TRANSCRIPT: Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Q and A segment

On Sunday, July 11, the top 13 candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2021 shared their thoughts on various issues during the pageant’s Q&A segment at Araneta Center, Cubao.

The women answered questions from celebrity judges on topics ranging from mental health to vaccination.

Here’s how each of the candidates answered:

Patrizia Mariah Garcia, Manila

May Cestina Parsons: If you can speak to all Filipinos abroad, what are you most proud of as a Pinay despite the grueling and difficult pandemic situation in the Philippines?

FIlipinos are known to be resilient people and we have proved this because we have overcome the pandemic, although the pandemic may not end, but we see that Filipinos are fighting strong even if they are undergoing problems or they lost their livelihoods, they are fighting for their family. My purpose here as your Binibini is to be able to help all Filipinos become stronger and inspire them as well.

Karren Laurie Mendoza, Iloilo

Boy Abunda: Ngayon madalas nating naririnig na (We often hear these days that) it’s okay not to be okay. My question is when is it okay not to be okay and when is it not okay to be not okay?

You know sometimes it’s hard to move on especially that if we lost our loved ones, when we’re depressed, when we have anxiety, but most of all when we want to move forward in life. You know my favorite saying in a movie Disney Inside Out, is embrace your sadness because in embracing your sadness, you will feel happiness afterwards.

Gabrielle Basiano, Borongan, Eastern Samar

Maria Garcia: In what ways can a female public servant or politician be more effective than a male politician?

I really understand that all of us are doing our best to give the best service to everyone. I can say that men servants are very strong when it comes to making decisions, and with women they are very passionate when it comes to things that they are doing and they are very sensitive with the feeling of the other people, and that’s what makes women servants different from men.

Maria Francesca Taruc, Angeles City, Pampanga

Undersecretary Benito Bengson Jr: Given the pandemic situation now in the Philippines, should vaccination be a choice or a mandate?

Vaccination should be a choice and I still remember the days when we were all longing for vaccines to be created and now that vaccines are available, we tend to get hesitant because we fear the side effects. I encourage everyone to choose to get vaccinated because this is a big step for us to move forward and to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Graciella Lehmann, Oriental Mindoro

Enrique Gil: What are your thoughts about romantic relationships which began and developed on social media during the pandemic lockdown?

To be completely honest there is nothing wrong with loving relationships that come from social media because as we all know we have harnessed the power of social media and this is something that we should celebrate because love knows no time, love knows no place. Even on social media, we can meet someone and we can be in love.

Meiji Cruz, Valenzuela City

Kylie Versoza: These days beauty queens are also considered as beauty athletes with all the training we undergo. What is your message of inspiration to all Filipino athletes competing in the forthcoming Olympics in Japan given the pandemic situation?

As a candidate myself, I understand and I completely agree that we are like athletes because we are required to be disciplined, we are required to give our 100% passion and focus to what we will do. To our athletes, I know that you also waited for this to happen again, and this will happen again in Japan and it’s a good sign and it means that there’s hope we are going back to normal.

Jashmin-Lyn Dimaculangan, Albay

Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto: So much has happened to us in the course of the year. When we emerge from this crisis, what positive change do you foresee happening to humanity in general?

Something positive I have witnessed in the pandemic is how resilient and adaptable people we are. We have been put through a lot this past year, but we find ways to help one another and find ways to help. At the end of the day, as long as we put our generosity and charity first, then together we can heal and we can get through this crisis.

Samantha Alexandra Panlilio, Cavite City

Rajo Laurel: YOLO (you only live once). Name something you learned and did for the first time during the pandemic which you consider the most life changing of all?

The one thing that I did during the pandemic was actually cook food for frontliners, because I love to cook. I also have a food vlog that I do in my spare time. It was such a fulfilling and humbling experience, helping these people and helping contribute to the people who are actually at the front lines helping us Filipinos. I hope that what I did inspired other women too to also help out one another, because the only way we can survive, heal, and recover from this pandemic is if we help one another.

Patricia Denise Babista, Quezon Province

Liza Soberano: Fake news, bashing, rants, and the like are abound in social media. Why do you think they should not be part of the New Beautiful, even if they encourage social interactions on this platform?

Social media is such a beautiful technology that it has given us, but there are always limitations. I hope that, in social media, we can create a space where there is no hate.

Honey Grace Cartasano, Rizal

Dioceldo Sy: Amid the hardships and suffering the world is facing now, if you were given a chance to face God and ask one question, what would it be and why?

It is “Why?” But I know that everything happens for a reason. We may be facing a pandemic right now, and there is so much uncertainty, but this will reveal that Filipino has the heart of a hero. Thank you to all the Filipino heroes.

Hannah Arnold, Masbate

Pinky Webb: Given the reach and power of social media, do you believe that genuine freedom of speech exists in the Philippines nowadays? Why or why not?

First of all, freedom of speech is a basic human right that we all must remember. It is important for a democracy. With our upcoming election, we definitely need freedom of speech. For example, on Twitter, we are limited to a few characters, and what I have seen in this Tweets is powerful. That has helped me think about who I’d like to vote for in the upcoming elections.

Maureen Montagne, Batangas

Secretary Benito Bengzon, Jr: Now that compassion is needed more than ever, what is your most recent act of kindness and how did this affect others?

During the pandemic, I was in Siargao. Together, friends and I created the Siargao community kitchen. It was a trying time and everyone felt so hard it was. Our hearts were heavy, but together we rose. Together we supported our communities and provided our hot meals and assistance to anyone on the island and helped as much as we could. For me, it proved that together, community conquers all.

Cinderella Faye Obeñita, Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental

Michael Cinco: How important are luxury items like bags, clothes, and jewelry for a woman, when the national economy is down and struggling?

In life, we always find ourselves in a crossroad of choices. Women always have a choice – whether to prioritize luxury items while we are facing a pandemic, and we also have a choice to embrace the concept of a New Beautiful, which is responsive to the needs of the times, and adaptive to the change of times. I think I would choose to be that woman, the one who understands the problems of the Philippines, the problems of my community, so that we may be able to uplift each other. I would be that kind of woman, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

– Rappler.com