New Bb. Pilipinas World Dannielle Castano | news | photos

Binibining Pilipinas World Janina San Miguel formally quit last Monday, September 27, 2008. The replacement of Bb. Pilipinas World is Dannielle Castano, a 19-year-old Filipino American.

Dannielle Castano was born in the US and has been living in the Philippines for just over a year.

Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) announced Monday that San Miguel quit as the country's representative to the 2008 Ms. World beauty pageant due to personal reasons.

"The untimely demise of her grandfather, among other personal reasons, has caused her undue stress, thus hindering her from fulfilling her duties for the said title," the BPCI said in a statement.

"In accordance with BPCI rules and regulations, 1st Runner-Up Danielle Castaño will replace Ms. San Miguel as the official Philippine representative to the Ms. World 2008 pageant," it added.

"BPCI wishes to express its gratitude to Ms. San Miguel for this act of graciousness and concern for the country. They also wish her well in her future endeavors," the company said.

ABS-CBN's TV Patrol said Tuesday that with only one-and-a-half months left before Ms. World contestants have to be in Johannesburg, there are speculations that San Miguel did not resign but was forced to do so due to her lack of abilities in representing the country. -courtesy of abs-cbn