It has been over a week since the
2019 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant, which selected this year’s
representatives for two major and four minor international pageant
competitions. These beauties were selected from a pool of 15 contestants that
advanced to the final round with the question and answer portion. Of the Top
15, eight were given accolades: six for the pageant titleholders and two
runners up. In a remarkable occurrence, the 2019 Bb. Pilipinas Second Runner-Up
is also the winner for the exact same position back in 2018, the pageant that
put Catriona Gray on the path to becoming the Miss Universe for that year.
Some ten days after pageant
night, two-time Binibining Pilipinas Second Runner-Up Samantha Mae Bernardo of
Palawan has decided to speak up regarding her uncommon position, and to address
the rise of criticism against her lately, according to CNN Philippines. The six Bb. Pilipinas title contestants and two
runners-up are expected to put an appearance at a series of post-pageant
activities before they eventually fly off to their respective international
competitions. It was noticed however that Samantha has bowed out of these
proceedings, leading to public backlash against her. The Palaweña wants
a chance to explain.
On Instagram, Samantha noted that
she felt she could have done better than her Second Runner-Up finish from the
2018 Bb. Pilipinas pageant and gone on to represent the country in vying for
one of the six titles involved. While she was surprised at repeating her finish
from last year it did not mean she was skipping out of the post-pageant events
out of resentment. "Give me a break. I have fulfilled my duties as 2nd
runner up last year and I must admit that being 2nd runner up again this year
was quite a shock," the pageant placer commented.
Going from that line of thought,
Samantha Mae Bernardo adds that while she does believe that she could have
placed higher than Second Runner-Up this year, she fully accepts the final decision
for the winners that was reached by the judges two Sundays ago and opines that
she gave the evening everything she had. As for her post-pageant absence, that
was due to having fallen ill shortly after June 9, following which she also attended
a wedding outside the country. Of the social media critics who were saying that
her no-shows were proof that she was unfit for the responsibility of a title
contender if she won, Samantha points out that the runners-up are not actually
mandated to make appearances.
Runners-up of
beauty pageants are said to take the place of the winner and titleholder should
she be unable to fulfill her duties and responsibilities. The chances getting
to do so are not commonplace, but Samantha is fine with it saying, "I have
served my purpose and I will continue doing this whatever happens, with or
without a crown." This year’s “Miss Universe Philippines” is Gazini
Ganados of Talisay, Cebu.
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