Bb. Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra (right) and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay/ARMIN P. ADINA
The nation bore witness to the coronation of two new Binibining Pilipinas queens at the grandest staging of the competition on Sunday, July 7, celebrating 60 years of the longest-running national pageant in the Philippines. But what did the winners do on their first day as titleholders? Of course, they watched the show.
INQUIRER.net was the first to sit down with the newly proclaimed queens, Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay, during their official glam photoshoot at the Owner’s Circle at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Tuesday, July 9, where they gleefully shared what happened after the curtains have closed.
The show was held Sunday, July 7, but the evening extended a few more hours for them because of the post-coronation festivities with the pageant’s friends and sponsors. Because of this, they only got to hit the sack at around 3 A.M. on Monday, July 8. After catching up on some much-needed sleep, something they have been deprived of because of the rigors of pageant preparations, the ladies said they were still able to do a lot on their first day as the diamond queens of Binibining Pilipinas.
Esguerra said she watched the video of the grand coronation night with her family. “Just once, because it was almost four hours long. But it’s a really beautiful production. It really is. And I’m so honored that I’m part of it,” she said.
“And now I can finally say that I am part of an historical event, really, because of all the queens present the other night. So it was really such an amazing opportunity, and I’m just grateful, really grateful for this opportunity,” the Abra lass said, while confessing that it still has not fully sunk in that she is now a national beauty titleholder.
Bungay also viewed the show to see what the audience witnessed on that momentous evening, and how she was able snag one of the prestigious titles at stake in the competition. “I also had, like, some quiet time with myself yesterday for a few hours, so I didn’t know how to spend it. I just went to YouTube and checked the video of the coronation night,” she shared.
Esguerra said she got to celebrate her victory with her family at home. “We also did this because two of my sisters [came] home from abroad just to watch the coronation night of Binibining Pilipinas for me. So they’re going back abroad in just a few days more, [and] they know that we’re going to be busy in Binibining Pilipinas, because of all the activities now that we are winners,” she said.
But Bungay had a different story. Although her family traveled all the way from Pampanga to watch the coronation night, they immediately went back home after the show ended early morning on Monday. That is why she still has not been able to celebrate her victory with them.
“I spent it with my closest friend in Binibini, Tracy Mae Sunio from Bacolod. So I spent most of the day with her, since we also shared the same room in Novotel. So we checked out at 12, and then I had lunch with her family,” the Kapampangan teacher shared.
“And then we also had dinner together, because earlier today (Tuesday, July 9) she went back to Bacolod, so I’m not gonna see her for quite some time. And I know I’m gonna miss her, so I told her kahit na madami kang gagawin (even if you have a lot of things to do) we really have to have dinner,” Bungay said.
Her friends have also been bugging her for a celebration together, she said. And Bungay will just wait for her schedule to free up so she can go back home to Pampanga and celebrate her coronation with her family and loved ones. “That’s one of the most frustrating parts after, because I cannot schedule things yet, because I know that a lot of activities will come after this, a lot of media guesting,” she said.
Bungay will be the first to leave for her international competition. She will represent the Philippines in this year’s edition of The Miss Globe pageant in Albania later this year. Esguerra will have more prep time, because she will compete in the 63rd Miss International pageant scheduled next year.