By Robert R. Requintina
In a moment of vulnerability, the newly crowned queens of Binibining Pilipinas 2024 expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the fans' support and acknowledged their pivotal role in the pageant community. They emphasize the need for sensitivity in comments, as they, too, are human.
Binibining Pilipinas International 2024 Myrna Esguerra and Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2024 Jasmin Bungay made the appeal during their visit to the Manila Bulletin main office in Intramuros recently.
"We appreciate your support. Thank you for posting. Without you, pageants would not have reached this far. But we must be sensitive about what we say because we are also human," said Myrna.
She added: "We are not perfect, and we commit mistakes. But that doesn't mean we can be criticized that much to the point you will break a woman down. Let's be kind to one another."
Jasmin said, "To the pageant fans, two things: we appreciate you guys. We thank you for all the support throughout the pageant journey. You are the reason why pageants are still thriving and relevant in the Philippines and why many people and ladies aspire to be beauty queens.
"And No. 2, I hope the pageant community is kinder to one another, especially the ladies. We are on a platform where we are open to criticism, but that does not give us the license to bring a lady down. I hope we embody pageants, which are women's empowerment. We empower women regardless of how they look and regardless of size. The standard now is diverse, and we are starting to appreciate different kinds of beauty," Jasmin also said.
Before this, the queens got emotional when they recalled the criticisms and bashing of pageant fans during an exclusive interview for the Manila Bulletin.
Trisha Martinez, Binibining Pilipinas 2024 second runner-up, admitted that pageant fans' bashing hurt her. She thanked the people who supported her in her pageant journey.
"Sa lahat ng mga naniwala at nagtanggol, thank you so much. Alam n'yo na kung sino kayo. Maraming salamat. I hope that I was able to make you proud," she said.
Crystal Jean dela Cruz, Bb. Pilipinas 1st runner-up; and Mae Kimberly De Luna, winner of the 2024 Manila Bulletin Readers Choice Award also joined the corporate visit.