Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Binibining Pilipinas candidates weigh in on 'halfies' issue, using social media to speak up

Article (news)

Push Team

The recent &quot;halfies&quot; controversy involving Brandon Espiritu has reached the Binibining Pilipinas camp, with several candidates sharing their thoughts on what real representation should look like on a pageant stage.The topic came up during a media conference for Japanese wellness brand My Daily Collagen held on Tuesday, June 16, where candidates also fielded questions on other issues making the rounds online.Miss Negros Occidental Elli Rose Elola tackled the &quot;halfies&quot; remark directly, arguing that pageantry loses its meaning the moment it starts favoring one type of look over another.&quot;First of all, I don&#x27;t tolerate people based on their nationalities. And I believe that pageantry should be inclusive, whether you have a Eurocentric feature or you are a Filipino,&quot; she said.She added that boxing candidates into categories defeats the purpose of the platform altogether. &quot;So, I don&#x27;t want to label people like that or categorize them because this is a platform to celebrate diversity. Rather, we should use our Filipino identity to represent our country or even all around the globe beyond stereotypes,&quot; she said.In a separate question about national pride, Elli Rose set aside appearance entirely and pointed instead to the values she carries. &quot;There are a lot of values that I believe I embody that make me a proud Filipino. But to encompass all of them, I would say I have good work ethics because it includes the values of resilience and creativity. At the same time, being hospitable to a lot of people,&quot; she said.Miss Zamboanga Zilanni Eve Rojas approached the conversation from a different angle, one rooted in how fast Filipino pageant fans can influence a candidate&#x27;s standing online. That kind of influence had already played out in real time, with both Brandon Espiritu and Jether Palomo facing cancellation. Jether was drawn into the controversy after pledging allegiance to the American flag during an exchange with Brandon, a remark that added fuel to an already heated discussion.For Zilanni, navigating that level of scrutiny comes down to a single habit: thinking before posting, especially with the Bb. Pilipinas&#x27; name is attached to everything she says online. &quot;As someone who is always on social media because I always use my voice, especially since I have Bb. Pilipinas as my platform, I feel like one thing that makes us really able to influence others is always being mindful of our words and what we post on social media,&quot; she said.She added that this kind of restraint is something she actively practices, not something that comes automatically. &quot;Because we must always remind ourselves that behind every screen is a human being with feelings. So, I always remind myself, so I&#x27;m always mindful of what I post. And through that, I hope I will also inspire others to do the same thing,&quot; she said.Miss Ilocos Sur Julie Mae Villanueva, for her part, addressed a more difficult question: why do many people choose to stay quiet on important issues rather than risk being labeled divisive, or getting canceled outright? Having been taught in Binibining Pilipinas to address important issues, she said she believes in standing up for what is right and using her platform to speak out, regardless of the outcome.&quot;In Binibining Pilipinas, we are taught to handle such issues. And we are also taught to stand for what is right, for what we believe in. And speaking up for what is right is not something that we should keep within us, but rather we should all use our platforms, including social media or this kind of platform, to voice out our purpose and our stand on such issues,&quot; she said.&quot;With this, I can say that I am not afraid to talk about such issues because I believe in my own beliefs and rights,&quot; she added.Binibining Pilipinas is one of the country&#x27;s most prominent national pageants, regularly sending representatives to major international pageants.Meanwhile, the coronation night of the Binibining Pilipinas 2026 is happening on July 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.<div> </div><div>—By Paolo Lim</div>

Binibining Pilipinas candidates answer questions about representation on stage and the platform they have been given.

Binibining Pilipinas candidates answer questions about representation on stage and the platform they have been given.