Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014 Music Video from Alba Productions on Vimeo.
LAWNDALE, California – Cheering friends, family and community supporters filled the Centinela Valley Performing Arts Center on South Inglewood Avenue on July 19 for The Binibining Pilipinas USA Coronation Night.
The official results – Christelle Abello as Binibining Pilipinas USA, Czarina Hermoso as Binibining Pilipinas USA Tourism, Caitlin San Diego as 1st runner up, Gabbie Gonzales as 2nd runner up, and Lovely Jane Tanglao as 3rd runner up.
The judges were Allan Pineda Lindo “Apl.de.ap”, Venus Raj, Mayor Mark Pulido, Janine Tugonon, Michael Greenwald, Renee Esebag, Allen Hsiang, Manny Ilagan, Jush Andowitt, Olivia Quido-Co, Francis Arden and Lisa Manibog Lew.
Contestants were judged on attitude, posture, how they “carried” the swimsuit and truthful and natural answers. The Official Swimwear Sponsor of Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014 is Smoothies by Malibu Design Group.
A portion of Coronation Night proceeds will go to the Apl.de.ap Foundation International, a non-governmental organization committed to empowering Filipino youth. Insider Productions and the GMA Network staged the competition and Coronation Night.
Candidates last July 13 went through swimsuit and talent preliminary competition in preparation for Coronation Night, which included official voting for Binibining Photogenic at The Banquet Hall in Los Angeles.
“I hope that the winner makes a career from this,” Apl.he.ap told Inquirer.net. “It’s a great stepping stone and exposure for them.”
The evening included performances by the Filharmonic band, who has gained popularity through NBC’s a cappella show “The Sing-Off.”
Contestants proceeded through a swimsuit, evening gown, and question and answer competition. The lineup was narrowed down to the top ten semi-finalists that included Caitlin San Diego, Czarina Hermoso, Bianca Filart, Tiffanny Miehls, Christelle Abello, Amanda Abernathy, Kathleen Tagarao, Gabbie Gonzales, Lovely Jane Tanglao and Krystal Neag.
The Binibining Photogenic title went to Christelle Abello, Binibining Best in Swimsuit to Czarina Hermoso and competition and announcement of Binibining Best in Evening Gown to Christelle Abello.
Binibining Popularity went to Caitlin San Diego, Binibining Social Media to Flor Melendrez, Binibining Best in Talent to both Caitlin San Diego and Sheri-Lynne Ducusin, Binibining Fil-Am Insider Reader’s Choice to Brigid Hitalla, Binibining Best in National Costume to Gabbie Gonzales and Binibining Friendship to Sheri-Lynne Ducusin.
Top five went to Gabbie Gonzales, Christelle Abello, Caitlin San Diego, Lovely Jane Tanglao, and Czarina Hermoso. There was a little confusion during the reading of the scores.
The tabulation forms correctly listed the finalists in reverse order, but the hosts read the form provided, which listed the order rather than ranking. The Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014 title was initially presented to Czarina Hermoso and Binibining Pilipinas USA Tourism to Christelle Abello.
After some confusion, the lead tabulator and senior production staff concluded, “The form used to deliver the results to the hosts listed the order of announcement, (instead of by ranking), which called for 5th, 4th, 3rd, then 1st,” explained Norberto Reyes, the pageant’s co-executive producer.
“We deeply and truly regret that this inconsistency in the two forms that resulted in the confusion,” Reyes added.
In a statement, co-executive producer Mildred Deang said, “What happened is a nightmare and this is something that I never wished for, as the integrity and reputation of my organization is at stake.”
Czarina Hermoso and Christelle Abello put their best feet forward and exchanged their crowns and sashes before the pageant’s VIP celebration.
Although surprised by the turn of events, Czarina Hermoso, said in a statement, “We candidates have all put so much time and effort into this pageant, and we are all winners. I can only hope to move forward from this situation and think on the positive side as your newly crowned Binibining Pilipinas USA Tourism.”
“I look forward to what this has to offer. I will continue to fulfill the duties and responsibilities given to me as the reigning queen of BPUSA,” said Christelle Abello, Binibining Pilipinas USA 2014.
According to pageant policy a copy of the tabulation score sheet is made available to the top ten candidates.
After the confusion was settled, Binibining Pilipinas USA 3RD Runner Up, Lovely Jane Tanglao, and her family, suffered an unfortunate “freak” accident following the pageant.
Tanglao was sent to a hospital, released and is now in recovery.
“Lovely is a wonderful person, it saddens me to learn about her accident and I wish her speedy recovery.” said RD Alba, director for the TV broadcast of Bb Pilipinas USA.
During the question and answer portion, Lovely Jane Tanglao was asked by Michael Greenwald, “What is more important, education or life experience? Please explain why.”
“I believe the most important is life experience. Through life experience we have learned up’s and down’s and through that we are stronger person’s because of what we have and what we have experienced,” replied Tanglao.
“The unfortunate end to this evening should not take away from the extraordinary group of young women who put their best feet forward not only for themselves and their families, but also for our community as a whole,” added Deang.
The pageant will be aired on GMA Pinoy TV once a date is finalized for this coming August.