Push Admin

WATCH: Binibining Pilipinas founder speaks up on Miss Universe franchise

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>Amid speculation surrounding the Miss Universe franchise in the Philippines, the matriarch of its long-time licensor Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) has finally spoken up about the fate of the prestigious title here.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1395434" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Stella Marquez-Araneta, founder of the organization, was cornered on the topic Thursday during a send-off press conference for Karen Gallman, one of the 2018 Binibining Pilipinas winners who will represent the Philippines in the Miss Intercontinental pageant.</p><p>“It’s still with us,” Marquez-Araneta told ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual, when asked whether the franchise of Miss Universe is staying with BPCI. “If some people are saying something else, let them talk about it.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/01/03/20180319-bb-pilipinas-coronation-99-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>Binibining Pilipinas 2018 queens, including then-Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray, pose for photos during their winning moment in March.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BPCI has been holding its annual national pageant since 1964. All four Filipino Miss Universe winners — Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018) — became representatives to the international competition through Binibining Pilipinas.</p><p>As of 2018, BPCI’s slate of pageant licenses had the group sending representatives to six international competitions: Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, Miss Globe, and Miss Intercontinental.</p><p>In recent months, former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson has been rumored to be in talks with the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) about possibly acquiring the Philippine franchise of the pageant.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/30/mittenaere-singson-rtr-013017.jpg"/><figcaption>Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere of France poses with former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson after a news conference for the Manila staging of the pageant in 2017. <em>Romeo Ranoco, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Singson, whose LCS Group was a financier of the Manila staging of Miss Universe in January 2017, fueled speculation as to the pageant’s local license when he accompanied Gray in her return home to the Philippines after she was crowned the 2018 titlist.</p><p>His daughter, Platinum Skies CEO Richelle Singson-Michael, was one of the judges in the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, and was also a visible figure during Gray’s short visit in Manila in December.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/01/03/20181220-duterte-catriona-mnib-7.jpg"/><figcaption>Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is accompanied by former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson and his daughter, businesswoman Richelle Singson-Michael, during her courtesy call on President Duterte in December.<em> King Rodriguez, Presidential Photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>In a recent DZMM interview, Singson also revealed being involved in the mounting of the 2019 international pageant, which he said will be held in South Korea.</p><p>Marquez-Araneta did not specifically mention Singson in her interview on Thursday, but did say she was recently “with the people of Miss Universe.”</p><p>“I have [been] bonding with them for many years,” she added.</p>

<p>Amid speculation surrounding the Miss Universe franchise in the Philippines, the matriarch of its long-time licensor Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) has finally spoken up about the fate of the prestigious title here.</p>

Amid speculation surrounding the Miss Universe franchise in the Philippines, the matriarch of its long-time licensor Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) has finally spoken up about the fate of the prestigious title here.