Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo (right) and Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Why go solo when you can be out with friends?
Take a leaf out of these Binibining Pilipinas queens who don’t mind being single on Valentine’s Day. In fact, they have coined a word for it: “Galentine’s Day,” which means a day — or night — out with gal pals.
“I don’t have a significant other, so I’m planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my family, and hopefully my Binibini sisters, because it’s in the works. We have been talking about it and hopefully our get together will be on Valentine’s Day,” Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Tamondong told the Inquirer at the sidelines of the final screening of applicants for the 2023 pageant held at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Feb. 6.
Second runner-up Stacey Gabriel said she hopes to spend the day watching “Magic Mike” with her fellow queens, “because most of them are single, I’m not. But he’s not here.” She said it was only recently that “I found someone whom I had a genuine soul connection.”
But she told the single ladies out there, including her fellow reigning queens, not to fret. “I’ve been single 25 years. So if you’re spending Valentine’s Day single, embrace it. I loved my singlehood, I made ‘Galentine’s’ with my best girlfriends.”
Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo is the other queen who is in a relationship, but she and her boyfriend are still figuring out who will fly where. She is currently based in Manila to fulfill her duties, while her boyfriend is based in Cebu where she also lives.
Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez, who are both single, also said they have planned a celebration with their own families as well.
But Borromeo has a more upfront suggestion on how the single Filipinos, not only her fellow queens, could take advantage of the celebration. “Be sure to ask. It’s Valentine’s Day, it’s a special occasion. Take the time to ask, ‘Wanna be my Valentine?’”
Bb. Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez/ARMIN P. ADINA
In turn, single gal Fernandez offered her own advice to those who are in a relationship: “There are many reasons to spend Valentine’s Day, but you can always go out and not spend too much.” She encouraged couples to go to free parks, or visit museums “so you can also learn at the same time.”
The reigning queens are set to relinquish their titles at the 2023 Bb. Pilipinas coronation night tentatively scheduled in May at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City. EDV