309. Beauty Queens as Ad Models: PILAR DELILAH PILAPIL, Bb. Pilipinas 1967

ESKINOL AD, 1967

One of the most photographed beauties of the late 1960s was Pilar Delilah Pilapil, a homegrown mestizo beauty from Liloan, Cebu who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas of 1967. Then 17 years old, she represented the country at the 1967 Miss Universe Pageant in Miami beach, won by American Sylvia Hitchcock. 

BB. PILIPINAS AD, 1967, with PILAR

But greater things were in store for her after her reign. Producers sought her for television and the movies, and that’s how she started her long and enduring showbiz career that has spanned 4 decades, and counting. When the popular comic strip “Tisoy” of Nonoy Marcelo was turned into a TV series, Pilapil was cast as ‘Maribubut”, Tisoy’s (played by Jimmy Morato) love interest. She went on to do a musical show “This Girl..Pilar!” as well.

ESKINOL GIRL PILAR, 1967

ESKINOL PRINT AD, 1968

Her first film was no less than the FPJ-directed “El Niño”, and action  with1968 with Andy Poe as her leading man. She was linked with Dolphy after doing “Dolpe De Gulat” and “El Pinoy Matador” in the enxt 2 years. Winner of 2 Best Actress Awards (Urian and MFF) , Pilapil has an impressive body of screen work to her name, including “Kailan Ba Tama Ang Mali” (1985), “Tinik Sa Dibdib”,  “Napakasakit Kuya Eddie”, and “Bakit Ako Mahihiya” in 1997. 

MIRINDA ORANGE AD, Pilar Pilapil with Bert Leroy Jr., 1967-68

She ran unsuccessfuly for a senatorial seat in 2004 and authored her biography in 2006 in a book entitled “Woman Without A Face”. Pilapil has a daughter Pia, with Salvador Laurel.  Divorced from her Spanish husband Michel Ponti in 1987, the born-again Pilapil married Pastor Bernie Penas in 2002.  In 2011, Pilapil was  attacked by suspected carjackers and kidnappers, but survived her ordeal. 

BEAR BRAND AD, 1967-68

A staple of TV soap series, Pilar Pilapil  is currently doing “First Yaya” for GMA 7 as of February 2020. 

A PAIR OF VONNEL ADS, 1968 

The celebrated beauty graced many magazine covers as well as modeled for blue-chip brands during her celebrated years, a few of which are featured on this spread.