40 Official Binibining Pilipinas 2018 Candidates Revealed

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Beauty pageant veterans, models, TV personalities and professionals from different fields make up the Top 40.

After a deliberate and rigorous week-long screening process, Mrs. Stella Marquez Araneta and the officials of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) are proud to announce the 40 official candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2018.  With the final screening happening on Jan. 15, and the official numbering the following day at Kia Theatre, this year’s roster of Binibinis were finally chosen. Beauty pageant veterans, models, TV personalities and professionals from different fields make up the Top 40. Their official numbers will be used to identify the ladies until Coronation Night, and will also serve as their official hashtag in various social media networks. The ladies are: #Binibini1: Vickie Marie Milagrosa “Vim” Rushton, 25, from Talisay City, Negros Occidental #Binibini2: Kathrine “Kath” Ventura, 22, from Antipolo City #Binibini3: Muriel Orais, 26, from Cebu City #Binibini4: Ana Patricia “Patrik” Asturias, 25, from Tacloban City, Leyte #Binibini5: Rose Marie Murphy, 25, from Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte #Binibini6: Janice Roman, 25, from Manila #Binibini7: Sigrid Grace Flores, 25, from Catanduanes #Binibini8: Marie Sherry Ann “Shane” Tormes, 26, from Polangui, Albay #Binibini9: Agatha Lei Romero, 23, from Quezon City #Binibini10: Kayesha Chua, 25, from Legazpi, Albay #Binibini11: Maria Andrea “Aya” Verdadero Abesamis, 26, from Pasig City #Binibini12: Janette Roanne Sturm, 26, from General Santos City #Binibini13: Kristie Rose “Istie” Cequeña, 26, from the City of Santa Rosa #Binibini14: Samantha Bernardo, 25, from Puerto Princesa, Palawan #Binibini15: Juliana Kapeundl, 26, from Balayan, Batangas #Binibini16: Annalita Vizcarra, 23, from Murcia, Negros Occidental #Binibini17: Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, 20, from Candelaria, Quezon #Binibini18: Rosantonette Mendoza, 26 years old from Bacoor, Cavite #Binibini19: Michele Gumabao, 25, from Quezon City #Binibini20: Catriona Elisa Gray, 24, from Albay #Binibini21: Anjame Magbitang, 19, from Hagonoy, Bulacan #Binibini22: Sophia Juliann C. Baino, 24, from Nasugbu, Batangas #Binibini23: Ena Louis Velasco, 23, from Bacolod City #Binibini24: Edjelyn Joy Gamboa, 25, from Oriental Mindoro #Binibini25: Jerellen Rodriguez, 25, from Nasugbu, Batangas #Binibini26: Wynonah Van Joy Baluyot, 24, from Cebu #Binibini27: Henna Kaizzelle Nicole Cajandig, 25, from Sultan Kudarat #Binibini28: Angelica Mae Corbe, 24, from Legazpi City, Albay #Binibini29: Samantha Kaye Avestruz, 20, from Tacloban City, Leyte #Binibini30: Sarah Margarette Joson, 24, from Manila #Binibini31: Jehza Mae Huelar, 23, from Davao City #Binibini32: Eva Psychee Patalinjug, 23, from Cebu City #Binibini33: Stephanie Joy Abellanida, 22, from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato #Binibini34: Mary Joy “MJ” de Castro, 22, from Davao del Norte #Binibini35: Sandra Lemonon, 23, from Pasig #Binibini36: Loren Mar Artajos, 27, from Ilocos #Binibini37: Patrizia Garcia, 23, from Cainta, Rizal #Binibini38: Karen Gallman, 25, from Ubay, Bohol #Binibini39: Trixia Marie S. Maraña, 25, from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental #Binibini40: Angelie Aubrey Asuncion, 24, from Tabaco, Albay The 40 official candidates will be going through weeks of activities and trainings prior to the coronation night on March 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Included in their schedule are various charity visits, something that the girls are truly looking forward to and is central to thrust of the BPCI. Up for grabs are crowns to the six most prestigious international beauty tilts: Miss Universe Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, Binibining Pilipinas Globe and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental. Follow these ladies’ exciting journey by visiting the official website www.bbpilipinas.com. Like the Binibining Pilipinas official Facebook page www.facebook.com/realbbpilipinas and follow @bbpilipinasofficial on Instagram. Photos by Edmund Chua

The Low Hum of a Drone Exhibit by Jay Yao

Wazzup Pilipinas!

February 3 – March 10, 2018
Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring St. 1300 Pasay City

Jay Yao, an artist who continually experiments with photography, stages his recent body of works at Galleria Duemila, 210 Loring St., 1300 Pasay City on February 3 till March 10, 2018.

As an artist, he draws on a myriad of references from technology and how information systems easily get passed around resulting in a more abstracted understanding of knowledge. Jay utilizes the imagery of different notions of scapes to project the central idea of his exploration.

Capturing the landscape of the northern hemisphere, each of the body of work presented alongside the abstracted aerial views of Luzon, Yao generates perplexing yet beautiful photographs that reveal the process that he took in conceptualizing them. The photos show reflective qualities of green, blue and silver that hold the illusion of texture and rapidly flowing lines and vistas in conversation with strong hues of oranges and browns that are angular and in hard-edged shapes. Born as a result of his constant experimentation and intuitive ideas, the works are both subtle and detailed at the same time.




Jay currently resides in Manila (Philippines). He has been shortlisted for the Ateneo Awards in 2014, Jay Yao (Jose Campos III) has a liberal arts degree in Hampshire College and studied at Parson’s School of Design. He had a residency in Sherman Galleries in Australia and represented the Philippines for the Goethe-Institut project called the “Art Connexions: SYD-MLA-KUL”.

Kairat Akhmetov Hungry to Accomplish Definitive Ending to Rivalry with Geje Eustaquio

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Former ONE Flyweight World Champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov has the chance to make a definitive statement and recapture lost gold as he is slated to take on a familiar foe in his upcoming bout.

Akhmetov will be entering enemy territory to battle Filipino rival Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio in the main event of ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES, which takes place at the 20,000-capacity SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 26 January.

It is also a rematch of their main event tilt from ONE: TOTAL VICTORY in September of last year, where Akhmetov got the better of the 28-year-old Baguio City native and earned a razor-thin split decision nod.

The stakes are much higher in their second encounter as the interim ONE Flyweight World Championship title is up for grabs.

Akhmetov admitted that he was shocked when he initially received the news that he is booked to face Eustaquio in a rematch at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES, which marks as the 12th foray of the organization on Philippine shores.

After defeating Eustaquio four months ago, Akhmetov undeniably expected that he would be pitted in a rubber match with reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes, the man who blemished his previously-immaculate professional record in their second meeting in August of last year.

“I was surprised,” he bared. “Without question, I won the bout against Geje Eustaquio last September. At first, I thought that I would get a third bout with Adriano Moraes for the belt. I guess everything happens for a reason. I respect ONE Championship’s decision. I am just honoring the process.”

Even though Akhmetov did not get the trilogy bout that he desired, the Kazakh wrestling dynamo is up for the challenge, asserting that he is highly motivated to once again defeat Eustaquio in his own backyard.

“Of course, I would prefer not to compete against Geje in his hometown. I felt an advantage when I was competing at home before. But it does not intimidate me,” he stated. “I am ready for everyone that will cheer against me. I am coming with the mentality that it will be me versus the world, and I am ready for it.”

The maiden cage contest against Eustaquio was a quick turnaround for Akhmetov, who had lost the ONE Flyweight World Championship to Moraes a mere six weeks earlier via unanimous decision, albeit following an almost two-year layoff.

Akhmetov revealed that he had slight difficulties preparing for his first bout with Eustaquio as he was coming off a disappointing setback and nursing minor injuries.

“It was hard to prepare for Geje back then, because it was on shorter notice that I was used to, and I had some little injuries coming off the title match. But during the match, it did not affect me, and I did not feel any cage rust like I did against Adriano. That time, it was hard, both physically and mentally,” he said.

The first match-up between Akhmetov and Eustaquio proved to be a thriller as it could have gone either way, but two of the judges at cageside favored the Kazakh, leading to a split decision victory.

Akhmetov believes that his split decision triumph over Eustaquio in September of last year was justified and well-deserved.

“I do not think it was controversial. I thought I dominated the match, and it was not close at all,” he explained.

Although they have had 15 whole minutes to become acquainted with what each has to offer in the first bout, Akhmetov feels that things will play out differently in the rematch.

“Geje Eustaquio did not showcase everything he can do in our last match. Neither have I,” he warned. “I am going in there with what I am truly capable of.”

According to Akhmetov, his five-round championship clash versus Eustaquio at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES is the perfect opportunity to prove once and for all that he is the better warrior and take a step closer to the trilogy match with Moraes that he so longingly wants.

“In 2017, I had ups and downs. I do not want to look back. In 2018, I am looking forward to reaching my dream to battle Adriano Moraes for the third time. But of course, I have to beat Geje Eustaquio first to fulfill my dream,” he declared.

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