Binibining Pilipinas returns to core at charity day with 2024 candidates

Bb. Bulacan Samantha Acosta shares a light moment with her ‘little sister.’/ARMIN P. ADINA

Binibining Pilipinas 2024 candidates had a field day as the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) returned to its core as a vehicle for charitable causes this year when they took part in an activity that saw them playing big sister to children under the care of Childhope Philippines.

The Binibining Pilipinas charity day was held at the Fiesta Carnival at the Araneta City in Quezon City on April 25, where dozens of children seven to 12 years old bonded with the 40 candidates through the fun rides and games found inside the amusement park.

Dr. Herbert Carpio, executive director of Childhope Philippines, said he commends BPCI’s focus on children’s welfare. “These are essentially the future of our nation. They are amongst the most vulnerable in our society, even up until now,” he said.

“Imagine, we’ve been around for 35 years, and hanggang ngayon meron pa ring (until now there are still) street children, so they deserve all of the help, the care and the opportunities that we should be giving them para mabigyan sila ng ayuda (to provide them assistance), and for them to be able to have a brighter future ahead of them,” he added.

Carpio also shared Childhope’s encounter with 2021 Bb. Pilipinas Hannah Arnold. “We didn’t even know that she was ‘the’ Hannah Arnold when she came. She just signed up for volunteer work during our ‘MusiKalye’ celebration. And then she was there, wearing plain clothes. She had big eyeglasses, and she was doing all of the footwork for us, along with our pool of volunteers,” he said.

“And then I was checking the list, the attendance of the volunteers, and I saw ‘Hannah Arnold.’ it rings a bell. Doon ko lang na-realize na siya ang (that’s when I realized she was the) Hannah Arnold who we saw during the pageant itself. So we were very lucky, that was on her own personal capacity,” Carpio continued.

He also asked the 2024 candidates to follow Arnold’s footsteps, and lend themselves for the cause. “I do encourage everyone of you like her to please consider volunteering, not just with Childhope, but also with other different organizations that are concerned with children’s welfare. Because we really need all the help that we can get,” he said.

“Hindi lang para sa kanila ito, kundi para sa mga pamilya rin nila at para rin sa buong Pilipinas kapag sila ay nagtagumpay sa buhay (This is not just for the, but also for their families at also for the entire Philippines if they succeed in life),” Carpio said.

Bb. Oriental Mindoro Myrea Manely Caccam takes her ‘little brother’ on a ride on the ‘Mini Pirate Ship.’

Bb. Calamba Vienne Feucht (left) and Bb. Camiguin Maria Abegail Jajalla ride the ‘Speed Star’ with their ‘little siblings.’ Images from Armin P. Adina.

The Bb. Pilipinas pageant will hold it’s 60th competition this year, marking six decades of championing Filipino greatness globally. Forty ladies are vying to succeed reigning queens Angelica Lopez and Anna Valencia Lakrini.

Lakrini finished third in the 2023 Miss Globe pageant in Albania last year, and her eventual successor will try to exceed her achievement and bring home another crown from the global tilt.

Lopez, meanwhile, is scheduled to compete in the 62nd Miss International pageant in Japan in November this year. Her eventual successor will participate in the 63rd edition of the competition next year.

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