Bb. Pilipinas queens (from left) Myrna Esguerra, Angelica Lopez, Jasmin Bungay and Christal Jean Dela Cruz show the contents of a bag handed over at the charity event. Image: Facebook/Binibining Pilipinas
Just a little over a month since their coronation on July 7, the queens of the 2024 Binibining Pilipinas pageant continued their charity mission, something that they started to engage in even when they were just candidates earlier this year.
Reigning Bb. Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay, and first runner-up Christal Jean Dela Cruz joined 2023 Bb. Pilipinas International Angelica Lopez for a visit at the Gawad Kalinga site in Tanay, Rizal, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, to bring cheer to the children of the community.
The four ladies got to reminisce on their childhood this back-to-school season when they distributed school supplies to around 60 children at Gawad Kalinga’s Julio Iglesia Araneta Center. They also brought food for the people of the community, and shared meals with the kids and their parents.
Aside from receiving these gifts, the children also got to spend time with the queens through fun games and activities. Esguerra even demonstrated her prowess in a street game called “10/20” where a player hops in patterns to play with a long hoop of rope held on two sides by other players.
“Another moment that will be cherished for life happened today! [Teary-eyed emoji] This happened during our activity with the children of Tanay, Rizal, under Gawad Kalinga Foundation,” she said in her caption when she posted a video of her playing 10/20 on social media.
Esguerra also posted another video with the three other queens carrying some of the backpacks distributed to the children, as if modeling them for a fashion feature. “Back to school but this time it’s not me. [heart smiley emoji],” she said in her caption.
Last month, during the onslaught of super typhoon “Carina” in Luzon, including Metro Manila, Esguerra, Bungay, Dela Cruz and Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up Trisha Martinez took part in a donation drive with the Sagip Kapamilya Foundation to help the families battered by the weather disturbance.
Bungay, Dela Cruz and Martinez also took part at the “Brigada Pagbasa” initiative on July 31, to support calls for volunteerism to encourage reading among children, even after school hours.
World Vision Philippines, which received P1 million from the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) for the pageant’s 60th anniversary, rallied behind the queens through its Chair Simoun Ung for the initiative, which also enjoys the support of Philippine Business for Education Chair Ramon Del Rosario Jr., Philippine Business for Social Progress’ Elvin Uy, Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Angat Buhay Chair and President Leni Robredo, the country’s former vice president.