A pageant is never missing in an city or Barangay in Manila. But this one in Mandaluyong City, a special pageant is created for Plus Size women. Bilbiling Mandaluyong (Miss Plus Size Mandaluyong).
Bilbiling means “flabby”, which is a spinoff of the word Binibining which means Miss.
Miss Plus Size Mandaluyong.
Miss Plus Size pageant was created, according to Mandaluyong City first lady Menchie Abalos, to raise awareness (to obesity).
But does this promote a healthy lifestyle?
Aside from the easy availability of fast foods anywhere, it is surprising to hear what Dr. Roberto Mirasol (Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity) has to say about Filipinos outlook on being fat.
In this documentary we shot and produced for CCTV Assignment Asia, we follow two contestants Ara and Daisy May, as they tell us why they wanted to join the pageant.
Watch here:
Filipinos love pageants, any type of pageant, be it for men, women, plus size, gays, old folks, and children. There’s even a Wikipedia page for Philippines at major beauty pageants. It’s incredible watching the hardcore pageants fans reacting to Miss Philippines even just reaching Top 15.
NOTE: Turn down your volume, it will get LOUD.
With the recent Miss Universe win by Filipino-German Pia Wurtzbach, more attention has been given to pageants.
Who could forget the SNAFU moment when Steve Harvey announced that Miss Colombia was in fact 1st runner up and Miss Philippines is the actual Miss Universe?
