Bb Pilipinas-Tourism Parul Shah, Bb. Pilipinas-Intecontinental Kris Tiffany Janson, Miss Universe-Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas-International Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti and Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago. Shah, Janson and Lastimosa were all trained by emergent pageant training campp Kagandahang Flores prior to joining this year's competition. (Rhoy Cobilla/InterAksyon)
MANILA, Philippines – This week the new Binibinig Pilipinas queens began their reigns, and pageant training camp Kagandahang Flores (KF) — where three out of five winners and nine out of fifteen finalists trained — also began its reign as the top camp of the popular competition this year.
Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Mary Jean Lastimosa, Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental Kris Tifanny Janson, and Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism Parul Shah were trained by KF en route to their coronation Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Previously, rival camp Aces and Queens tended to produce the most winners, although KF fielded four out of five winners in 2007.
“For me it wasn’t an upset,” said camp director Rodin Gilbert B. Flores. “If you watch the coronation night, you can see it was meant for Mary Jane Lastimosa.”
Kagandahang Flores was founded in the mid 1990’s. “It wasn’t known as a camp yet,” said Flores. “It was just me, a makeup artist, and my cousin Gio. We handled three girls at most back then.”
They had their first winner in 1996: 2nd runner up Sonia Santiago. After the new millennium, Flores started fielding more girls, and the size of the team increased. There were mentors for walking, projection, and Q & A, as well as more stylists.
Surprisingly, Flores has no financial arrangement with those that seek to be trained by KF. “It’s free,” he told InterAksyon, “And they are not bonded with any contract. I do not manage them, nor do I have a modelling agency. It’s purely helping out. The camp generates no revenue. We rely on the generosity of friends for in-kind donations, no cash. For example, our training center is provided to us for free by a generous individual. We only have one corporate sponsor: Gold’s Gym Acropolis. That’s it.”
While some camps may audition potential trainees, KF takes everyone who meets the height standard, which is five feet six inches.
“As much as I can extend my help, I’ll do it. We’re not just helping the girls, but helping the people around them. Joining a pageant is a family, barangay, community affair. I’ve had special cases. For example there was this girl in 2002. She didn’t make it in 2000. When I saw her again after two years, I convinced her to join. She reigned as Bb. Pilipinas International.
“And we had another have the same experience in 2008, also becoming Bb. Pilipinas International. It’s more challenging for a girl who has tried before and is trying again, because we’ll be analyzing everything. Like what happened to Mary Jane Lastimosa. Everyone knows that previously she was with another camp. I think what was remarkable about her performance (Sunday) night was her very relaxed aura of confidence, even when answering questions. And of course her looks.”
KF does not concentrate on certain girls that they think have more potential. Everyone gets the same amount of time.
“When you join our camp, we don’t make promises that you’ll win, we just reassure you that after you train with us, you’ll be your best.”
Not all girls are successful. “After the initial training, what we ask from the girl is a commitment,” said Flores. “There are instances where girls are unable to cope with the schedule of training or the hard work. But the number one reason girls drop out is lack of determination. Some are being pushed by others, like their parents; it’s not really within them.”
KF maintains a relationship with their winners if they can. Some cannot physically be present because they are so busy, but others come back and become mentors.
Diane Castro, 19, won Miss Laguna in a provincial pageant. She has chosen to be trained by Kagandahang Flores for a future pageant. When asked why, she said “My best friend had been in another camp and transferred to KF, and she said it was the best camp.”
Flores added, “I think we’re the happiest camp. Those that switch camps always say they are a lot happier here. We go to church together, we eat together. Training is intense, but we do have bonding moments together before and after the training. Our duty as mentors are extended to being a life coach, because eventually while we mentor the girls they open up to us about their lives. We’re one big family. Even though the girls are competing, they all help each other.”
When asked how important winning is, Flores said, “The goal of every camp is that each girl who is trained under us, we just want her to be focused, and on the finals night, to be at her very best. If we see our girl doing that, we’re very happy. Winning is just a bonus.”
Kagandahang Flores takes majority of crowns at Bb. Pilipinas 2014
Source: InterAksyon.com (April 03, 2014 at 08:55AM)
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