Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez teases ‘bonggang’ Noble Queen of the Universe pageant this year

Newly-crowned Noble Queen of the Universe Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez/ARMIN P. ADINA

MANILA, Philippines — The Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Inc. (NQULI) has this practice where they hold their coronation program in the country of the reigning top winner. The most recent one was held in Japan because the top-ranked queen is Japanese, and the previous one was held in the San Diego because the main titleholder in 2020 was from the United States.

Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez captured the top prize last month, which means the competition will be hosted in the Philippines anew this year.

“Medyo bongga ang plano ngayon, dati kasi hindi dahil sa pandemic. May virtual pa nga noong time nina Giselle [Sanchez]. So ngayon mas bongga yata this year,” she shared with the Inquirer at the sidelines of the victory party for her and her fellow 2022 queens at the Windmills and Rainforest in Quezon City on Jan. 6.

(“They are planning to go a bit grand this time, because they were not able to do so before due to the pandemic. During Giselle [Sanchez’s] time it was virtual. So this year I think it will be grand.”)

Romualdez carried the Visayas in the annual event, held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 29. She inherited the Noble Queen of the Universe crown from Modoka Kudeken from Japan.

The organization also bestowed titles to three more Filipino queens—Noble Queen International Leira Buan from Mindanao, Noble Queen Earth Sheralene Shirata from Luzon, and Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Marjorie Renner who represented the United States.

Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez (second from left) is joined by her fellow 2022 NQULI titleholders (from left) Leira Buan, Sheralene Shirata, and Marjorie Renner./ARMIN P. ADINA

Romualdez said she found it “surreal” to be a beauty queen at this stage in her life. “I never really dreamed of joining a pageant. I was scared when I was younger, and I thought you had to be 5’7” or 5’8” to join, so I never really thought about it then,” she shared.

She trained under renowned beauty queen-maker Rodgil Flores of the famed “Kagandahang Flores” pageant camp to help with her stage presentation. “I was still nervous walking the pageant stage. I’m not nervous when it comes to singing or acting, but I was still a bit shy walking, I was not used to it,” she continued.

But she said she is glad to have given it a shot, because the experience helped her gain new friends from other countries. She also hopes to take advantage of her new circle and crown to expand her charity work for abused women and children.

Romualdez said she offers her victory to God, because “whatever I do, it’s really for the Lord.”

It was her fellow actress Patricia Javier, NQULI national director for the Philippines and international director, who convinced Romualdez to take part in the annual event. EDV

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