Brazilian Carnaval Ball, Toronto Canada

QB just accepted an invitation to join the Brazilian Carnaval Ball in Toronto on May 24, 2008. She will parade in her Fantasia (costume) for Nene de Villa Matilde as Rainha de Pantanal (Amazon Queen), and for 2008 Carnaval Champions Vai Vai's winning Fantasia in white plumas and Swarovski Crystals.

VAI VAI CAMPEA 2008

This video shows the abre alas (opening float) so clear you can almost feel you are in the Anhembi Sambodromo. Listen to the crowd scream as they welcome Vai Vai's abre alas where QB is shown on the 14 meter high-center float in her white fantasia(costume)which scored a perfect "10."

Anhembi Sambodromo Welcomes VAI VAI

This was how Vai Vai was welcomed by the 50,000 spectators inside the Anhembi Sambodromo. Imagine how QB felt when the abre alas came in the pasarela with the crowd going wild!

QB Keeps Her Promise...

QB's new hairstyle!



After surviving cancer last year, QB promised to donate her hair to Locks of Love. Her hair would be made into a wig for children going through chemo therapy. After the Sao Paulo Carnaval, QB fulfilled her promise and donated 10 inches of her jet-black hair.

QB - "It felt good to be able to share something I love so dearly to children who are so brave..."

The Queen Returns to Brasil

After the carnaval in February, QB returns to Sao Paulo to visit friends and tour Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto and Natal with daughter Ines, brothers Sonny and Rene, and friends Francois and Francis. Brazilians, Thiago Andrade and Alan Martini joined the group after meeting QB at Renato's welcome party for the visiting all-Filipino group.

QB with Mister International 2007, Alan Bianco Martini Malgioglio:



Thiago and Alan in Natal

Vai Vai on TVGlobo

This video taken by TVGlobo shows the winning float of 2008 Champions - Vai Vai. The ABRE ALAS (1st Float) is where QB stands on a 14 meter-high-tower in her fantasia costume of white plumas and Swarovski Crystals. The Abre Alas - Centro where she stands has 4 flame torches in front and a cylindrical water fountain which spirals to the top and changes color with laser lights. The children in gold behind her, all 50 of them are suited with individual microphones! Not in the video are 50 little girls in green...QB fondly calls them, "Minha pequenitas lindas filhas." (my little pretty daughters)


Muito obrigada Byraj pra video lindo!

Pinoy Classic Rock...SAN CATERBA BAND

Hello PCRockers! Here's a beautiful lady with brains you can be proud of....had also been a Pinay rocker. Check out this month's issue of Filipinas Magazine online www.filipinasmag.com

Hi Noel! This is a great story of Bessie Badilla who was born and raised in Tondo, from your neighborhood! Even though her family didn't have enough money, her mother was able to enroll her at St Scholastica. Her mother was an alumna of St Scho. Then at 18 she joined a beauty pageant and with the cash prize she was able to help her family. When she was discovered she was able to model for Manila's top designers. From there she became an international model for Balenciaga in Paris. After that she was discovered by TV director Johnny Manahan and joined in the number one prime-time sitcom "Eh Kasi, Babae." She received nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy and Most Promising TV celebrity for her comedy role.

Later on Bessie met and married Vicente "Bambi" del Castillo who was a businessman. He became one of the world's top coal traders in the US. They lived in Stamford, Connecticut. For a few years she even performed as a percussionist for the all Filipino band "San Caterba." They had their gigs in the New York Tri-State. O, Boy, maybe you've heard of their band. Unfortunately her husband died at the age of 55 from massive brain anuerism . After about 2 years she got busy and provided scholarships for poor families in the Phil, US and Canada. She even pledged to build a Gawad Kalinga Village in memory of her husband.

Just last month, she became the first Filipina ever to win the Sao Paulo's Carnaval Queen!!!

For more interesting stories and photos of Bessie, check out the website above and go to pages 30-31.

Dada