JERRY OLEA
Coronation night ng 61st Binibining Pilipinas ngayong Hunyo 15, 2025, Linggo, sa Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City.
Ngayong Sunday afternoon, nag-post ang Binibining Pilipinas sa Facebook page nito ng official swimsuit photos ng 36 candidates.
Saad sa caption ng FB post: "Dia Ali is proud to be the official swimsuit sponsor of Binibining Pilipinas 2025!
“This year’s headpieces are more than accessories, they are symbols of heritage, identity, and empowerment.
"Paired with our signature swimwear, each Binibini shines bright on their own.
“Designer: Dia Ali by Justine Aliman.”
Bahagi ng coronation night na ito ang SB19, at dadalo rin sina Miss Globe 2024 Diana Moreno at Miss International 2024 Huynh Thi Thahn Thuy.
Suportado ng My Daily Collagen ang Bb. Pilipinas 2025.
Read: PBB viewers gush over Shuvee Etrata and rumored boyfriend Anthony Constantino
Q&A WITH SELECT BINIBINING PILIPINAS CANDIDATES
Sa mediacon na naganap noong Hunyo 2, sa Ibis Hotel, Quezon City, nagpakitang-gilas ang mga kalahok sa pag-introduce sa sarili at pagsagot sa Q&A.
ON BEAUTY-QUEEN STEREOTYPES
Inusisa si Binibini 14 Devine May Torres ng Zamboanga del Sur kung anong stereotype about beauty queens ang nais niyang mawala o matigil na.
Sagot ni Devine May: "That we are just beautiful individuals. Beauty queens today have progressed a lot—we have so much to offer.
“We are a bunch of accomplished, beautiful women who came here for a purpose.
“We are more than that. We are capable of putting something on the table, of inspiring, influencing, and being the voice for something."
ON RELEVANCE OF BEAUTY PAGEANTS
May mga nagsasabing hindi na relevant sa panahon ngayon ang mga beauty pageants.
Ang insight ni Binibini 24 Radha Marie Cabug ng Las Piñas (second district) kaugnay rito: "I think that beauty pageants were once seen with a sort of stigma, where it seems shallow and all those kinds of thoughts.
“But as we progress—especially nowadays—I believe that beauty pageants are a big platform for women to be able to tell their stories, to be heard, and to empower other women.
“Pageantry has moved on from just beauty—it's now beauty with a purpose.
“It has been relevant in women empowerment because they showcase the different, unique qualities of women that are usually not shown in the media."
ON PASSIONATE PAGEANT FANS
Filipinos are known for being both passionate fans and tough critics in pageantry.
Ano ang reaksiyon ni Binibini 29 Glycelle Navares ng South Cotabato sa positibo at negatibong panig nito?
Pahayag ni Glycelle: “It’s very timely for me also coz I’m the first from my province to represent South Cotabato in Binibining Pilipinas.
“The support that I’m getting from my province—grabe po talaga. They encourage me, they chat with me, and they really encourage me to do my best here.
“They always say they’re proud of me no matter what happens. On the negative side, I think we are also not perfect and we are very open to constructive criticism.
“I’m very thankful also for the criticisms I’ve been getting because I know I have a lot of things to improve—and I’m very willing to do that so I can be a better inspiration to the Filipino people, especially the younger generation."
ON THE COST OF JOINING PAGEANTS
Magastos daw sumali sa timpalak?
Pagtatapat ni Binibini 7 Annabelle Mae McDonnell ng Iligan City: “I would have to agree that it costs a lot to join a beauty pageant, especially a national one.
"Realistically speaking, it has cost a lot.
"However, if you're not from a privileged background like myself because I've been a breadwinner since I was 15.
"And I've really had a lot of jobs just to sustain myself through my studies. I’d say that I've overcome these financial challenges through my network.
"I never based my self-worth on my net worth.
"I visit on my network, so I'm really grateful to have Aces & Queens as a camp because they train us for free. It's an advocacy-based organization.
"But moreover, through my work as an event host and a model, I've met so many great creatives that have been willing to give a helping hand throughout my Binibining Pilipinas journey.
"And I'd say it's still fair to spend a little bit on pageants because we still have to pay the creative teams that really support us as well.
"Let's normalize supporting the creative industry, fashion industry, make-up artist, and hair industry.”
GORGY RULA
Ang dyed-in-the-wool pageant aficionados ay nakatutok na sa pinaniniwalaan nilang frontrunners.
Sa mediacon, on equal footing ang 36 candidates.
Walang favoritism sa lipon ng mga showbiz media na nagtanong.
In fairness, magigiliw sumagot ang mga kandidata.
Sa presscon ng pelikulang Untold noong Marso 31, sinabi ni Gloria Diaz na ayaw niya iyong sobra-sobrang training nowadays sa beauty pageant.
Ani Gloria na laging kinukuhang hurado sa timpalak: “I also don’t like that they are judged by what they answer. Kasi sometimes, the answer is so complicated I myself always cannot understand what they’re saying.
"This is not an IQ contest, e, it’s a beauty contest.”
ON THE MERIT OF Q&A IN BEAUTY PAGEANTS
Ang thoughts ni Binibini 34 Patricia Layug ng Bataan kaugnay rito: “It depends upon the person.
"But for me, I personally want to train because I have a lot of things that I don’t know that I want to be informed about. So I have to be knowledgeable about things.
"In answering questions, I believe that it’s the test of how you will be, who you are, how you will share to people who you are, your values.
"And as long as you are sincere and you’re saying everything with integrity and with your heart, that’s what really matters in the end.”
Sabi ng isang kilalang beauty queen, pageant candidates should be asked difficult questions during Q&A. Bakit iyong importante?
Pagmamatwid ni Binibini 1 Jeanette Reyes ng Batangas City: “For me, it’s a challenge and a test.
“Difficult questions push us to think critically, speak with grace, and show the essence of what a true beauty queen is.
“It shows how we handle pressure and how we express our values."
WEALTH OR BEAUTY OR INTELLIGENCE?
Pinapili si Binibini 9 Jenesse Viktoria Mejia ng Pangasinan. Choose one: Physically attractive, intelligent, or wealthy—and why?
Choice ni Jenesse Viktoria: “In life where I didn’t grow up to be much privileged, I would choose to be wealthy.
“Because there are so many people I want to help. I’ve seen the faces of poor children—I grew up with them through the church, through the youth ministry.
“I’ve seen the sadness in their eyes when they go hungry. They say money causes power—but really, it helps more people.
“The only way for me to give more is to have wealth so that I can help those in need.
“If you are physically beautiful or intelligent, that can be developed.
"But wealth can be used to help more—pay it forward and impact lives."
ON DATING A JOURNALIST
Inusisa si Binibini 30 Blessie Jay Villablanca ng Antique kung makikipag-date ba siya sa isang journalist?
Sagot ni Blessie: “Probably yes—if I’m single. But I’m not. I’m taken. I think it’s interesting going on a date with a journalist because I love to write, and I like talking to people who have a lot to offer.
“Journalists have lots of stories to tell and I would love to listen.
"But, unfortunately, I have a boyfriend now, so, better luck next time, Sir."
NOEL FERRER
No holds barred ang mga tanong sa nasabing mediacon.
Iba-ibang isyu at paksa ang inurirat. Isinuko kamakailan ng isang beauty titleholder ang kanyang korona dahil sa mental health problems.
Read: Miss Grand International 2024 Rachel Gupta: resigned or dethroned?
ON GIVING UP THE BEAUTY TITLE
Kapag nangyari iyon kay Binibini 25 Katrina Anne Johnson ng Davao Province, ganoon din ba ang gagawin niya?
Pag-amin ni Katrina Anne: "If I'm being honest, I think it's really important that we prioritize our morals and our values.
“I don't think you should ever compromise that as an individual. That's how I was raised.
“But if I'm being truthful, the reason why I'm here in Binibini is because I know the org would never do that to us. They really put charity at the heart and soul of the organization.
“They would never put us in a position that makes us feel unsafe or is going to compromise who we are as individuals or who we are as women.
“They are very respectful, they listen to us, they make us feel seen, they make us feel heard. They allow us to perform our advocacies.
“So, honestly, if it was something that I felt was compromising who I am as a person and it wasn't something that aligned with who I am, I think I might have to give it up.
“But here in Binibini, I don't think they would ever do that—so I would keep the crown, for sure."
ON HAVING A SUPER POWER
Ang tanong kay Binibini 20 Farah Jane Rebustillo ng Samar, sakaling paggising niya bukas ay meron na siyang super power, anong kapangyarihan ang inaasam niya?
Sagot ni Farah Jane: "I've always been so curious of what will happen in the future, so if I had a superpower I would love to be able to see what will happen tomorrow and then next few weeks or on the coronation night.
“Hopefully, what will happen on the coronation night will work towards my favor."
ON MOST APPROPRIATE ENDING FOR HER LIFE STORY
Kung isasapelikula ang kanyang buhay, what would be the best or most appropriate ending?
Sabi ni Binibini 33 Jerimi Nuqui ng Caloocan: “That’s so interesting because you know what, I am doing theater, I’ve been staging my craft for almost a decade now.
“I actually thought about this several times: if I am the main character of my own life and it will be a movie, I think the perfect ending would be—I will wear a crown.”
ON GIVING UP THE CROWN FOR LOVE
Hypothetically, kung ikaw ang nanalo, one week after your reign, your multi-millionaire boyfriend of five years asks you to give up the crown and get married. Would you do it?
Paninindigan ni Binibini 12 Francesca Beatriz Abalajon ng Aklan: “I would never give it up.
"My dreams and my commitment to the crown and to Binibining Pilipinas is priceless—and no five million pesos could ever buy that.”
Korona o pag-ibig?
“Korona pa din. Because with the korona, I could fulfill my purpose, achieve my dreams.
“And love is anywhere—it’s everywhere. It comes from the girls, from my thirty-five Binibini sisters, from friends, from family—and with that I could live every day."
ON SARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT CASE
Pabor ka ba sa impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte?
Sagot ni Binibini 36 Dalia Khattab ng Las Piñas: “There has definitely been a lot of incompetence going around in politics …
“I come from a different culture, from the Middle East, and so the way we deal with politics, we actually have a monarchy.
“So, this is obviously very new to me—this, seeing how vice presidents, presidents, congress, and senate deal with stuff…
“But I believe we need to have more discussions about it so that we are able to understand every one’s side because, again, there are so many of us involved…
“Hopefully things can be resolved as soon as possible.”