Herlene Budol calls out to ‘Nene’ to flex about unveiling of her Edsa billboard
Miss Planet Philippines Herlene Nicole Budol/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol could not contain her excitement as she is set to unveil her own billboard — on EDSA, no less.
During a send-off press conference for her campaign to bag the Miss Planet International pageant crown, Budol shared that she is looking forward to seeing an old friend named Nene, who gave her a very interesting challenge.
“I have a friend. She told me, ‘I will not pay attention to you until you get a billboard.’ Her name is Nene. I’m calling out to you, Nene. Let’s start talking again. Let’s see each other on Oct. 26,” Budol said in Filipino.
The date is significant for the actress-host because this is when her 3D billboard, the biggest in the country, will be unveiled on EDSA. “I would like to thank [clothing brand] for giving me something I never would have thought of having. You made one of my dreams come true,” she said, referring to the popular label that gave her one of her titles during the grand coronation night of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in July.
The clothing label hosted her press conference, which was also attended by her pageant sisters, Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano, and Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up Stacey Gabriel.
Her first runner-up placement did not come with an international assignment, but her manager Wilbert Tolentino looked for a global tilt his ward may participate in. He got in touch with Shandy Montecarlo, national director of the Miss Planet International pageant for the Philippines, to arrange Budol’s entry into the contest.
Tolentino sought the approval of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) for Budol to represent the country in an international pageant whose license the national pageant organization does not hold, and while she is still under the group’s watch. The manager’s wish was granted, and now his ward is getting ready to embark on her biggest challenge to date.
The Miss Planet International pageant was founded in Cambodia in 2019 to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and lists environmental preservation and poverty eradication as some of its missions.
Reigning queen Monique Best from South Africa, who was crowned in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2019, will relinquish her title in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 19 (Nov. 20 in Manila). EDV
