Binibining Pilipinas 2026 presents 36 candidates who are joining ‘sisterhood’

March 25 ------ A total of 36 applicants successfully hurdled the final screening of the 2026 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, and have now become official candidates who have been inducted into the “sisterhood” of the most-enduring national pageant in the country.

From hundreds of aspirants, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) whittled down the lot after a marathon evaluation conducted at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, March 23. No less than 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman headed the screening committee, flying back to the Philippines from Canada for the task. She has been a member of the BPCI Executive Committee since 2022.

The roster of successful applicants included seasoned aspirants who have seen action in other national pageants. Among them were Miss Universe Philippines semifinalists Gwendoline Meliz Soriano, Jarina Sandhu, and Sasha Lacuna. Crossing over from the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant were 2024 titleholders Anne Klein Castro from Pampanga and Stacey De Ocampo from Pangasinan.

Patricia Lynn Beerda from Iloilo was first runner-up in the 2019 Miss Teen Philippines, where 2022 Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo came in third. Ivy Padilla of Cagayan de Oro City, 2025 Miss FIT Philippines runner-up, is also from the same teen tilt. Returning to the Binibining Pilipinas stage is Tracy Mae Sunio, who was a semifinalist in the 60th anniversary edition held in 2024.

This year, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant highlights the “sisterhood” that developed among its titleholders in the past 61 years, with former queens taking significant roles in this year’s edition of the national competition. Joining Quigaman in the final screening committee was 1971 Binibining Pilipinas Universe Vida Doria. Several other alumnae are expected to take part in succeeding events. Also in the panel were reigning queens Katrina Anne Johnson and Annabelle McDonnell, and their immediate predecessors, diamond batch winners Myrna Esguerra and Jasmin Bungay.

Source: inquirer.net