Miss Philippines Rowee Lucero has just arrived from Albania following her successful stint at the Miss Globe 2020 beauty pageant where she won 4th runner-up.
During a meeting with some members of the pageant media Thursday night, Lucero said that she has no hard feelings against Binibining Pilipinas pageant which disqualified her as an official candidate after she won in Albania.
Lucero, who is under self-quarantine at home, said that she knew she knew it was coming when she competed in the Miss Globe contest abroad.
"Hindi na ako na-surprise na tinanggal ako sa Bb. Pilipinas 2020 kasi nag risk talaga ako noong pumunta ako sa Albania. Pero nagpaalam talaga ako ng maayos sa kanila na sasali ako sa Miss Globe pero hindi sila pumayag dahil sa COVID-19. Nauunawaan ko naman po sila at feel ko naman ang concern ng BPCI sa aming candidates," she said.
Lucero recalled how her journey to Albania began. "Tumawag ang organizers ng Miss Globe sa akin kung puwede raw ba ako sumali. Sumulat ako sa BPCI para magpa-alam ng maayos pero hindi po sila pumayag. But I took the risk. Bahala na. Dalawa lang ang mission ko sa pageantry: to compete in Bb. Pilipinas and wear the Philippines sash abroad. Nang kumatok ang Miss Globe sa akin, I told myself opportunity na ito and I grabbed it. Nag-yes na ako." And the rest is history, she said.
The Bulakena beauty queen also clarified that she did not violate any contracts with BPCI. "Nag-iisip po ako kung ano ang gagawin kasi I just want to clear my name. Ayoko po 'yung issue na naka-hang lang diyan so I want to reach out to them po. Pero I am so grateful talaga sa Bb Pilipinas."
Lucero, 26, said that she was only given five days to prepare to leave for Albania and join Miss Globe 2020.
When asked what could be her strong points that she won, Lucero believed that her good character traits played a major role during the competition.
Lucero also said she was thrilled that her Binibini sisters congratulated her after she won in Albania. Now that she's no longer a Binibini, she said that she will miss the group chat with her Binibini sisters.
"I wish all my Binibini sisters the best in 2021. May the best girl win," she said. "I will be forever grateful to Bb Pilipinas. It still is the most prestigious national beauty pageant."
She also wished that the Binibining Pilipinas 2020 finals would finally push through in 2021 so that she could watch her Binibini sisters being crowned.
For her Christmas wish, Lucero prayed that her family and friends be spared from COVID-19. She added that she's thankful she was able to travel to six countries this year.
In 2021, Lucero hopes to learn foreign languages which she can use for her business. Beyond that, she's not closing her doors to pageants. "Puwede pa naman ako sumali sa pageants. We will see."