Showbiz Roundup: Myrna Esguerra, Jasmin Bungay, Bimby Aquino’s ‘first GF’

Binibining Pilipinas capped off its grand 60th-anniversary celebration last July 7 with the coronation of Abra’s Myrna Esguerra and Pampanga’s Jasmin Bungay as Binibining Pilipinas International 2024 and Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bimby Aquino caught the attention of showbiz watchers after bonding with Ogie Diaz’s daughter, Erin Diaz, while taking on the “boyfriend for a day challenge” on social media.

Be updated with the hottest entertainment news of the week with a rundown of INQUIRER.net’s headlines from July 5 to 11.

Myrna Esguerra, Jasmin Bungay crowned

Two new queens became instant millionaires, Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra and Binibining Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay, at the culmination of the Bb. Pilipinas 2024 competition, the national pageant’s 60th edition.

For the milestone celebration, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) awarded its biggest cash prize ever and also gave P400,000 each to first runner-up Christal Jean de la Cruz from Zambales, and second runner-up Trisha Martines from Pila, Laguna. Forty ladies competed in this year’s competition.

The recent coronation was the grandest ever for the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, with more than 100 former winners assembled on stage, including Miss Universe winners Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Pia Wurtzbach, who also sat at the judging panel, and Catriona Gray, who was one of the hosts.

Bea Santiago, the fifth Miss International winner from the Philippines, was also one of the judges, while 2016 Miss International Kylie Verzosa was one of the hosts.

Also part of the all-female hosting team were 2016 Miss Grand International first runner-up Nicole Cordoves, 2014 Binibining Pilipinas Universe MJ Lastimosa and 1993 Miss World princess Ruffa Gutierrez.

Reigning Miss International Andrea Rubio flew from Venezuela for the 2024 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, where she sat at the judging panel, and helped crown Esguerra.

Esguerra will compete in the 63rd Miss International pageant next year. Her predecessor Angelica Lopez is scheduled for its 62nd edition in Japan in November.

Bungay will represent the Philippines in The Miss Globe pageant later this year. She received her national title from Anna Lakrini, who finished third in the international competition last year.

Jasmin breaks so-called ‘Gloria Diaz curse’

Jasmin Bungay is one lucky lady. Not among the early favorites by observers, and not even at the top of prediction lists released by pageant portals, she defied the odds and has now become a national titleholder.

An insider also shared that during a visit to one of the pageant’s sponsors this year, she had won not just one, but two luxury bags worth hundreds of thousands of pesos. She snagged her first purse in a raffle and later scored another one when she topped the event’s question-and-answer contest.

Bungay also broke the supposed “curse” on candidates upon being asked by 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz her hard pageant questions and still won, a fate so much different from those suffered by the others before her.

During the final round of the competition at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last July 7, Diaz asked: “If you were given 30 minutes to talk to the public, what would you want to talk about?”

She responded: “I would like to talk about the passing of the SOGIESC Bill. Because in [this] celebration, 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 SOGIESC.”

Incidentally, Diaz previously stated her stance that the Miss Universe pageant must cater only to biological women, amid the pageant’s recent direction toward “social inclusivity” to allow transgender women to join the tilt, along with married women, single mothers and women of advanced age.

Bungay left her job at a logistics firm in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and came back to the Philippines in February to join the national pageant. She also did a bit of modeling as a side hustle in the Middle East. “So, I’m currently unemployed, because I really wanted to focus on Binibining Pilipinas,” she told INQUIRER.net after her coronation.

“Even when I was contemplating if I would join, I didn’t really expect that it was going to be the 60th year. So when I saw that it was 60th, diamond year, I was just like, ‘Oh, it was a perfect time for me to join Bb. Pilipinas, because I was contemplating about it for a very long time,’” she added.

Bimby bonds with ‘first girlfriend’

Bimby Aquino took on the “boyfriend for a day” challenge and spent quality time with his “first girlfriend,” vlogger Erin Diaz, daughter of Ogie Diaz.

Bimby and Erin’s date happened in Disneyland California, during her and Ogie’s recent visit to the United States. Bimby had been in the US with his mom Kris Aquino, who has been seeking treatment for her autoimmune diseases.

“Ang ganda-ganda ng first girlfriend ko. Comes from a good family pa,” Bimby told Erin while at the theme park, as seen in a vlog on her YouTube channel on Thursday, July 4.

The pair called each other “honey,” and exchanged compliments and pick-up lines. They also shared snacks and enjoyed several rides together. Bimby concluded their date by gifting Erin an enamel pin of Disney princess Ariel.

“Everything is the best kapag may kasama kang maganda, matalino at masipag,” he said of Erin.

Before his Disneyland date, Bimby and Kris had an interview with Ogie, in which she revealed that her new beau is a doctor based in the Philippines. He also seemed to have come back to the country.

While further details on Bimby’s return were not immediately known, Kris disclosed in an interview that he was set to fly to the Philippines for his studies.

Leonardo urges Bongbong to protect Masungi

Leonardo DiCaprio voiced his support for Masungi Georeserve as he urged President Bongbong Marcos to intervene and help protect the area outside Manila, amid reported commercial encroachment and the planned cancellation of its contract with the government.

The “Titanic” actor, who is a known environmental advocate, took to Instagram on July 4 to give information about Masungi, saying the protected area in Tanay, Rizal, was in danger and most likely facing the threats of mining and logging, among others.

“Masungi is a lush montane rainforest landscape outside of Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines. In the late 1990s, much of Masungi was illegally deforested. Local communities fostered the development of the @masungigeoreserve, spurring efforts to restore this precious ecosystem,” he wrote.

“From these conservation initiatives, trees were able to grow taller, wildlife numbers slowly increased, and more locals became involved in protecting this ecosystem,” he wrote with pictures and video of the Masungi.

“Now this success is in jeopardy, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources threatens to cancel the agreement that protects this area from prolific land-grabbing activities. This cancellation would set back the success of an internationally acclaimed conservation effort and leave the area vulnerable again to mining, logging, and illegal developments,” he continued.

DiCaprio then raised his concern by mentioning Marcos in his post, as he stressed that Masungi would help the Philippines with sustainability aspects.

“Join local rangers in calling on President @bongbongmarcos to intervene and continue to protect Masungi. Conservation successes like Masungi serve as a reminder that the Philippines can become a leader in sustainability, eco-tourism, biodiversity protection, and climate action,” he explained.

DiCaprio has been an advocate for environmental causes throughout his career. At the age of 24, he established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to raise awareness about environmental issues and fight climate change.

However, the DENR maintained its stance that the rule of law would prevail.

Bimby, Josh bond with Kris Aquino’s friend in PH

Bimby and Josh Aquino bonded with their mom’s close friend Dindo Balares shortly after they returned to the Philippines following their long stay abroad to be with their mother Kris, who’s been seeking medical treatment for her autoimmune diseases.

Balares shared his bonding moments with the two boys on Instagram. He posted a photo of him and Bimby hugging, saying, “Ang liit-liit ko na. Tangkad na ni Bimb!”

He also shared photos of him and Josh sitting on a couch and appearing to have been talking. “KUYA. Isa sa dalawang reasons kung bakit sinasabi ni Bimb na, “Fighter si Mama,” he wrote.

In a separate post two days ago, Balares shared a text message from Bimby before they visited him. “‘Yong kagagaling mo sa pagbubungkal ng lupa kaya tagaktak ang pawis mo, ‘tapos pagbukas ng celfone ito ang message na mababasa: ‘Hi Kuya Dindo, it’s bimb. See you soon, please. Thank you. Love love love you,’” the message read.

Balares then reminisced about the good times he shared with the boys when they were younger.

“Fine young man na ang bunso ni Krissy. Parang kailan lang paslit pa na pabalik-balik sa akin… Sa kabila ng lahat, natutupad ni Kris ang kanyang plano na mapalaking mabuting tao si Bimb at lalo na bilang responsible guardian ni Kuya Josh,” he said.

He also clarified in another post that one of the people that Bimby first visited was not his nanny, but his late uncle and former president Noynoy Aquino’s old nanny.

Bea on ‘failed relationship’ with Dominic

Bea Alonzo opened up anew about her separation from her former fiancé, Dominic Roque, revealing it was a mutual decision and they tried to make things work but realized they “didn’t want to get married anymore.”

In an interview with Tatler Asia, the Kapuso actress revealed that she and Roque broke off their engagement in January although they confirmed it only in mid-February, adding that the separation did not happen “overnight.”

“I saw myself marrying this man. But sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. Sometimes God’s plan is better, and I have learned to embrace that,” she said.

“Before we announced it, we had been trying to work things out for months. It’s not like it happened overnight; it was a process for both of us,” continued the actress, adding that it’s fine if some relationships fail.

Alonzo said she was grateful to Roque for “acknowledging” that their relationship was no longer working out.

“I guess I also have to thank him because, had he not been courageous enough actually to acknowledge that there was something wrong in our relationship, I may have continued to be carried away by the pressures of society,” she said.

Alonzo stressed that no one was to blame for the failure of their relationship, adding no third party was involved. It nevertheless affected her because she got condemned just because she’s a woman.

“Even when there’s no cheating involved and the relationship does not work, women still get criticism,” she said. “The two people in the relationship are the only ones who know the truth. In my case with Dom, we didn’t want to get married anymore.”

Daniel Padilla’s brother JC, non-showbiz fiancée marry

Daniel Padilla’s brother JC and his non-showbiz partner Nathalia Valdivia tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in San Juan City and are set to welcome their first child.

JC and Nathalia said “I do” in a civil ceremony at the City Government of San Juan hall which was officiated by Mayor Francis Zamora, as seen in photos shared by Karla Estrada on her Instagram page last July 7. The “The Hows of Us” star was among the guests at their wedding.

Nathalia looked breathtaking in a chiffon tube gown while carrying a small bouquet, while JC looked dapper in his simple Barong.

The couple celebrated their wedding with their family and loved ones at the Gallery MiraNila by Blue Leaf in Quezon City,

One of the highlights of JC and Nathalia’s wedding was the couple announcing the gender of their first child which turned out to be a boy.

The couple announced their engagement in June 2024 where they shared their prenup photos on social media.