IN PHOTOS: Binibining Pilipinas unveils official candidates for 61st edition

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From a certified accountant to an aspiring aeronautical mechanic, this batch of Binibining Pilipinas contestants hail from diverse backgrounds

MANILA, Philippines – Binibining Pilipinas, one of the country’s most anticipated beauty pageants, is finally back with a new batch of young women vying for the pageant’s two coveted crowns.

On Wednesday, April 2, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) officially unveiled the 36 candidates for the pageant’s 61st edition. The candidates come from a variety of backgrounds.

Miss Charm Philippines 2023 Annabelle Mae McDonnell is a contestant at Binibining Pilipinas 2025. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

“We have one who is studying to be a pilot,” BPCI Head Gines Enriquez told Rappler. “Years ago, they were limited to nursing and teaching, now there’s a whole bunch of them from different fields.”

Certified public accountant Anna Carres De Mesa gears up to join Binibining Pilipinas 2025 as a newly unveiled official candidate. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

“There’s also one studying to be an aeronautical mechanic,” Enriquez added.

When asked about BPCI’s preparation plans, Enriquez answered, “We want to be able to put together a different show this year, that will highlight and encircle [the candidates’] capabilities, and strengths in different advocacies.”

Some Binibining Pilipinas 2025 candidates pose for a photo after the full reveal of the candidates on Wednesday, April 2. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

The Binibining Pilipinas pageant has always celebrated “brains” as well as “beauty,” and BPCI has always been geared towards advocacy, providing the young female candidates with the skills and training they need to help uplift marginalized communities. This year’s diverse lineup promises the continuation of Binibining Pilipinas’ legacy of power and purpose.

SISTERHOOD DEFINED. Lois Vivien Garce (Left) and Mia Betina Golosino (right) make it to the cut. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

Jercy Raine Cruz will represent Makati City at Binibining Pilipinas 2025 after winning the Miss Chinatown Philippines crown in 2023. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

Since 2022, the BPCI has been left with just two crowns — Binibining Pilipinas International and Binibining Pilipinas Globe.

The 36 candidates for the 2025 edition of Binibining Pilipinas are revealed on Wednesday, April 2. Photo by Kevin Ian Lampayan/Rappler

The search for this edition’s candidates began when BPCI opened applications on March 5, and concluded on March 21. This year, the candidates will vie for national titles of two major international pageants — Binibining Pilipinas International and Binibining Pilipinas Globe — currently held by Myrna Esguerra and Jasmin Bungay, respectively.

Founded by BPCI Chair Stella M. Araneta in 1964, the pageant has played a significant role in cementing the Philippines’ legacy in the global pageant and established the country as a pageantry powerhouse.

The BPCI is a non-profit organization in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that, through its earnings, helps fund institutions dedicated to community and welfare, like daycare centers and orphanages. – Rappler.com