Victors for Bb. Pilipinas (left-right) Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner-Up Ariella Arida, Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago and Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Datul (Photo credit: Bruce Casanova/OPMB Worldwide)
This word alone sums up the pageant performance of the Philippines in 2013. I am claiming Country of the Year honors (my 6th Birthday wish) this early because no other nation comes dangerously close to the list of honors our ladies have assembled.
Two first-time wins in Miss World and Miss Supranational. A 5th crown in Miss International. Fourth-place finishes in Miss Universe, Miss Grand International and Miss Intercontinental. Top 8 in Miss Earth and Top 10 in Miss Tourism Queen International plus Miss International Queen. 5th place in Mister International. A Miss Campus World victory. 2nd place in Miss Scuba International. And the year isn’t over yet with results of Miss Tourism International being awaited come New Year’s Eve. Whew!
Miss World 2013 Megan Young as part of PeopleAsia Magazine’s People of the Year
The sole victor for Miss World Philippines (and just because it is a dedicated pageant) hit the big jackpot for 2013.
Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta (left) beaming with pride while staring at Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago (Photo credit: Melvin Sia/OPMB Worldwide)
Mutya Datul started the winning streak by clinching Miss Supranational 2013 in Minsk.
Never has there been a quicker succession of top placements. In November alone, Ariella Arida and Ali Forbes both clinched 3rd Runner-Up honors in Miss Universe and Miss Grand International, respectively. Earlier this month, Koreen Medina added another fourth-place finish in Miss Intercontinental. While on the men’s side, Gil Wagas made sure that he did not just clap during Mister International when he scored a 4th Runner-Up position. Not to be outdone to a certain degree are Angelee delos Reyes making Top 8 in Miss Earth and Cindy Miranda’s & Kristina Ibarra’s Top 10 inclusions in MTQI and MIQ, respectively. The smaller tilts contributed their share as well with Marisse Mendoza getting Miss Campus World and Christine Bernasor picking up 2nd place in Miss Scuba International. Galing!
The 3rd Runners-Up: (left to right) Ariella Arida in Miss Universe 2013, Ali Forbes in Miss Grand International 2013 and Koreen Medina in Miss Intercontinental 2013.
Angelee delos Reyes (top left) placed Top 8 in Miss Earth with Cindy Miranda making Top 10 in MTQI and Gil Wagas (right) ranking 5th in Mister International
However big or small the competition was, our bets still won or placed!
My Christmas wish (here we go again!) is that our 2014 beauty queens (whoever fate will allow to take over) will have iron-clad determination to follow through and insure their firm resolve and discipline to make things happen all over again. It would be an understatement to say that 2013 is the toughest year to follow for them. But with the completely renewed confidence and enthusiasm – plus the eagle-eyed attention other pageant-loving countries are now seriously putting on the selection of our future representatives – there’s really no other way to go but up.
The challenge is now set in stone.
The Rosetta Stone if you will. 
