Miss Universe 2007 Story: Teresa Licaros

Anna Theresa Luy Licaros, Tere to many, won the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas 2007. A pre pageant favorite, she sealed the crown when she answered the question "What would you choose between the crown and your lovelife?" and gave one of the more memorable responses in pageants history. She also won a bunch of special awards including Miss Natasha, Miss Bacchus, Miss Watson's and Miss Philippine Airlines.

Tere did not only excel in pageants but academically as well. She was a consistent honor student, graduated Valedictorian in High School and Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Filipino pageant fans had high hopes for Tere when she competed for the Miss Universe crown in Mexico. Though she may have failed to win the crown, Tere was voted Miss Photogenic by fans.

After relinquishing her crown, Tere was seen on television, competing in Celebrity Duets and other guest appearances. She took the bar exam in 2009 and officially became a lawyer in 2010. At present, Tere is a news anchor for TV5's Andar ng mga Balita.

Ariella Arida, UPLB's Second Miss Universe Philippines

“One lesson in life that women can teach men is being sensitive. Men are more logical when it comes to decisions. They’re rational and straightforward. Unlike women, we use our hearts and we tend to get emotional when we make our decisions. Sensitivity is something that we women can teach to men.”

Ariella Arida, Miss Universe Philippines 2013

After  37 years, the University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB) produced another beauty and brains combined queen as its chemistry graduate, Ariella Arida, edged out 49 other candidates in the Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Pageant.

The university cheered on as Arida rose towards becoming the night’s queen–much the same when Lizbeth Samson de Padua was crowned Bb. Pilipinas in 1976.

Much pressure is added with the winning streak of the past three years which saw the country’s representatives to the most prestigious beauty pageant in the Top 5 finish. Venus Raj won fourth runner-up in the 2010, Shamcey Supsup who won third runner-up in 2011, and Janine Tugonon who won first runner-up in Las Vegas in December last year.

“I know there will be so much pressure on me. But I will do my best,” Arida said.