Herlene Nicole Budol (YouTube)

Actress Herlene Nicole Budol apologized to her fans for her incoherent answer during the Q&A portion of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 press conference, citing her extreme nervousness as the reason why she faltered.

Following criticisms from netizens, Budol vowed to do her best in the competition. The grand finals of the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 beauty pageant will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on July 13. The winner will represent the country in the Miss Grand International 2023 pageant in Vietnam on Oct. 25.

On Facebook, Budol wrote: "Sa sobrang kaba ko po hindi kopo naexplain yung kung ano'ng gusto ko pong sabihin.

(I was so nervous that I couldn't explain what I wanted to say.)

"Sorry I admit di po ako magaling sa lahat ng bagay and sorry kung nawalan po kayo sakin ng kumpyansa.

(Sorry, I admit I'm not good at everything, and I'm sorry if you lost confidence in me.)

"Sa isang pag kakamali I’ll try my best to make you proud.

(With a mistake I'll try my best to make you proud.)

"Hindi ko po nilaro diko lang po talaga na gets yung tanong and I accept it.

(I didn't play it. I didn't get the question and I accept it.)

"Hindi po ako perpekto. Thank you for those people na naniniwala pa din po sa akin."

(I'm not perfect. Thank you for those people who still believe in me.)

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During the sashing ceremony and media presentation held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City on , Budol was asked by a vlogger from Crown Sisters Channel. The question was: "Apart from being your big social media followings, what else have you got to win the crown?"

Budol's answer did not sit well with pageant fans. She said: "Thank you for the long question for me. I have a big followers because I have a big heart. Oh English yun ha! Nakapag-compose po ako agad.

"Ahhhh ano. nga uli yung tanong?

Crown Sisters Channel: "What else do you think you have in order to win the crown this year?"

Budol continued: "What is?"

Crown Sisters Channel: "Ano pa ang meron ka maliban sa iyong social media following na sa tingin mo ay maari kang mapili na magrepresenta ng ating bansa sa darating na patimpalak sa Miss Grand International 2023?"

Budol said: "I think this is the right time. Last year siguro hindi ko po oras. Ang sabi nga ng adbokasiya ng Miss Grand is ahhhm Ano ba yun? World peace and what else again? Stop the war and peace. Since I was young, ahhh Ang sarap mag-English!

(Facebook)

"Naranasan ko pong ma-bully sa eskwelahan, mabugbog sa tahanan at dumayo sa ibang bansa at natutukan ako ng tatlong baril na talagang armalite at naging isang dayuhan. Para sa akin, ang solid ng experience na yun. Ayokong maranahasan ng iba yun.

"At bilang isang Miss Grand, sisimulan ako sa aking experience, na ipalagana sa ibang tao na huwag matakot. Kahit anong pinagdaanan ng mga tao, dapat laging nakangiti. May katuturan yun. At ikaw yung magiging lakas ng ibang tao para maging lakas. Hindi ko ma-explain pero na-experience ko po talagana ma-bully. Ayoko po talaga ng away. I'm from a broken family.

"Mag-i-start po yan sa ating tahanan. Mag-uumpisa po tayo sa maliit na problema. Kapag naumpisahan natin sa ating tahanan, na maging world peace and for the love-love ng mga person, I think good example yun para ipalaganap yun sa buong kalahatan. Pakisagot po yung tumatawag (sa phone). Ayun po, maraming salamat. Sana po nasagot ko. Ang hirap lang po i-explain."

(Facebook)

Some comments:

"Maganda naman siya, maganda katawan niye, at sabihin nalang natin mabait siya. Pero in competitions like these where you are fighting to win, in order to represent the country in the international pageant, sana naman mag seryoso na. Hindi yung ka kwelahan or yung pagka maka “totoo” ang mag papanalo sayo. Know when ka pwede maging relax and comedic and when you have to be serious. Kailangan talaga focus."

"If you truly care for Herlene you will not put her in a situation that she'll become a laughing stock."

"I just feel masyadong naging over confident si Herlene. Just wondering if she practiced a lot in the Q&A question."

"Herlene needs to take personality development to train her on public speaking. Hindi as host and comedian. Parang hindi sya nag practice. Tagalog or taglish naman sagot ng iba need nya lang talaga mag focus and more trainings pa on questions and answer. The ways she handles the Q&A speaks a lot. Parang sayang lang kasi positive yung feedback ng mga tao lastime."

"Bagsak si Budol sa Q&A. Ang dami niyang sinasabe. Ginawa niyang comedy bar ang Miss Grand. Super confident siya na which is hindi na maganda for the pageant."