(From left) Krista Mae Kleiner (Bb. Pilipinas-International), Maria Venus Raj (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe), and Czarina Catherine Gatbonton (Bb. Pilipinas-World) emerged as this year's fairiest among 21 other aspirants.

This year's pageant saw a lot of innovations not seen in the past. For one, a pre-pageant was staged last February 28 to have ample time for the actual coronation event.

 

The candidates paraded once more, clad only in their swimwear. Krista Mae Kleiner bagged the Best in Swimsuit award.

Binibining Pilipinas Inc. National Pageant Director Stella Araneta graced the big event, of course.

Madam Stella, who was 1959 Miss Colombia, is the first lady to bag the Miss International title. The pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1960.

GMA Network Senior Vice-President for Radio and RGMA Network Inc. President Mike Enriquez temporarily shed his tough Imbestigador image to grade the lovely contestants.

Actress and latest Kapuso star Claudine Barretto was tapped as one of the judges in this year's pageant.

Claudine and Mike Enriquez were also present at the pre-pageant ceremony held last February 28 at GMA Network Studios in Quezon City.

Filipino boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. was also in the panel of judges.

Carla Abellana and Dingdong Dantes hosted this year's edition of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant.

Former Binibining Pilipinas titlists took time out from their respective schedules to watch the event.

The lady in lavender is 1994 Bb. Pilipinas-International Alma Concepcion, who used to be active in showbiz.

Other familiar faces in the photo are 1993 Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism Jeanette Fernando (3rd from right), 2005 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Gionna Cabrera (3rd from left), 2008 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Jennifer Barrientos (2nd from left), and 2001 Bb. Pilipinas-International Maricarl Tolosa (left).

The outgoing queens—(left to right) Melody Gersbach, Bb. Pilipinas-International; Pamela Bianca Manalo, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, and Marie Ann Umali, Binibining Pilipinas-World—relished their crowns for the last time before giving way to the new batch of beauty titlists.

This year's big winners!

Helen Nicolette Henson (far left) won as Second Runner-up and Diane Necio (far right) was proclaimed First Runner-up.

Henson also took home the Miss Photogenic award and two other special awards.

According to the Bb. Pilipinas official website, the winners will "undergo a series of intensive sessions for personality development, languages, poise, grooming, and on-cam training in preparation for the international competitions."

They will also participate in various humanitarian projects of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.