In this pageant-crazed nation, we call The Philippines, any indication of a local showbiz personality joining in the competition always causes a stir among fans.
Back in 1993, when a teenaged Ruffa Gutierrez showed up in the last minutes of a Binibining Pilipinas screening, candidates who initially dreamed of competing for crowns that year walked out and backed out. In 2013, when Megan Young finally decided to take the plunge into national pageantry via the Miss World Philippines competition, the Cory Quirino-led organization had a hard time completing the candidates’ roster as other formerly interested ladies already foresaw who the eventual winner that year will be. In last year’s edition of Miss Universe Philippines, all eyes were on former PBB Teens Big 4 finisher Kisses Delavin, who topped all the online voting phases of the competition because of having a built-in fan base.
As this year’s season for national pageant searches is about to begin, rumors abound as to which girls will be joining in the different national pageants. From out of nowhere, confirmation of interest and participation came over the weekend from a rather unlikely and unexpected showbiz citizen. Splashed over beauty pageant mentor Rodgil Flores’ social media account is a post welcoming Harlene Nicole Budol into the Kagandahang Flores Pageant Training Camp. For those who are not familiar with Harlene, she is the comedienne popularly known as “Hipon Girl.”
“Dati na po syang nagpa-pageant. Sa mga past pageants niya, siya lagi ang winner ng Best in Swimsuit at Miss Congeniality. Kaya nga naging hipon ang tawag sa kanya,” (“hipon” or shrimp colloquially refers to someone who has a nice body and a head that is meant to be discarded, pretty much the same way how shrimp is eaten) explains Flores. He adds about Harlene’s pageant history: “Minsan lang siyang nag-title, di pa niya nakuha ang premyo nya. Yung manager nyang si Wilbert Tolentino ay close sa KF, kaya yun ang nag-ignite ng passion nyang sumali ulit, this time to join in the nationals.”
At 22 and standing a tad taller than 5’7, Hipon Girl will be graduating from college soon. Having been facing the television cameras for years now, she comes into national pageantry armed with a clear advantage: “Her having faced the cameras has enabled her to conquer her frights. She knows that she’ll be delving into another field, so dibdiban ang training na gusto nya,” says the respected pageant mentor.
So what are her chances to do well in national pageantry? Here’s the KF Head’s assessment: She’s just like any other girl who dreams of becoming a queen, who is from other fields. It just happens that she’s from showbiz. So why close our doors, di ba?”
Given that pageant screenings are set in the months of March to June, will the camp have enough time to improve Harlene’s visual impact on the competition? “She will have a pageant look. She will be a work in progress while the competition she’s going to be joining in is ongoing,” admits Flores.
And what about her Q and A? “She’s a quick thinker. She’s got solid ideas and just needs articulation to expound more. Me hugot ang mga sagot niya and she’s naturally witty,” he assures.
For now, Hipon Girl is setting her eyes on joining either Binibining Pilipinas or Miss World Philippines. If given a chance to represent the country in an international competition, she is determined to raise the flag in the Miss Grand International pageant.
“Alam niyang maraming mag-aabang at mag-do-down sa kanya. Pero ang talagang dapat nilang abangan ay ang mga pasabog at ang kanyang magiging Hipon Walk.”
I guess that’s something we all can look forward to seeing once pageant season begins.