MY 65TH MISS UNIVERSE FINAL PICKS (AFTER PRELIMINARIES)

Hours before the 65th Miss Universe gets underway and crown a new queen, I have carefully examined all things that have happened in the past few weeks putting more attention on the preliminaries but still factoring in some of the key points each delegate have gone to their merits in choosing my final list of candidates who I think will fare well today. Although the national costume is not gonna play a factor on the scores, it is important to note how some performed during the event as well. And while not much has been said on the preliminary interviews, we still have more or less what we can have in judging these ladies in time for today's final night. Based on over-all performance, here are my Top 20.

1. Maxine Medina (Philippines)

I gotta give it to her. Having the pageant on her home country is a lot of pressure but I did not see any sign of fumbling with this lady. She came out beaming in the presentations and was a sign of freshness and happiness in her swimwear during the preliminaries. Despite an average evening gown, she still excelled as her beautiful face became the focus on her ramp and she was so gorgeous. And she brought class in her national costume as well.

 2. Sal Garcia (Dominican Republic)

She has been shadowed by her other American counterparts but this hot lady certainly redeemed herself in the preliminaries. I personally loved her swimsuit in where she showed off her great body and was beaming with all smiles. I also put her evening gown as my favorite with all the intricate details and the way it was suited to her like she was a goddess.

3. Chalita Suansane (Thailand)

One of the favorites from start to end by a lot of beauty critics, Chalita could be another great chance for Thailand to win the crown. Poised and armed with grace she strutted her way into the preliminaries and surely got her high marks specially in the evening gown where the drama of her dress was well paired by the depth in her expression. If she wants the crown to be hers, she better have her "A" game in the finals.

5. Raissa Santana (Brazil)

Remember this girl as she might string a surprise or two. Her unique looks is a plus to many beauty critics and her striking personality more than adds up to a great lady with a mission. She is here to win and with strong swimsuit and national costume putting emphasis on her sexy body, she did pretty well despite a bit of a boring evening gown which she still carried out too well.

5. Andrea Tovar (Colombia)

I could not help but put her on the higher ranks despite me thinking that previous year's Colombia candidates were much better. But she is fierce and is ready to strike at the right timing. Her face is the traditional beauty most people appreciate and while others feel she may have gained weight, I still think she rocked that swimsuit and that she is still very sexy indeed. The average evening gown performance may have hurt her rankings but come finals night we expect her to have it all.

6. Iris Mittenaere (France)

Only a few have taken notice of this French gal and she has been just going below the radar for quite some time. But her strong preliminaries have somehow put her back up there. I loved how she brought herself in the swimsuit and how finesse she was in the evening gown. And despite the national costume points not really counting, she was gorgeous on those "Moulin Rouge" costume and she really did turn the heat up.

7. Mariam Habach (Venezuela)

As usual Venezuela delivers but I have the feeling that her preliminaries were too calculated and too much drama. I prefer it to be simpler and more elegant rather than boisterous. But nonetheless, she did a pretty solid job on all the segments and looked stunning in most of her shots. Never discount her out of the title picture as I know she is more than capable of doing great in the finals night.

8. Marina Jacoby (Nicaragua)

Another country that is usually overshadowed by strong performances by neighboring countries, this year may be the best chance for a Nicaragua win. Her swimsuit and her body poses were on point during the preliminaries. Despite a safe red evening gown, she came back firing all guns with her national costume as her pretty face stood out despite the loads of accessories embellished on her costume.

9. Zoey Ivory (Netherlands)

If Miss Universe would only look at the face value I believe this Dutch will win it all. Thosefacial features are just stunning and very feminine. Her preliminaries however was sort of a hit or miss with some of the outfit choices being good and some just average. If she wants to advance further into the finals, she needs to not just rely on her beauty but also come out strong with how she carries herself.

10. Noelia Freira (Spain)

She has not been the talk of the town the past few weeks but this girl has potential. Her face exudes confidence and has regal written all over it. She brings with her chic and class which can be on her favor. The gown was great and so as the swimsuit choice but I have only a concern with her body as hers was not as strong as the other delegates ahead of her. But if she can pull off a confidence ramp in those swim wear then she may be another dark horse.

11. Hawa Kamara (Sierra Leone)

Crowd favorite Hawa did as expected in the prelims. She delivered a solid over-all performance which could translate to her being into the semifinals. And despite her not being the best in all aspects, this lady has spunk and personality and people seem to relate to her by much which could do her oh so well in the competition.

12. Caris Tiivel (Australia)

I was waiting for a strong performance by Australia for me to include her in my higher spots but aside from a stunning gown in the preliminaries, I was left wanting for more. I do not discount the fact that she has one of the prettier faces in the competition. But that alone could not win her the crown. Let us see if there is something more that could surprise us from Caris' bag.

13. Kezia Warouw (Indonesia)

The 3rd of 4th SouthEast Asian beauty on my list, Kezia has proven to be a possible contender just narrowly missing my Top 12. She did a relatively good job in the preliminaries and somehow showed that she can battle with the favorites. She has authentic feel on her that makes you wanna take a second look. If she can nab a Top 12 spot then she can gun it out for even higher rankings in the finals.

14. Keity Drennan (Panama)

Her confidence seemed to have a boost after her stunning glam shot and her preliminary showing is a testament to that. The swimsuit and gown was good and she made it better with how well she carried herself in front of the crowd. If she can gather all the pieces and have it one last thrust to the finals, she can play well against our perennial favorites as well with her looks, body and confidence.

15. Kristal Silva (Mexico)

She is one hot delegate from the get go but maybe I was expecting more from her. I thought she did a solid preliminary but I was expecting greater than that. She failed to capitalize on her strong facial features and her outstanding aura. Her possibility of landing a Top 12 spot is not remote but if she does go there, she needs to step up some more. If the judges see what I have seen from her in the past days that saw me rank her much higher, then she can possibly go higher.

16. Chanelle de Lau (Curacao)

Before the preliminaries, she was just like a regular candidate but she came out firing from the start to finish. She showed that she is here not just to compete but to possibly get the crown. What she lacks in other aspects she made it up for her confidence and spunk. She did well on her swimsuit and stayed consistent in her evening gown.

17. Stephanie Geldhof (Belgium)

It pains me to put one of my early favorites down in the rankings but I can't help but do so. She remains to be one of the best looking girls in the competition but her preliminaries was like an on and off affair. She turned up the heat with his swimwear but underwhelmed with her gown. I guess her young age is being more evident moreso as she fails to really impress a lot.

18. Brenda Jimenez (Puerto Rico)

Brenda put up a solid performance but with some of her competition raising the bar, she is one of those few that slid some notches and failed to really be noticed. She had an average swimsuit round which was only partly saved by a good evening gown. On the preliminaries, she looked liked she lack interest which could hurt her chances.

19. Deshauna Barber (USA)

Well, USA is USA but her preliminaries could be summed up with her national costume performance. She has prepared but came up a bit short much like her wings which failed to open up on the segment. An unflattering gown couples by just an average swimsuit hurt her chances but I think she did pretty well in the interviews which could spell for her moving up the ranks.

20. Kiran Jassal (Malaysia)

She did well in the prelims but I have a feeling that with 3 other SEA beauties ahead of her she might be overlooked in some way or another. And with her preliminaries just "good" she may find it difficult of landing a Top 12 spot despite her great facial features and sexy body.

OPM MUSIC CHARTS: JANUARY 28, 2017

Michael Pangilinan reclaims the Top spot anew for this week dethroning BoyBandPh from the number one position as the group drops to No.2. Sud also makes steady progress as it peaks at No. 3 with their song "Sila". We have 2 newcomers in the charts with Yohan Hwang's rendition of "Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako" debuting at No. 22 and Julian Trono making its first appearance in the charts at No. 25 with his song "Balang Araw".

ARE YOU READY?

Are you ready for more? Join me as I jump into the comeback zone in one of the worlds I have loved ever since - photography. Prepare foe new models, new shots, new places, new concepts and join me as we go ahead in 2017.

COMING SOON: MARVEL VS CAPCOM INFINITE

Can't wait for this one. Eagerly anticipating this one.

REPOST: BROTHER, CRUSH, FRIEND, SEX, LOVE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Emotions are practically rolling over me the past few days as 5 people have been in constant interaction with me and all of them form a big part of what I currently feel. Now, I am lost or let's put it into better perspective - lost further.

BROTHER

Being a brother now does not solely relate to relations by blood. Brotherhood now is defined by utter great bond and friendship wherein both parties understand each other and be there always on a non-filial way. Plainly platonic or is it? Maybe it is just a sort of way to hide the real emotions. Or it could be just really a bro. Likeable in most ways but complicated in quite a lot. Puzzled truly I am as sometimes the thin line between brotherhood and romance just seems to vanish into thin air.

CRUSH

From the first time my eyes laid witness to the person, it was plain and utter bliss. Maybe because of the aesthetics - physical attributes that are above par in compared to others. The emotion being felt is much more than a brother but the seemingly good features usually puts one to question if I am for the company only or for the bragging rights of having someone as a trophy. And while clarity as to whether the crush does jump into the "another level" scenario is still vague, the idea of seeing everyday brings utter joy.

FRIEND

A friend really? Or someone waiting for the right time to snag into the situation. The conflicts and complexities make it more mind-buggling. What is the boundary between friendship and relationship? I really don't know. The person being in a current relationship makes me think of the intentions but sometimes the doubts and all are just thrown outside the window. Friendship really or maybe I'm wanting so much more?

SEX

Lust - the plain drive for worldly desires makes me connect with this 4th person. I find joy in exploring territories I have not explored without worrying what happens. Enjoyment and pleasure is the name of the game but as each day pass by, is it really something that could not be developed into something more? But can something that started out from the idea of sex turn into a wonderful fairytale lovestory?

LOVE

Smile in its purest form is what is elicited for every conversation, for every note, for every look and every touch. This may be love or is it? Can i just be trapped into believing that someone could actually give back the emotions I am giving out? Ever since that day when the initial meet-up happened, all I could think of is sharing my life with thy person. Cheesy but true. If falling in love is such a crime then charge me with a million counts.

I wrote this back in 2012. My life has been less complicated ever since and I have to say I am happy with what I have and where I am now. Sharing this post for people who may feel or experience the same.

MOVIE REVIEW: SING

Illumination Entertainment's newest offering "Sing" vows to tickled the most imaginative senses of hearing through great songs, wonderful story and values a lot would need these days. While most are adamant of having another animated movie with animals as lead, this film succeeded in making it feel both cute and worthwhile at the same time.

"Sing" makes us believe in dreams and that everyone has their own backstory to tell and dreams to reach. But one should never fear the odds of failure as these are just part of success and how sweet it will be in the end. We are introduced to several characters with different difficulties in life - emotionally, physically or mentally. They are trapped with their own struggles and for them to actually be successful they must all but conquer their own fears. But this movie tells us to dream big and never fear to reach one' aspirations.

Another success of this film is to put into one movie a cast of stellar actors lending over their voices for the movie's characters. The likes of Matthew McConaughey (Buster), Reese Witherspoon (Rosita), Seth McFarlane (Mike) and Scarlett Johansson (Ash) are great ensemble that one director would love to have. Add the great vocal chops of Tori Kelly (Meena), Taron Egerton (Johnny) and Jennifer Hudson (Young Nana).


Sing delivers although it may not be the best there is of this genre but certainly it entertains. 8 out of 10 popcorns!

GLOBAL MUSIC CHARTS: JANUARY 21, 2017

A lot of movement in the charts this week causing some changes in the Top 10. We have a brand new No.1 with Zayn And Taylor Swift with their song "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" the theme to the upcoming "Fifty Shades Darker" movie. Highest new entry for this week is from Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande with "Faith" theme from the movie "Sing".

OPM MUSIC CHARTS: JANUARY 21, 2017

Inigo could not fend off the competition as he surrendered the top spot this week to the rampage that is BoybandPH as they scored their first No.1 with their catchy beat "Unli". 3 Songs debuted in the charts but none made super big impression as the top new entry was Sam Concepcion's Afterglow at No. 13.

MY 65TH MISS UNIVERSE ROUND 3 PICKS (AFTER GLAM SHOTS)

With the glam shots released in the Miss Universe website and some of the activities done in different places like Boracay & Vigan plus the swimwear presentation of candidates in their Yamamay suits, I have enlisted my newest Top 20 with how well the ladies performed during the past few days.

1. Maxine Medina (Philippines)

Despite having some concerns on her communications skills, I have still put Maxine on top my picks. Her beauty just shines through showing that she is one to beat. And with strong performances in the Yamamay presentation and the stunning Glam Shot she has, I believe she should continue pushing for more as the competition is slowly inching closer.

2. Mariam Habach (Venezuela)

Many netizens believe she looks a bit old in some pics but after good rounds in the recent fashion events and a strong glam shot to boot, I have vaulted her from No. 9 to No. 2. Her preliminary performance is something to watch for. I think Mariam is one of the ladies that is determined to win the crown.

3. Raissa Santana (Brazil)

Her big curls and great persona carries Raissa all well. She did well in some of the events this week and surely this glam shot of hers is one great pic of hers. But I think she needs to go outside the box and experiment more. I think she has more in store and we could be of to some surprises in the next few days. But until that day comes, I'll have to bump her off to No. 3.

4. Zoey Ivory (Netherlands)

I will always keep Zoey as one of the prettier faces in the competition. And the only thing that keeps me from putting her higher on my list is that certain aura of fierceness which somehow she lacks. But after good rounds of pics topped by this glam shot, she vaults her way up from No. 15 the last time.

5. Stephanie Geldhof (Belgium)

It seems Stephanie's brilliance is slowly fading as the days pass. For me she seems to be just the pretty face everyone loves. But other than that, she seems to lack interest. This lady is pretty and has good body structure and she should use is well for her advantage. If she can put her acts together, she can be a serious contender.

6. Andrea Tovar (Colombia)

Despite a lot of pageant analysts criticizing Andrea and her looks and frame, I still put her in strong position to place well in the competitions. She can carry herself well and that can help her in her quest for the crown. What she needs to do is to refocus and show people that she is here to take it all.

7. Marina Jacoby (Nicaragua)

Consistency is the key to Marina's performance. Solid yet not yet up there with the frontrunners. I think she can perform way much better. And despite a safe performance along the week and a good glamshot, with competition stepping up the game, she falls down 3 spots to No. 7.

8. Chalita Suansane (Thailand)

Her glam shot is a welcome improvement from her safe headshot from a week ago and without any exemplary performance so far that makes her stand out, she falls down a bit on our rankings to No.8. But fans are flocking to her rescue as netizens seem poise to notch him the victory in votations which could lead her straight to the semifinals.

9. Sal Garcia (Dominican Republic)

Powering her way into the rankings this week is Miss Dominican Republic. Her performance in the Yamamay swimsuit is commendable and she really did a great shot with her glam shot. Unlike in previous weeks, where she seems to be satisfied being on the background, she now looks like a serious contender.

10. Caris Tiivel (Australia)

This Aussie beauty keeps getting more attention as come nearer the actual coronation night. She has a pretty face and a great body. And with proper choices of gowns and more media eyes on her, she has put herself in serious contention for the crown.

11. Hawa Kamara (Sierra Leone)

Outside of the favorite and consistent nations, Sierra Leone has become one crowd pleaser and her solid performances in the events this week has kept her safely into the Top 15 moving up a notch and closer to a potential Top 10. She is different and sometimes in difference judges see beauty.

12. Brenda Jimenez (Puerto Rico)

Despite strong first few events, Brenda somehow failed to impress in the media coverages sometimes lacking gusto and seems like losing a bit of interest. But you can never take away the fact that Puerto Rico is still a solid candidate and just needs to refocus her game. Down from No. 6 last time.

13. Iris Mittenaere (France)

France was one of the few favorites at the start of the MU season but as soon as other nations announce their winners in their national pageants, somehow she was overshadowed. Good thing is that she has sprung back to life with a great showing in the swimsuits and her media presence being back once more.

14. Kristal Silva (Mexico)

Too safe. I think she failed to capitalize on the fact that she has been here in the country before for Miss Earth and that she can use that knowledge for her to make sure she'll get media frenzy and attention. But her glam shot is really one of the best ones and with that she moved back inside the Top 15.

15. Kezia Warouw (Indonesia)

Kezia is pretty and possesses a good body she sometimes is a hit or miss. If she hits it with her stride, she can definitely go high but for the past week, she lacked confidence and settled for a safe performance in the events.

Bubbling Under:

16. Deshauna Barber (USA)

17. Keity Drennan (Panama)

18. Valeria Piazza (Peru)

19. Estefania Bernal (Argentina)

20. Kiran Jassal (Malaysia)