Newly-crowned Bb. Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
For this year’s edition of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, the organization threw its biggest cash prize in the competition’s 60-year history, a whopping P1 million. So how do the new queens plan to spend such a huge amount?
INQUIRER.net spoke to newly-crowned Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra after her coronation at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the Araneta City in Quezon City early morning on Monday, July 8, and she said she plans to donate part of it to World Vision Philippines.
“When I found out that many, many Filipinos partnered with World Vision Philippines, I sponsored a child, his name is Summer, and I plan to do that with some more children,” said the queen from Abra.
“Knowing that there are thousands of children who are experiencing child labor or lack of child support, it really breaks my heart. But through World Vision Philippines I plan to help these children,” continued Esguerra, namesake of the first-ever Bb. Pilipinas queen crowned 60 years ago, the late Myrna Panlilio.
World Vision Philippines will also receive a P1-million grant from the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) this year, as part of the organization’s 60th anniversary celebration. The group is headed by Chairperson Stella Marquez Araneta, the first woman to be crowned Miss International.
Esguerra said she is aware of the struggles young people are encountering, having experienced it herself. At the age of 17, she decided to support her studies, and even helped cover some of her household’s expenses to ease the burden on her family even more.
And with the multiple special awards she received during the grand coronation night, she will surely have an additional amount to spare, and more. As Bb. Urban Smiles, she will get to enjoy P150,000 worth of dental services. She will also get two round-trip plane tickets as Bb. Philippine Airlines.
Esguerra will also receive an additional P50,000 for being adjudged as both Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, which also come with a total of P195,000 worth of products and services from the pageant’s sponsors.
As for newly-crowned Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay, the Kapampangan lass confessed that she has not thought about how she will spend her P1 million. “I did not expect this victory at all. So I will probably enjoy time with my family first, because I really miss them a lot. And then I’ll really think about the rest, probably, later on,” she said.
Esguerra will compete in the 63rd Miss International pageant next year, while Bungay will represent the Philippines in this year’s edition of The Miss Globe competition.