Herlene Budol
If she were given the chance to choose her leading man for a potential project, Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up Herlene Budol, without skipping a beat, said she would go for her longtime celebrity crush, Alden Richards.
“Si Alden kasi bet ko nga talaga siya … Eh sana, gusto rin ako,” she quipped, laughing, at her recent launch as the newest endorser of the Filipino beauty and skincare brand Rejuviant.
The comedienne-turned-beauty queen was so smitten by the GMA 7 star that she used to skip classes just so she could watch “Eat Bulaga!’s” “Kalyeserye” segment, which spawned Alden and Maine Mendoza’s phenomenal “AlDub” love team. “I cut classes because of him and Yaya Dub. I wouldn’t go to school whenever there were rumors that they would finally see each other. Then, they wouldn’t end up together because there were always obstacles between them,” she said in Filipino.
Earlier this year, Herlene met Alden when they bumped into each other during an event in Nueva Ecija. Unable to contain her giddiness and excitement, the 23-year-old celebrity stole a kiss from Alden. “Kahit sino siguro, kapag nakita ang idol mo, lahat gagawin mo—kung pwede ko nga lang huwag pakawalan ‘yun! Siyempre, tao lang, humahanga,” she said.
The video of that meeting was posted on her TikTok account. While some fans criticized her for giving an unsuspecting Alden a peck on the cheek, Herlene clarified in the comments section that she quickly apologized to Alden for what happened. “Na-bash ako!” she said.
However, Herlene was resigned to the fact that a collaboration between her and Alden seems unlikely—at least, for now. “I don’t think [we will be able to work together]. Perhaps I can just apply as his assistant,” she said.
Still, Herlene has a lot to look forward to in her blossoming career. Rumor has it that she will soon do a movie and two series on GMA 7—one of which will have her working with veteran actors.
“I’m so happy. A newbie like me will be joining veterans? Sino’ng ‘di matutuwa? Jackpot na ‘yun,” she said. “I’m just starting out, so I will do my best to score more projects.”
Like an angel
While Herlene has done small, one-off roles in a handful of television shows, her upcoming projects will be more substantial. “My past roles had me practically playing myself. But now I’m undergoing workshops,” she said. Aside from acting jobs, Herlene’s strong performance at the Binibining Pilipinas pageant also earned her various endorsements or sponsorships. But Rejuviant is particularly close to her heart because the brand had already made a gamble on her before she even competed. Now, she’s the face of the Premium Cocoberry Body Wash and Premium Cocoberry Instaglow Lotion.
The brand’s other endorser is Jessy Mendiola, who could pass as Herlene’s sister, she joked. “Twinning!” she said. “I feel so proud because Jessy is so beautiful, like an angel. Sabi ko, ‘Bakit ako dinikit diyan, parang ‘di ko deserve!’’ Tuwang-tuwa ako at nakahilera ko siya. Wala nang bawian ‘to!”
Keeping the nickname
Herlene, who gained recognition as “Hipon Girl” in the variety show “Wowowin,” comes from a humble background and captured the hearts of people who found her humor and unfiltered demeanor relatable. But with her recent success also comes intrigues.
“Some people say I have changed … that I’m now choosy. But it’s not like that. The thing is, there are now people who manage my career. Back then, I could do whatever I pleased and be like, ‘Sige, OK lang, pare!’ But now that I’m in show biz, I’m not the only one making the decisions. There are people guiding me.”
No amount of success can change her, Herlene said. In fact, she has no plans of dropping her “Hipon Girl ‘’ nickname because it’s what jumpstarted her career. “Walang nagbago, may nadagdag lang,” pointed out Herlene, who’s now more conscious about how she presents herself to the public. “As Hipon Girl, OK lang kahit haggard ako, kahit naka-duster lang, OK na. Now I have to put in effort. I’m still the real me, but I know more about taking care of myself… and I’m happy about all the things I have learned since joining Binibini,” she said. “I have become more disciplined, too.”
As someone who used to get bullied, Herlene said being treated with more respect feels heartening. “I feel like people respect me more now. I have always been respectful of others, but some of them are not toward me. Now, they call me Miss Herlene—may ‘Miss’ na. It’s touching,” she said.
Herlene is set to compete in this year’s Miss Planet International pageant in Uganda—her last pageant. “Sure na. So I will do my best again,” she said. “I’m not asking for anything more. Kung ano na lang ibigay ni God. It’s His will. He didn’t give the things I prayed for in the past, but He gave me something else… He had better plans. So I’m just lifting everything to God.”