Like those who came before them, Binibining Pilipinas queens Michele Gumabao and Eva Patalinjug hope to make history.
Michele Gumabao (left) and Eva Patalinjug
(Photo from Binibining Pilipinas/Bruce Casanova)
The first, a 26-year-old volleyball player, will leave for Tirana, Albana on Oct 9. She will compete there in the Miss Globe finals on Oct. 21.
“Right now I’m working on my walk, my makeup, my hair. I’m undergoing all kinds of different training with different glam teams. I’m working with a lot of Filipino designers and stylists including Mikee Andrei, John Herrera, and Bessie Besana,” she said.
Michele is also preparing herself mentally as “that is where it starts.”
“You have to be in it to win it,” she added.
She’s confident she’ll bring home the crown.
“But in the end, I’m just gonna do my best. Whatever happens after that, I’m happy and contented. I mean, I’ve always told other people that a crown doesn’t define who you are, winning doesn’t define who you are.
“Being an athlete I’ve learned so much more in losing, but of course once you’re in a competition you don’t think about losing. In any case whatever happens you just have to accept it, deal with it, and grow.”
She believes that at 26, she has already gone through a lot and that is her edge.
“I’ve already experienced a lot in life that young girls don’t get to experience – both the hard and the good, the success and the failure. I know with that, it can help me talk to other people, inspire more people. I just really hope I would make it,” she enthused.
What impression does she want to make on her co-finalists?
“I wanna be a team player when I get there. I don’t wanna exclude anyone from my journey to the crown. I want to be able to make friends along the way. So I want them to see me as a friend,” she said.
Eye on the crown
Eva will compete in the first-ever Miss Grand International in Yangon, Myanmar on Oct. 25.
“I’m just going to be myself. I’ll just enjoy the pageant and I will just give it my all because I don’t know what my fate will be,” she said.
In preparing for the finals, Eva focuses on her “communication skills, my wardrobe and makeup.”
What will make her a stand-out?
“I represent and bring with me the hopes and dreams of all the Filipinos who want to bring pride to the Philippines."
Eva believes she has strong fighting chance.
“I’m born competitive or I won’t be a valedictorian in my class in elementary, in high school. I won’t win Mutya ng Pilipinas and I won’t win Binibining Pilipinas if I’m not competitive,” she said. “This is my last pageant so I’m gonna give it my all.”
Eva wants to become a lawyer someday, then maybe Philippine president.
How about acting?
“If it will be given to me on a silver platter why not? But it’s not forever. And so with being beauty queen, it’s not forever. But my career as a lawyer is, so I’ll focus on that path.”