It started late in the evening and ended past midnight.
But it was worth the wait for 21-year-old interior design student Nicole Borromeo of the University of San Carlos, went home with the Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 title in the wee hours of 1 August at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Her predecessor Hannah Arnold was on hand to crown Borromeo in the pageant’s 58th edition.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves, Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Mae Bernardo and Filipino-British actor Edward Barber emceed the program.
SB19 opened the show with a performance of “Win Your Heart,” while Maymay Entrata sang “Amakabogera” during the swimsuit segment.
Prior to joining the competition, Borromeo — who’s into photography and furniture refurbishing — had won as Miss Silka Cebu 2017, Sinulog Festival Queen 2019, Reyna Ng Aliwan 2019 and Miss Millennial 2019.
Other titleholders
The Binibining Pilipinas pageant’s other new titleholders were Gabrielle Camille Basiano from Borongan, Eastern Samar who won Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022. The 24-year-old professional model and businesswoman — who was also best in swimsuit and best in evening gown — will vie for Miss Intercontinental on 14 October in Egypt.
Chelsea Fernandez, a Mass Communications graduate from Asian Development College, won Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022. The 23-year-old professional model, a native of Tacloban, Leyte, will compete in Miss Globe on 15 October in Albania.
Roberta Angela Tamondong from San Pablo, Laguna was chosen Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2022. The 19-year-old model and environment advocate is the country’s representative to Miss Grand International on 25 October in Indonesia.
Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol from Angono, Rizal had multiple victories. The 22-year-old comedienne and host, popularly known as Hipon Girl, bagged eight sponsor awards—the most for any candidate.
Second runner-up was 24-year-old Stacey Daniella Gabriel, who is in the cast of the long-running TV series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
In the Q&A segment, Gabriel was asked a controversial question: Personally, how do you distinguish a historian from a Marites?
Her answer: “A historian is one who recognizes our painful past with factual evidence, looking back at our rich, vibrant history, and as well as the times our humanity was trampled upon… and our heritage was almost erased. If we look at our past, we can surely move onward and upward and rebuild, rise from this pandemic, and dream for a safer, healthier and happier Philippines.”