Gabrielle Basiano. Screengrab from Instagram / @gabriellebasiano
Gabrielle Basiano, the country’s bet to the 2022 Miss Intercontinental pageant, is raring for a back-to-back win for the Philippines, and she couldn’t have chosen a more epic theme for the national costume competition — the Ibong Adarna.
On Instagram, Basiano posted a sepia-toned video of herself donning a one-shouldered gray ensemble, eyes smokey with kohl and glittery silver, and wavy hair reaching her hips. The mythical Ibong Adarna perched on her bare shoulder provided a colorful contrast to the look.
Gabrielle Basiano. Screengrab from Instagram / @gabriellebasiano
The beauty queen teased the video a day before the actual competition, which will be held in Egypt on Friday, 8PM (2AM in the Philippines), and will be livestreamed on the @Missintercontinentalofficial youtube channel.
“Pilipinas are you ready? … I won’t prolong your agony of waiting. I present to you my costume for tonight and get to know the deeper story behind it,” she said by way of introduction.
The costume is aptly named “Lunas” (Cure), taking after the healing properties of the Ibong Adarna, which according to legend has a singing voice that can either enchant one into a deep sleep before turning into a stone figure, or, after extreme sacrifice, may cure all sorts of maladies.
“This amazing costume showcases the story of the folklore that tells about love, sacrifice and fantasy. This costume centers around the story of catching a mythical bird that possesses magical power. The Adarna bird, that I’m holding is incredibly beautiful and could change into many stunning forms. It is very much hard to catch which represents my dedication and determination towards getting the back to back crown,” she said.
The costume, styled by Ken Batino, also “demonstrates how someone has turned into stone by the Adarna bird,” and which Basiano said she would like to translate “as a huge challenge in the pageant that she is confident to surpass.”
Basiano hopes to retain the title following the victory of reigning Miss Intercontinental Cinderella Obiñeta last year.