Gloria Diaz. Image: Instagram/@rhonbalagtas
Gloria Diaz found it amusing after she was regarded by some as the “Enrile of Binibining Pilipinas” and praised for her continuous support for the pageant community more than five decades after becoming a titleholder.
Diaz graced the recently held Binibining Pilipinas coronation night, and served as one of the judges alongside her fellow Miss Universe titleholders Pia Wurtzbach and Margie Moran. Their fellow titleholder, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, was also at the event as one of the hosts.
Diaz’s presence and sharp-witted questions gained buzz on social media, with some even describing her as the counterpart of Juan Ponce Enrile—who, despite being 100 years old, is still active in public service—in the Binibining Pilipinas.
“Someone told me I am the ‘ENRILE’ of BB PILIPINAS,” Diaz said on her Instagram page, showing clips of herself donning a black off-shoulder gown by Filipino designer Rhon Balagtas at the coronation night.
“54 years later still around at the Araneta Coliseum,” she continued. “I feel [so] lucky and so happy to see all my Binibining [Pilipinas] friends. Still very active, fully dressed in long gowns.”
The recently concluded coronation show was the grandest ever for the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, with more than 100 former winners assembled on stage, including Miss Universe Philippines national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee and her mom, Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez, MJ Lastimosa, Kylie Verzosa, Nicole Cordoves and Ruffa Gutierrez.
Emerging as winners from the event were Abra’s Myrna Esguerra as the Binibining Pilipinas International, and Pampanga’s Jasmin Bungay as Binibining Pilipinas Globe.