Herlene Budol to join Miss Grand Philippines 2023, cites ‘kapal ng mukha’ as talent

Herlene Budol has confirmed that she will be joining the upcoming Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant as a way of giving back to her manager, Wilbert Tolentino, who had helped her through the years.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up made the announcement on the Feb. 28 episode of the talk show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” after she was asked by the host Boy Abunda on her plans of returning to pageantry.

“Kung ako tatanungin, gusto ko ‘yung gusto ng manager ko naman. So, sasali po ako,” she replied. (If ever you would ask me, I would like to follow what my manager likes this time. So, I will join.)

Budol revealed that joining the pageant is a form of expressing her gratitude to Tolentino, as she noted that she was hesitant to join the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 pageant back then.

“Sobra po [akong mahal ni Wilbert]. Noong Binibini po, totally hindi ko po gustong sumali. Siya lang po ‘yung nag-motivate sa akin at nakita daw niya ‘yung potential ko po. This time, tinupad niya ang mga pangarap ko na magkaroon ng bahay, sasakyan, mapagamot ‘yung lolo ko, pati ‘yung burol ng lola ko, sinagot niya. So, ‘yung kaligayahan naman ni Sir Wilbert ang gagawin ko which is kaligayahan ko din po ngayon,” she explained.

(Sir Wilbert loves me so much. I initially didn’t want to join Binibining Pilipinas 2022. But he was the one who motivated me and saw my potential. This time, he made my dreams come true such as having a house, car, bringing my grandfather back to health, and even my grandmother’s interment, he handled them all. So, Sir Wilbert’s happiness is now my priority, which also makes me happy.)

Abunda then asked Budol about her greatest asset for Miss Grand Philippines 2023, to which she said is her confidence.

“Kapal ng mukha,” she said in response. “Ayan po ang number one kong puhunan sa buhay. Wala po akong kahit anong talent, kapal lang po ng mukha. Bihira po ‘yung talent na ‘yun.”

(Confidence. This is my number one asset in life. I don’t have any talents, just confidence. Not everyone has that kind of talent.)

The beauty queen also showed her “squammy walk” during the episode, which she explained is an ode to her roots. Budol’s walk started with a turn, then she moved around with her hands on both hips, then ended with another turn. “Squammy” is a slang for trashy or classless.

“Galing po ako sa hirap. Kumbaga, kung kaya ko, kaya rin ng mas maraming kapitbahay ko. Walk to success, mino-motivate ko sila na kayanin ang mga kinaya ko,” she said. (I came from a poor family. In other words, if I can do it, other people can do it too. Walk to success, I am motivating them to persevere what I’ve also persevered.)

Budol’s announcement comes three months after she backed out from the Miss Planet International 2022 pageant after she and her team experienced “uncertainties” from the organizers. The title was eventually won by Filipina entrepreneur Maria Luisa Varela, who was crowned in Cambodia in January 2023.

The Miss Grand Philippines 2023 coronation night will reportedly be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in March, according to ALV Pageant Circle chair Arnold Vegafria. The pageant’s license was transferred to Vegafria in late 2022, but it used to be under the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. from 2016 to 2022. EDV

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