Four Miss Universe queens together, Janina San Miguel's 'confidence and presence' and other 2024 Binibining Pilipinas iconic moments
This year's Binibining Pilipinas has not only served looks but also spawned memes and iconic moments, which shall be forever in the annals of social media history.
The coronation night took place last July 7 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Out of 40 candidates, Myrna Esguerra of Abra and Jasmin Bungay of Pampanga emerged as the country's representatives to the Miss International and Miss Globe.
The competition aside, the pageant's diamond year held moments to be remembered. Here are some of them, as they've gone viral on X (formerly Twitter).
No pressure for Janina San Miguel, only confidence and presence
Janina San Miguel made a comeback to the Binibining Pilipinas stage after 16 years as a special guest. And no, she didn't feel any pressure again.
While with Shamcey Supsup, Criselda Cecilio, and Catriona Gray, San Miguel was asked if she has a favorite contestant already, and gave an answer the way that only she does.
"At this moment, yes, I do have a bet already," she said. "And it's all because of her confidence and presence," with a prolonged "r," as if embodying her very standards.
At one point, Cecilio asked if there would be a "hakot queen," or someone who would take multiple awards.
"Well, I'm proud to say that during my year, I won best in swimsuit and best in long gown. So, who would be the next?" San Miguel said, drawing applause from the crowd.
San Miguel, the Binibining Pilipinas World 2008 titleholder, gained popularity for her memorable delivery of “No, I don’t feel any pressure right now” during the pageant's Q&A portion of that year. She also went viral for stuttering and losing her composure later on, immortalizing how she said "My family."
Gloria Diaz asks same question twice
Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz had a mother moment when she delivered the same question twice for Roella Solis of Bulacan.
Diaz asked, "What do you think, what physical asset do you have that should make you win Binibining Pilipinas?"
Solis replied with, "As a beauty queen and as a woman of vision, I am here to present you the best version of myself," she said, despite her "pivotal loss" eight days ago when her grandmother died.
"I know that she's in heaven watching me and proud of me," she added, noting her grandmother has the "best seat" there.
Diaz then asked Solis again about her "physical asset," to which she said with all smiles, "I am beautiful. Aside from that, I have a mission and vision in life." This, she said, sets her "apart" from the other candidates.
Titleholders gather on stage
Grabe sobrang ramdam mo ang pagka powerhouse ng Philippines dahil sa Binibining Pilipinas.
Presenting all the BBP title holders. #BBP60GrandCoronation #BinibiningPilipinas #OnceABinibiniAlwaysABinibini #BbPilipinas60 #BBP60 pic.twitter.com/nHz85nblGN— Yashael 👑❣️📸 (@Dainsleif_10) July 7, 2024
The opening segment of Binibining Pilipinas 2024 saw over 100 beauty queens from different eras on the same stage, including figures from the '70s like Melanie Marquez.
Miss International winners Bea Santiago, Kylie Verzosa, as well as Miss Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul and Miss Intercontinental Cinderella Faye Obeñita appeared on stage.
Some beauty queens, however, were not able to make it though their names were still mentioned, like Aurora Pijuan.
All four Miss Universe queens together
During that opening segment, what could be more surreal than witnessing the country's Miss Universe queens altogether in one frame?
Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018) all appeared on stage.
They walked the runway as their names were called one by one before staying close together on the side.
"The power this photo holds," the Binibining Pilipinas Facebook page said in its caption.
In the 2025 Miss Universe pageant, Chelsea Anne Manalo will be representing the country in Mexico.
MJ Lastimosa's take on memorized answers
MJ Lastimosa, a semifinalist at the Miss Universe 2014, gave her honest opinion on memorized answers during the pageant.
Host Kylie Verzosa asked Lastimosa her thoughts about it and, as if in a Q&A portion, offered her take.
"Oh, I’m being on the spot,” she said with a laugh. “Thank you for that wonderful question."
"I believe that as long as ang sagot ay hindi ‘Charot, mare,’ okay lang ‘yan,” Lastimosa said in laughter still.
She then turned serious, noting the importance of preparation in prestigious events like beauty pageants.
"But kidding aside... they’re very nerve-wracking," she said of Q&A portions. "So just like final exams or big presentations, I think there’s nothing wrong [with] coming prepared."
“As long as mag-study ka nang maayos, magbaon ka, di ba?" Lastimosa added. "[If] you don’t sound rehearsed, maitatawid mo ‘yan, queen. Go lang! And I thank you."
