Residents of Angono, Rizal -- the country’s Art Capital -- will welcome on Friday, August 5, comedienne-turned beauty queen Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol.
Budol, who gained popularity as “Hipon Girl” in the GMA-7 show of Willie Revillame, is scheduled to be accorded a hero’s welcome in a motorcade parade in the town.
The office of Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon said the local government will lead the activity to recognize Budol’s success in her beauty pageant stint which gained her stardom before and after being crowned in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant a few days ago.
Budol first got the Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice award at the opening of the coronation night before receiving several special awards and finally the first runner-up crown.
A grand motorcade has been prepared for Budol by the local government, with her supporters and growing number of fans, which she calls “Hiponatics”, expected to fill the streets of Angono on Friday afternoon.
Budol’s use of the Filipino language during the question-and-answer portion of the pageant and her straightforward answer earned her more praise from the local government, a staff of Mayor Calderon told Manila Bulletin.
A giant paper mache locally known as “Higante”, which was made by local artist Totie Argana to look like Hipon Girl, is also expected to show up during the motorcade to add joy to the activity.
Other “higantes” may also join the activities at the Plaza Rizal where Budol and her manager, Wilbert Tolentino, will entertain the public.
Budol, during an interview with this reporter a few years ago when she was still a co-host of Revillame’s television show Wowwowin, said she learned many things like how to talk and relate with people when she worked at the mayor’s office.