Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra (right) and Binibining Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay/ARMIN P. ADINA
A month has passed since the Binibining Pilipinas pageant proclaimed new winners during its epic 60th anniversary celebration. Bb. Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay gamely took a shot at the questions that was thrown at the diamond batch of Binibinis, including the interesting and controversial ones.
The show, held on July 7 but got extended well into the early hours of the next day, 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.
At the end of the pageant, Esguerra and Bungay were crowned Binibining Pilipinas queens, besting 38 other ladies who took part in the competition.
Bungay will represent the Philippines at the 2024 The Miss Globe pageant scheduled in October in a country yet to be announced, while Esguerra will compete at the 63rd Miss International pageant next year.
READ: Highlights of Binibining Pilipinas 2024 pageant
(Fifi Sharma to Bb. 1 Marikit Manaois): A study has found the Philippines to laugh the most in a certain social media platform. What made you laugh recently?
Myrna: The thing that made me laugh recently was to be crowned as Binibining Pilipinas International 2024. Because it was the heart’s laugh. I had so much struggles with my Bb. Pilipinas journey, and it was really such an overwhelming feeling that I was crowned. And it was such a joyous moment for me and for everyone around me who’s been supporting me. So that laugh really came from the heart. Because finally we made it, my team made it, we all made it. And I’m just so happy that I was able to bring that laugh out of them. Because after such a long journey in Bb. Pilipinas for three months, we were all just doing our best. And now that it’s finally paid off, we can laugh as much as we want from the heart.
Jasmin: When we were at the stage waiting for us to air, there was one point we were all parched, thirsty for water, then the staff gave us a bottle of water, they told us not to share because it’s gonna go viral if people would take videos of it. We were like, ‘no, this is sisterhood, we’ll share.’ I drank from the bottle and we passed it to one another, we were just laughing the whole time.
(Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago to Bb. 26 Pheobe Godinez): If you can speak to the fishermen risking their lives at the West Philippine Sea for their families, what would you tell them?
Myrna: I would tell them to stay hopeful because the issues with the West Philippine Sea is not just about what there is. It’s about the lives of the Filipino and our economy. So in life, it’s everything about being hopeful. Today might not be your day, today you might be in the darkest position. But tomorrow it’s a hopeful day that we can always look forward to. So if I could talk to them, I will encourage them to stay hopeful, because tomorrow is another day for us to change what’s happening over there, thank you.
Jasmin: Stay brave, because they’re the front line of defense over there. They risk their lives every day. Because sailing there, you don’t know what’s gonna happen. China’s being hostile. But a whole country is rallying for them, rallying for our rights over that territory, and yet to have that faith in the government and in the people that we’re going to do what we can democratically in order to solve the territorial issue.
(Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to Bb. 20 Shannen Manzano): The “Pillin Mo ang Pilipinas” challenge has become a viral trend on social media. What is that one thing about the country that will always make you choose the Philippines?
Myrna: The Filipino smiles. Here in the Philippines we always welcome foreign nationalities with a smile, and I think it’s the reason why they keep coming back. So I will always choose the Philippines and choose to love the Philippines because of the Filipino smiles that keep giving warmth to the whole world, thank you.
Jasmin: As somebody who comes from the culinary capital of the Philippines, I think that it’s food that we can really put out there in the world and consider us world class. So yeah, if there’s one thing that I would love for the world to see with our country it’s got to be the food.
Gloria Diaz questions
The two queens also took a shot at the question from Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz that put Bb. 13 Roella Solis on the spot.
What physical attributes do you possess that will make you win Binibining Pilipinas?
Myrna: Growing up I was really insecure with my skin color. I have dark skin growing up and I was always bullied that I’m “negra,” something like that. So while growing up, I always see it as a negative thing. It’s an insecurity. That’s why when I joined beauty pageants, it actually made me think that this is the best thing that I got, my skin color, because this is the perfect symbol of every Filipino and I represent their color, so why should I not be proud of it? So from then on, I choose to be confident with my skin color because it is the color of every Filipino, thank you.
Jasmin: For me, I’ve always considered my long legs as my best asset, because these long legs have taken me so far in life figuratively and literally. Literally because I get to walk faster, have a longer stride than everyone else. These legs have also paved the way for some opportunities for me in Dubai as a model. So I think that’s an edge that I have with the ladies: I have international experience, a wider global understanding. So yeah, I think that’s gonna make me win.
Esguerra and Bungay also took turns in answering the question that sealed their fate in the competition.
(Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran to Esguerra): If a time machine brings you back to 1964, 60 years ago when Binibining Pilipinas began, what message would you tell the Filipino women of that time about the women of 2024?
Jasmine: I would tell them to keep pushing forward especially with their fight for women empowerment, because we enjoy the privileges that we have today because of the struggles that they had to face back then. But they pushed forward, they continued, and so we get to enjoy being a woman in today’s world.
(Gloria Diaz to Bungay): If you were given 30 minutes to talk to the public, what would you talk about?
Myrna: If I am able to speak to people, I would encourage them to support children under World Vision Philippines, because they are reaching different areas in the Philippines that are still really struggling in life. I am a student, but I was able to support a child. How much more if you guys could support children as well? How many more lives of children are we able to transform? So together, let’s end hunger and malnutrition. Let’s do that together as Filipinos, thank you.