Eva Psychee Patalinjug (Facebook)

Former Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Eva Psychee Patalinjug is one of the successful Bar exams passers this year!

"Finally, ATTY. EVA PSYCHEE S. PATALINJUG, R.N.," wrote Eva on Facebook on April 14. She was also a former Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International titleholder.

During an interview in 2017, the Cebuana beauty queen said that she really wanted to become a lawyer even if she joined beauty pageants. She also recalled her disappointment when she wasn't able to compete abroad after her pageants were postponed four times.

"Disappointed po ako na hindi ako nakapag-compete sa Miss Asia Pacific International. But I understand naman na may konti pang problema ang Miss Asia Pacific International that time. So I was hoping they will let me join another pageant which is Top Model of the World 2015," said Eva.

Eva continued: "Then nag-send off party ha kami ni Glennifer Perido. My pageant was supposed to be held in China sana. I was very ready na with my visa, tickets, clothes. One month before, I was told na mapo-postponed daw to March 2015. So I can wait pa naman at least may time pa to prepare for myself. Nung dumating na ang March. Moved na naman. This time sa Egypt na raw."

"Downside is hindi ako makakuha ng visa kasi war nung time na 'yun sa Egypt. The Philippine government does not want to issue any visa for Egypt. Bumalik na lang ako sa Cebu. I took up law at the University of San Carlos," she said.

Then Mutya ng Pilipinas called her again. This time they wanted her to compete in the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2015. Eva asked: "Are you sure OK lang with the current winners? Kasi I won in 2014 and it's 2015 na." She was told that the other queens could compete in other contests.

Eva, who is also a registered nurse, initially agreed to represent the Philippines because the contest will be held during her semestral break in October. But she was told that the pageant was postponed again.

"I asked myself 'bakit kaya laging napo-postpone?' She finally begged off and focused on law studies. "Pumayag lang talaga ako nun because sem break pero postponed pa rin."

Eva pointed out that she has no ill-feelings with the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization. "Napaka-supportive nila sa akin. Kahit hindi na ako reigning queen, binibigyan pa rin nila ako ng projects. I'm not seeing the negative side of it. I am looking at it as a positive sign. Feel ko hindi meant for me kaya napo-postponed. Maybe I was meant to be in another stage."

After her stint in Mutya ng Pilipinas, Eva joined the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant. "Pagkatapos ng Mutya, madami ang nagsasabi sa akin na sumali raw ako sa Bb. Pilipinas. So what I did now, I prioritized my studies this year and took all the subjects na pwedeng kunin so that focus ako sa Bb. Pilipinas next year." And the rest is history.

In 2022, more than 9,000 took the Bar exams but only 3,992 passed.