448. Beauty Queens as Ad Models: MYRNA PANLILIO, 1st Bb. Pilipinas-Universe for 1964 MISS UNIVERSE

1ST BINIBINI-UNIVERSE 1964, MYRNA PANLILIO IN HER 1ST AD

The honor of becoming the first ever Binibining Pilipinas belongs to then-21 year old Ma. MYRNA SESE PANLILIO of San Fernando, eldest of 4 children of Enrique M. Panlilio and Jaina Sese. Though she graced magazine covers after her victory, the only known ad she modeled in was for a beauty & fashion house called  Chantilly Gowns and Beauty Suite, located in Echague, Quiapo, and owned by Vicky San Diego. Carlos “Carling” Mercado was the lead make-up and hair artist, sought after by high society girls.

MYRNA AND OTHER MISSES. Below Myrna Panlilio is runner-up Elvie Gonzales,

Panlilio was crowned on 5 July 1964 at the Araneta Coliseum. The event was originally scheduled on 3 July, but had to be postponed due to Typhoon Dading. Myrna, a St. Scholastica  and Maryknoll graduate, was already working as a teller for Merchants Bank when she joined and won the crown over 15 candidates, trimmed from an original 28.

PAGEANT NIGHT IN MIAMI

 

Two nights before the binibini finals, she had also participated in the 1964 Maid of Cotton search, won by Bettina Herrero. She had better luck in the pioneer pageant, succeeding Lalaine Bennett, 4th placer to Miss Universe 1963. Myrna’s runners-up included Bb. Waling-waling, Milagros Cataag and Bb. Ilang-ilang, Elvira Gonzales (mother of another future binibini, Charlene Gonzales). One other candidate was Milagros Sumayao, a former Miss Press Photography winner like Elvira, who would later be known in showbiz as Mila Ocampo (mother of Snooky Serna). 

ARRIVAL AT MIAMI, Miss Philippins (rightmost) with other Miss U contestants 

Her prizes included a cash prize of P2,000, gold trophy from the Lions Club, a complete wardrobe from the Philippine Couturiers’ Association, Helene Curtis beauty products and a Regal sewing machine. Panlilio also won the right to represent the country in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Miami, Florida with the title going to Miss Greece, corinna Tsopei. Married to Dr. Ramon Borromeo (+), whose mother is Amparo Noel, herself a Carnival beauty winner (Visayan Queen 1912) from Cebu. Children: Ramon Jose, Patricia (+) , Mitzi. Durng Pres. Estrada's term, Panlilio was named Executive Director of Nayong Pilipino. Sadly, Myrna passed away at the age of 65 on 16 July 2009, from a gall bladder disease.

 SOURCES:

Screengrab of Miss U 1964, SMU Jones Film- G. William Jones Film and Video Archives

Alex Castro, Aro Katimyas Da, A Memory Album of Titled Kapampangan beauties 1908-2016.