‘EAT BULAGA’, the country’s longest running entertainment show at 38 years and counting, has launched the nationwide search for the Miss Millennial Philippines 2017. The 38 finalists were presented to the press, hosted by Ruby Rodriguez and Luane Dy. at Concha’s, Alden Richards’ restaurant near Morato Ave.
“EB” exec Jenni Ferre says the idea entered her mind while watching the last Miss Universe pageant and she’d wonder about the countries of some of the contestants there. “Pero naisip ko, why should I bother about those foreign countries gayong dito mismo sa sarili nating bansa, ang daming probinsiyang hindi ko kilala,” she says. “So why not promote those provinces na hindi alam ng mga mismong kababayan natin. Example, Antique or Apayao, what do they have to offer? Ngayon, nandito ang kanilang respective beauty queens to tell us more about the attractions sa mga lugar nila.”
So how were these local beauty queens able to join? “Unang-una, dapat, millennial ka. Our youngest contestants are 17 years old and the eldest is 24. Tapos, dapat, may korona ka from your own city or province, so we coordinated sa tourism boards ng bawat city and province at sila ang nagpadala sa amin ng representative nila. Wala ritong height requirements, di kailangang naka-long gown ka, but we will require you to be the special ambassadress of your own city or province who’ll promote it with the help of our own crew on EB and on social media.”
Is this the most expensive project they’ve ever had in EB? “Yes, kasi magastos, sa plane fare pa lang ng pagdadala rito sa candidates from far provinces. Wala naman kang ex-deal sa airlines. Then we have to provide accommodations for them sa B Hotel, yung food and transportation nila while they’re here in Manila, at hindi lang sila kundi pati yung kasama nila. While they’re here, pinag-seminar din namin sila on personality development and public speaking. Dapat, mas marami pang contestants kaya lang may conflict sa schedules nung iba at di puede magpunta sa Manila.”
What are the prizes for the winners? “We will have a grand winner sa coronation night in September who’ll get P500,000 cash, a Montero car and a condo unit. Magkakaroon din ng Talent Night, pre-pageant night with special awards at pipiliin yung ten finalists. May special prize din for the Bayanihan Queen na kailangang tulungan ng buo nilang province sa promotion. The winning province will get P1 million and she will get P10,000. We will introduce one candidate and their locality each day. Sa panahong ito, puro negative ang balita, about Marawi, about drugs, about heavy traffic. So ang maganda sa pageant na ito, us viewers will be given the chance to travel around the country while watching ‘Eat Bulaga’. Very positive ito and it will definitely be a big help to domestic tourism as it will make us realize how beautiful our country really is kaya dapat nating mahalin at ipagmalaki.”
