LOOK: The most striking outfits at the Bb. Pilipinas 2022 national costume preliminaries
The Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidates stunned the audience at the national costume preliminaries held on July 16 at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City.
After walking the runway in denim outfits and lovely dresses, this year’s bets showcased the beauty of their respective hometowns in their own ways. While some did so in simple yet meaningful ensembles, others opted for striking designs that captivated the audience with their creativity and massiveness.
Here are some of the most eye-catching outfits at the recently concluded NATCOS competition—ahead of the coronation night on July 31.
BB7 Graciella Lehmann - Oriental Mindoro
Designed by Paolo Ballesteros, Lehmann's Tikbalang costume features Balete tree branches designed to form a horse head and butterfly sleeves that stretch to its hooves. Amping it up are sheer pieces of white fabric for its mane and tail, which brilliantly follow her moves as she walks in it. There are also white pearls and rhinestones serving as the perfect finish.
BB8 Herlene Budol - Angono, Rizal
Budol's hometown is Angono, Rizal, which has been the home of the Higantes Festival. For the preliminaries, she opted for a Patrick Isorena number that "represents the image of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as she once featured the province and the festivity during her competition. The painting also symbolizes the province of Angono, carefully and intricately handcrafted by one of Angono's best artists." The TV host made it a point to add personal touches to her ensemble, adding orange and gold crystals to her body suit to put the spotlight on what she's been known for: "Hipon Girl."
BB13 Patricia Tan - Masbate City
Tan also highlighted a famous event in her hometown—the Rodeo Masbateño Festival—with a cowgirl-inspired outfit featuring Filipiniana sleeves made of twine and rope that are known to be used in rodeo. Designed by Kennedy Jhon Gasper alongside Mark Anthony Pimental, it "portrays a take on the rural countryside lifestyle of Masbate City's unique and rich culture."
BB15 Nyca Bernardo - Guiguinto, Bulacan
The Halamanan Festival in Guiguinto, Bulacan inspired Bernardo's costume, showcasing a myriad of plants and flowers as well as crystals, beads, and butterflies that provide an extra oomph to the Marbin Garcia creation. The entire outfit is made from Singkaban, which is a shaving bamboo art that her hometown is also famous for.
BB19 Patricia Malaluan - Quezon Province
For her NATCOS, Malaluan took inspiration from the Vulcan De Agua, Mt. Banahaw with the help of designer Jojo Alidio. Known as the "holy mountain" by the locals, it's been said that the water that the creation brings out for the falls, streams, and ponds is able to cure illnesses, get rid of bad energy, and tell what's to come next. The costume inspiration is much like a binibini: "Unpopular and mysterious, yet beautifully destructive and powerful."
BB27 Jessica Rose McEwen - Floridablanca, Pampanga
Designed by Kayvan Passion Salazar, McEwen's costume puts the sandok, kaldero, and silverware on display in her national costume, embellished with crystals and beads, "then elegantly ornamented and accessorized with a back and head dress locally and personally made by the town laborers—mamukpuk."
BB28 Gabrielle Camille Basiano - Borongan City, Eastern Samar
How beautiful did Basiano look onstage in her chosen outfit? The Ken Batino and Jevin Salaysay creation pays homage to the Padul-Ong Festival, which is "a mythical presentation that unfolds the story on how the image of the Virgin Mary was mysteriously transported from Portugal to Borongan, Eastern Samar." The annual affair is being celebrated every Sept. 8.
BB35 Diana Mackey - Nueva Ecija
Inspired by the "manggagapas" or reaper, Diana Mackey wore a costume by Malayka Yamas, who shared that it "represents the harvest and hard work of our forefathers mowing abundantly." Designed with a carabao that symbolizes Filipino resilience and diligence, its cultural aesthetics "is found through the rich history of the Filipinos: unhindered, distinct, and diverse."
