“It was an honour to be of service to you and all the beautiful candidates,” said host Anne Curtis as she assured Miss Sorsogon Maria Isabela Galeria on their trending moment from the recently concluded Binibining Pilipinas national pageant.
Beauty queen Maria Isabela Galeria took to social media on Monday to address the public after being the subject of several memes and online jokes last weekend.
PART I 🇵🇭 When I graduated from Nursing School last June 2018, everyone was expecting me to go straight to Med School. What I really dreamed of doing is to become a beauty queen. Upon much hesitation, I was able to express my intent to my parents and they decided to give me 1 year to fulfill my dream - to join Binibining Pilipinas 2019. It took me a lot of courage, i grew up being scared to be judged, always thinking about what other people would say. But, as a Nurse, I've seen how life is too short, you should do what you love and dreamed of doing. When I heard the question about what I risked and sacrificed for the crown, I immediately thought about all the struggles I had in order for me to have the confidence to join, I sacrificed myself for the crown, for my province and for the 800 thousand Sorsoganons! I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me from day 1 until the coronation last night. To all the pageant fans and vloggers who supported me, Salamat po🌹 To all the designers who helped me, to Arnold Galang, Edith Ortiz, Jaz Cerezo, June Samson Pugat, Oz Go, Xernan Orticio, Hanz Coquilla, Ichael Stevan Serneo, Yong Davalos, Brad Shilver, Adrian Sahagun, Renan Pacson, Christopher Munar, Tina Magistrado, Christine Virtucio and Jacatel jewelry, Salamatunon tabi🌹 To Mara Chua, who created my amazing National Costume and helped me with photo shoots and my unforgettable dress for the Charity Gala, Salamatunon tabi🌹 To my Evening gown designer, Mark Bumgarner and Earl, Thank you so much for helping me last minute, I'm in love with the gown!! I've always dreamt of wearing one of your creations, and it finally happened! 🌹 To Mayor So of Matnog and Gov. Bobet Lee of Sorsogon, Salamatunon tabi sa suporta! 🌹 To the 800 thousand Sorsoganons who supported me all throughout this journey, Salamatunon tabi! 🌹 To these amazing photographers ate Christine, Rap, Roj, Alvin and Don, thank you🌹 Special thanks to ate Cess, Vincent, Mara, Mama JP, Regine, Mauri and Misty, Salamat 🌹 To Mama Mikee, ate Farah, ate Kristine, Valerie, Nate and Elle, thank you for believing in me, I wouldn't be where I am right now without you. 🌹
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In this year’s Binibining Pilipinas held Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City, the 20-year-old stunner representing her hometown Sorsogon went viral after a couple of netizens poked fun at her for letting host Anne Curtis hold the microphone for her during the entire duration of her Q&A turn in the pageant.
“OMG Miss Sorsogon, bakit si Anne Curtis pinahawak mo sa mic? Hahaha. Anyways, you’re so beautiful,” one netizen wrote.
“Sa lahat ng nag-Q and A, si Miss Sorsogon lang ang buong tapang na ginawang microphone holder si Anne Curtis. Nakapamewang siya with both hands the whole time,” said another.
Sure enough, the hilarious moment also made it to the noontime show It’s Showtime, where Anne and fellow TV host Vice Ganda gamely re-enacted the said Q&A turn, with the latter, of course, playing as Miss Sorsogon.
In light of the event, Maria Isabela, in a short statement on Instagram, clarified that it wasn’t her intention to insult the Multimedia Superstar.
“So today I woke up as a meme,” she wrote. “I honestly had no bad intentions towards [Anne Curtis]. I was just really nervous and was concentrating to answer the question being asked.”
“Anne is a superstar and was very kind, polite and gracious to all of us. It was a pleasure and inspiring to be in her presence,” she added.
For her part, the 34-year-old actress was quick to assure Maria Isabela that no offense was taken and, while at it, encouraged her to stop minding the memes.
She said, “Hey gorgeous! Don’t worry about it and don’t mind the memes. All of you were nervous and had to concentrate on one of the most crucial parts of the pageant – the Q &A.
“It was an honour to be of service to you and all the beautiful candidates. Ganyan lang talaga minsan. May mga kulit moments na hindi palalampasin ng Madlang People. Congratulations on your performance last night, [Maria]!”
Named as part of the Top 25, Maria was able to advance as far as the Top 15. She was ultimately bested by Miss Laguna Leren Mae Bautisa, who won Bb. Pilipinas-Globe, Miss Pampanga Emma Mary Tiglao as Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental, Miss Cebu City Samantha Asley Lo as Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International, Miss Maguindanao Resham Saeed as Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational, Miss Bataan Bea Patricia Magtanong as Bb. Pilipinas-International, and finally, Miss Talisay-Cebu Gazini Danados as the Miss Universe Philippines.