Click this link for the highlights of Binibining Pilipinas 2024!!!
Binibining Pilipinas‘ staging of its 60th year in the business of pageantry on Sunday, July 7, marked not only the coronation of its new queens, or the reunion of its more than a hundred beauty titleholders in one stage; it also provided the backdrop for many a historic moment.
Its mother organization, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), pulled all the stops to turn Binibining Pilipinas 2024 into a coronation night to remember, that even its red carpet reception is already an eyeful for beauty pageant aficionados.
Here are the other highlights and little known facts about this year’s edition:
Crossover beauty queens mingled with one another like long-lost friends, or sisters. Miss Universe Philippines national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, herself a former Binibining Pilipinas-Universe titleholder, could be seen exchanging pleasantries with BPCI executives, setting aside competition between their two brands.
Former Binibinis who competed at the now-separate Miss Universe Philippines pageant were also invited to the event, namely, Stacey Gabriel, Ahtisa Manalo, Kris Tiffany Janson, Christi McGarry, and Samantha Panlilio.
Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee was likewise in attendance, but this time as part of the audience and supporter of her mother, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, who was among the queens given honor and would go onstage.
P-pop royals SB19 returned as the opening act alongside Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano. Aside from singing Binibing Pilipinas’ song “Win Your Heart,” they also performed their new song “Moonlight” during the parade of candidates in their hot pink swimsuits.
The four Miss Universe queens from the Philippines – Catriona Gray, Pia Wurtzbach, Margie Moran, and Gloria Diaz – were caught together in one frame.
The power this photo holds.
Our 4 Filipina Miss Universe – Gloria Diaz, Margarita Moran, Pia Wurtzbach & Catriona Gray.#BeautyEverAfter #BbPilipinas60 #BBP60GrandCoronation #OnceABinibiniAlwaysABinibini pic.twitter.com/jqHjw7Y5nk
— Binibining Pilipinas (@RealBbPilipinas) July 7, 2024
- The hosts of the coronation night also represented the various pageants that Binibinis have forayed into: Gray and MJ Lastimosa for Miss Universe, Kylie Verzosa for Miss International, Nicole Cordoves for Miss Grand International, and Ruffa Gutierrez for Miss World.
The gorgeous and iconic line-up of hosts that will take us through the beautiful journey that is the 60th Binibining Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night.#BeautyEverAfter #BbPilipinas60 #BBP60GrandCoronation #OnceABinibiniAlwaysABinibini pic.twitter.com/2jHmSA2ZrK
— Binibining Pilipinas (@RealBbPilipinas) July 7, 2024
Aurora Pijuan, Miss International 1970 and the first Filipino to bring home such crown, was called onstage along with the rest of the other queens, but she did not show up.
Meanwhile, Maria Isabel Lopez who was Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1982 was also conspicuously absent. In the previous year, she was said to have been uninvited to the pageants celebration, and her interview raising her ire about it made the rounds of social media. It turned out that she was currently in the United States.
“Celebrating the 60th year of @bbpilipinasofficial. I was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Universe in 1982 and it feels great to be invited by Liliana to grace this year’s pageant. Unfortunately I’m in the US but I will be there in spirit,” she said on Instagram, posting a picture of her coronation with her red crown, cape and scepter.
Scene-stealers
Janina San Miguel stole the show as she called to mind her droll response to a judge’s question during her time as candidate, saying that “confidence and presence” matter in order for a candidate to clinch the crown, drawing cheers from the audience. “At this moment, yes, I do have a bet already. And it’s all because of her confidence and presence,” she said.
Paaak the iconic kween ‘Ms. My pamilee’, Janina San Miguel! #BbPilipinas2024 #BbPilipinas60 pic.twitter.com/Atg2iGGadx
— Aya (@MsTaken4Granted) July 7, 2024
Gloria Diaz at her questions
Diaz also made waves during the question-and-answer round on social media, where her sharp-witted questions ended in Calumpit, Bulacan’s Roella Solis making a farfetched response, while cinching the Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024 title for Pampanga’s Jasmin Bungay.
Solis was asked by Diaz what physical asset she considers to be her winning quality in the national tilt. She responded by saying her strength is her standout trait amid her grandmother’s death.
“As a beauty queen and as a woman of vision, I am here to present you the best version of myself despite having a pivotal loss. Eight days ago, my grandmother died and I hope… and I know that she is in heaven, watching me and proud of me that she has the best seat in heaven watching me over,” she said.
Diaz then reiterated her question, to which Solis said: “What physical asset I have is I am beautiful. Aside from that, I have a mission and vision in life that makes me apart from the other candidates.”
gloria diaz always at the crime scene 💀 #BbPilipinas60 pic.twitter.com/AeL0gVLmlf
— rab (@rixjpg) July 7, 2024
As for Bungay, she was asked by Diaz to say what topic should she address to the public for “30 minutes.”
She said, “If I would be given 30 minutes to talk to the public, I would like to talk about the passing of the SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics) bill. Because in celebrations such as pageants, this community has contributed so much. And in this regard, we could give back to them by supporting this cause because as an individual, it is our responsibility that we ensure that everyone is treated equally despite their SOGIE.”
GANYAN ANG SAGUTAN!!! TAMA YAN ATE!!! IPASA ANG SOGIESC BILL 🏳️🌈👏 #BbPilipinas60 pic.twitter.com/PXngTtpSBD
— ALTStarMagic 💫 (@AltStarMagic) July 7, 2024
The significance of her answer was not lost on the audience as Diaz previously made known her opinion that the Miss Universe pageant should only cater to biological women.
Nicole Cordoves and Catriona Gray’s sisterly banter
After Gray referred to Cordoves as her “favorite sis,” the beauty queens entertained the audience with some of the most popular answers at the pageant’s Q&A rounds, including Gonzales’ infamous “high tide or low tide” and the Miss Universe 2018 titleholder’s “104 million Filipinos” remark, which according to Gray, had been “updated.”
ayun, pinagtabi niyo kasi HAHA. what same energy feels and looks like! never a dull moment with these two gorgy queens!♡ @catrionaelisa @nicolecordoves #BbPilipinas60 pic.twitter.com/HcuzAAzYv0
— Shainah♡ (@Gorg_Shaiiiiiii) July 7, 2024
Kylie Verzosa, MJ Lastimosa’s take on ‘rehearsed answers’
On the other hand, Verzosa and Lastimosa drew laughs after briefly sharing their thoughts on “rehearsed answers” at the dreaded question-and-answer round.
“What are your thoughts on memorized answers?” Verzosa asked Lastimosa.
Kylie: What are your thoughts on memorized answers?
Mirijin: “But I believe as long as ang sagot ay hindi charot mare okay lang yan!” Charot!@KylieVerzosa @MJ_Lastimosa #BbPilipinas60 #BBPilipinas2024 pic.twitter.com/fq9KmAIJ0C
— @pauloinmanila and 99 others (@pauloMDtweets) July 7, 2024
Lastimosa, who joked about being put “on the spot,” said it’s okay to give rehearsed answers as long as these are not vague platitudes.
“Oh, I’m being put on the spot. Thank you for that wonderful question. But I believe as long as ang sagot ay hindi charot, mare, okay lang yan,” she said in response, much to Verzosa’s delight.
Star-studded event
Apart from Gutierrez, Verzosa, Lastimosa, and Diaz, other beauty queen-turned-actresses also came to celebrate, among them, Alice Dixson, Marina Benipayo, Dang Cecilio, Daisy Reyes, Pia Wurtzbach, Bianca Manalo and Bea Rose Santiago, who was one of the judges that night.
Red carpet runway
Other titleholders who represented the Philippines in international pageants turned the red carpet into their own runway, as they donned glamorous outfits that sent pageant fans in awe.
These included Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2017 Katarina Rodriguez, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2020 Samantha Bernardo, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2017 Rachel Peters, Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 Nicole Borromeo, and Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 Emma Tiglao.
International titleholders Cinderella Obeñita (Miss Intercontinental 2021) and Bea Rose Santiago (Miss International 2013) were joined to the hip with their pageant sisters Cindy Miranda, Roberta Tamondong, and Gabrielle Basiano on the red carpet.
Fan favorite beauties Venus Raj, Eva Patalinjug, Patch Magtanong, and Hannah Arnold captivated pageant fans on the red carpet as well.
Abra’s Myrna Esguerra was eventually named Binibining Pilipinas International 2024, while Pampanga’s Jasmin Bungay was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024.
Their court is composed of runners-up Christal Jean dela Cruz from Zambales and Trisha Martinez from Pila, Laguna.