Gumulong na ang petisyon ng mga supporter ng Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) sa www.change.org para manatili kay Mrs. Stella Marquez Araneta ang franchise ng Miss Universe Philippines at huwag na itong ipagkaloob ng Miss Universe Organization (MUO) sa LCS Group of Companies ni former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit“ Singson, kahit may mga nagkumpirma na diumano, done deal na ang partnership ng MUO at ng LCS.
Isang Carlo Dailisan ang nag-umpisa ng petisyon na nangangailangan ng suporta at mga pirma ng mga naniniwala na hindi dapat mawala sa BPCI ang pagpili ng mga kandidata na isasali sa Miss Universe.
Ipinaliwanag ni Dailisan sa kanyang petisyon ang mga dahilan kaya dapat na ipagkaloob pa rin ng MUO sa BPCI ang Miss Universe Philippines.
"This is one thing that many pageant fans do not realize. BINIBINING PILIPINAS CHARITIES is a reputable organization and one way for BPCI to perform their community advocacy is through donations/honorariums received from private corporations/governments when the beauty queens are invited to do their jobs such as Public Speaking about an advocacy, judge a pageant, endorse a product, etc. If BPCI will lose the top plum, it will mean the demise of MANY communities that they support both in Metro Manila and the provinces. BPCI has been supporting the communities since the 1960s and it's hard to think that the support will be divided. BPCI donates ALL OF ITS EARNINGS (Honorarium and payment of these private organizations/governments) to orphanages, daycare centers, calamity centers (when it happens), hospitals such as PGH and AFP hospital and bringing of indigent children by hosting Disney on Ice.
"I'm sure LCS will promote an advocacy of its own too. But let us not forget that the TRUE RELEVANCE of Binibining Pilipinas lies in more than just the quest for the True Filipina Beauty and not on thinking about who can be sent to Miss Universe/International from its roster of crowned queens.
"BINIBINING PILIPINAS IS AN ADVOCACY IN ITSELF. Losing a crown may impede donations given to this advocacy but BPCI has been a legacy since the 1960s. Our support should be given not only to the glitz, fame and representatives but to the mother organization who also fights to helo [sic: help] these young Filipinas to be a torch-bearer of community advocacies that they and BPCI jointly supports.
"As what BPCI have said in their official website, "Binibining Pilipinas is the TRUE GATEWAY to many meaningful opportunities to be able to make a difference in the world, with its enduring commitment to various humanitarian causes."
Postscript. Target ng petitioner ang 1,500 signatures at as of presstime, 1.021 na ang bilang ng mga pumirma sa petition na sinimulan kagabi, December 28, 2018.
Hindi pa nawawalan ng pag-asa ang mga supporter ng BPCI sa kabila ng mga balita na magkakaroon ng official announcement sa January 2019 tungkol sa pagsasanib puwersa ng MUO at LCS Group of Companies.
Noong December 17, nag-imbita ang BPCI ng private viewing ng finale show ng 67th Miss Universe sa Owner’s Circle, ang private restaurant ng Araneta family sa Smart Araneta Coliseum at ayon sa isang source, kahit si Catriona Gray ang nagwagi, naramdaman nila ang tamlay ng staff dahil sa balita na mawawala na sa BPCI ang franchise ng Miss Universe Philippines na ikinalungkot ng marami na hindi matanggap na na hindi na si Mrs. Araneta at ang organization nito ang pipili ng kandidata na isasali sa Miss Universe.
Bago kinoronahan na kauna-unahan na Miss International noong 1960, contestant si Mrs. Araneta ng 9th Miss Universe na ginanap sa Long Beach, California noong July 9, 1960 at kasama siya sa Top 15 candidates. Napanalunan naman niya ang Miss International crown sa Long Beach, California pa rin noong August 12, 1960.
Mula noong 1964, si Mrs. Araneta ang national director ng BPCI kaya 54-years na ito na nagpapadala ng mga kandidata sa Miss Universe.