7).

"The judges will have a hard time picking the winners," the "beauty experts" quoted Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta, head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc., as saying.

"Nearly all of them are front-runners," seconded fashion czar Pitoy Moreno.

Even former Binibini Simonette delos Reyes (Universe), Gionna Cabrera (Universe) and Evelyn Camus (International), who were at the press presentation last Feb. 22, agreed.

Anyway, it’s beauty-watching time once again and as usual, many of the candidates are deadringers for showbiz stars. Let’s see if you can spot the lookalikes of Phoemela Barranda, Miriam Quiambao, Precious Lara Quigaman, Andrea del Rosario, Nina Ricci Alagao, Aileen Damiles, Ruffa Gutierrez, Mutya Crisostomo, Donna Cruz, Hilda Koronel, Abbygale Arenas, Juliana Palermo, Mariel Rodriguez, Jasmine Trias and Meryll Soriano.

Instead of making a list of the "most-likely-to-win" bets, the "beauty experts" grouped the 30 bets (originally 32) into three categories — Celebrities, Neophytes and Veterans.

Let’s take a look:

CELEBRITIES

• Margaret Nales Wilson, No. 11 (17, 5’9.5", 122 lbs., 34-24-35, from Bacolod City), a half-British and half-Filipino actress who has appeared on GMA shows Kakaba-Kaba and Asian Treasures. A high school senior at Angelicum.

• Ailyn Santos Luna, No. 2 (17, 5’6", 118 lbs., 36-26-36, from Cavite), a StarStruck 2 Avenger and Christian Bautista’s leading lady in his Color Everywhere MTV. High-school graduate from Academy of St. John.

• Melissa Isidro Cruz, No. 5 (23, 5’7", 117 lbs., 34-25-34, from Makati), one of the 26K girls of ABS-CBN’s Deal Or No Deal and a B.S. Tourism graduate from UST where she was a varsity volleyball player.

NEOPHYTES

•Liezel Madarang Verses, No. 24 (22, 5’7.5", 115 lbs., 34-23-34, from Baguio), Miss Baguio 2005 and a nursing graduate from Pines City Colleges.

• Ana Theresa Luy Licaros, No. 9 (22, 5’9", 116 lbs., 34-25-34, from Cuenca, Batangas), a summa cum laude Broadcast Communications graduate from UP where she’s now taking up Law.

• Theofeliz Marie Perez Francisco, No. 10 (24, 5’9", 115 lbs., 32-25-35, from Bulacan), an HR executive for Shell, author of the book Their War, Our Struggle: The Stories of Children in Central Mindana and a B.S. Psychology graduate from UP.

• Grezilda Ennis Simondo Adelantar, No. 20 (19, 5’9", 120 lbs., 35-24-35, from Victoria City, Negros Occidental), a B.S. Tourism graduate from UP.

• Kimberly Adriano Buhay, No. 8 (20, 5’7", 114 lbs., 34-24-34, from Balayan, Batangas), champion debater, nursing student at UST (where she was Miss Nursing 2005 and among the Top 5 in the Miss UST 2006 search) and reigning Miss Balayan.

• Luisa Villanueva Beltran, No. 13 (20, 5’9", 120 lbs., 34-24-35, from Subic, Zambales), a senior at La Salle (International Studies major in European Studies and Advertising Management).

• Suzanne Tabitha Bonifacio Mendoza, No. 6 (19, 5’8", 115 lbs., 33-25-35, from Parañaque City), nursing junior at Olivarez College (where she reigned as queen in 2005) and first runner-up in the 2006 Miss Parañaque search.

• Mhyrtle Franchaz Bonjoc Bugarin, No. 28 (21, 5’7.5", 120 lbs., 34-23-34, from Mandaluyong City), reigning Miss Mandaluyong, one-time Miss Aliwan and Miss Jones (Isabela), nursing junior at the Global City Innovative College.

• Heidi Enriquez Forbes, No. 7 (23, 5’6", 111 lbs., 34-25-35, from Bataan), Mutya ng Balanga 1999, a Business Administration graduate from Bataan Polytechnic College.

•Eloisa Monteza Limpo, No. 25 (22, 5’7.5", 112 lbs., 33-24-34, from Mandaluyong City), a B.S. Economics graduate from La Salle and one-time Miss Mandaluyong second runner-up.

•Melanie Acar Adjarani, No. 12 (21, 5’10", 125 lbs., 34-25-35, from Zamboanga), a nursing graduate from the Western Mindanao State University, 2002 Hiyas ng Mindanao and 2004 Miss Philippine Association of Schools, Universities and Colleges (PASUC).

• Keann Alonzo Mallari, No. 21 (20, 5’9.5", 112 lbs., 34-25-34, from Pampanga), a B.S. Tourism student from Holy Angel University.

• Ferniz Digal Utatulum, No. 23 (23, 5’8.5", 116 lbs., 34-25-35, from Davao), a B.S. Sociology graduate from Ateneo de Davao.

• Almira Rivera Ramos, No. 29 (23, 5’8", 118 lbs., 33-25-34, from Zambales), 2003 Miss Zambales first runner-up, holder of a Business Administration degree.

• Ed Ferlyn Javier Quintero, No. 15 (22, 5’9", 121 lbs., 33-24-35, from Malabon), nursing student at Fatima College.

• Clayd Calo Torrion, No. 19 (22, 5’8.5", 122 lbs., 33-24-35, from Butuan City), a Miriam College graduate.

VETERANS

• Erika Ibasco Pangan, No. 16 (19, 5’9", 121 lbs., 33-23-34, from Marikina), a nursing junior at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, finalist in the 2005 Supermodel-Philippines search.

• Grace Patricia Tizon Francisco, No. 30 (21, 5’6.5", 120 lbs., 36-24-35, from Leyte), a UP Broadcast Communications student, champion debater, competed in the 2004 Bb. Pilipinas pageant.

• Nadia Lee Cien dela Cruz Shami, No. 14 (19, 5’9.5", 134 lbs., 35-25-36, from North Cotabato), an IT freshman at the Central Colleges of the Philippines, semi-finalist in the 2004 Miss Teen Philippines search, Miss Philippines-Air (in the 2005 Miss Philippines-Earth contest) and 2004 Mutya ng Cotabato.

• Nicole Maturan Schmitz, No. 4 (18, 5’8", 112 lbs., 33-23-33, from Cebu), a B.S. Psychology sophomore at San Carlos University, first runner-up in the 2006 Miss Teen Philippines search.

• Paulette Geguillan Quinto, No. 17 (25, 5’11.5", 118 lbs., 34-24-34, from Aklan), Computer Application graduate from College of St. Benilde, runner-up in the 2004 Best Model-Philippines search and fourth runner-up in the 2005 Best Model of the World search.

• Sheila Margarethe Aguilar Alonso, No. 22 (22, 5’8.5", 120 lbs., 34-25-34, from Negros Oriental), a B.S. Psychology junior at UST, 2001 Miss Teen Norway, Miss Philippines-Fire (in the 2004 Miss Philippines-Earth search) and 2005 Miss Tourism Queen International; it’s her third time to compete in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant.

• Ricamarie Ann Beltran Taylor, No. 1 (22, 5’6", 114 lbs., 34-24-34, from Quezon City), a La Salle Philosophy (major) and Literature (minor) student and semi-finalist in the 2005 Bb. Pilipinas pageant.

• Abigail Lesley Grivas Cruz, No. 3 (22, 5’8", 112 lbs., 33-23-33, from Quezon City), a Public Relations and Advertising major, second runner-up in the 2005 Mutya ng Pilipinas search, semi-finalist in the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year search and in that same year’s Miss Fort Ilocandia search.

• Jamie Fermin Burgos, No. 18 (21, 5’9.5", 131 lbs., 35-25-35, from Las Piñas City), a Business Finance student at the University of California State (Northridge, California), 2003 Mutya ng Pilipinas-USA Tourism and semi-finalist in the 2004 Miss Intercontinental Pageant.

•Angeline Fernandez Tucio, No. 26 (22, 5’7.5", 124 lbs., 34-25-34, from Iriga City), a Social Anthropology/Political Science senior at UP Baguio, first runner-up in the 2003 Mutya ng Pilipinas search and competed in the Miss Tourism International pageant that same year.

• Contessa Maria Labios Santos, No. 27 (23, 5’7", 114 lbs., 33.5-25-32, from Baguio), a licensed pharmacist from St. Louis University, candidate in the 2004 Miss Philippines-Earth and second runner-up in the 2005 Miss Agoo pageant.

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