The End of an Era: Miss Grand International Under the Binibining Pilipinas
If you ask pageant fans, Miss Grand International 2022 is one bittersweet edition. Not only did Roberta Tamondong fail to advance in the Top 10, settling for a Top 20 finish (later appointed as 5th runner-up). It was also’s Binibining Pilipinas’ final attempt in snatching the golden crown.
This year, it has been officially confirmed that MGI has left BPCI, with rumors telling that it will now be managed by another pageant organization. While many fans are relieved by this development, others feel heartbroken.
From 2016-2022 Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. holds on to the pageant’s local franchise. In those seven years, we’ve been sending high-caliber contestants in the hopes of finally bagging the title but to no avail.
As we close this memorable (to say the least) chapter, we are paying tribute to every Binibini that has represented our country at the Thai-based pageant.
Miss Grand Philippines under the Binibining Pilipinas
2016
Nicole Ignacio Cordoves, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2016
Placement: 1st runner-up
Pageant Venue: Las Vegas, USA
Eventual Winner: Ariska Putri Pertiwi of Indonesia
2017
Elizabeth Durado Clenci, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2017
Placement: 2nd runner-up
Pageant Venue: Phú Quốc, Vietnam
Eventual Winner: Maria Jose Lora of Peru
2018
Eva Psychee Soroño Patalinjug, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2018
Placement: Unplaced
Pageant Venue: Yangon, Myanmar
Eventual Winner: Clara Sosa of Paraguay
2019
Samantha Ashley Villar Lo, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019 (Dethroned)
Placement: Unplaced
Pageant Venue: Caracas, Venezuela
Eventual Winner: Valentina Figueroa of Venezuela
Maria Andrea Verdadero Abesamis, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019 (Assumed)
Didn’t compete internationally*
*Crowned as Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019, Samantha Lo was in transit to Venezuela when she was held in Custody at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for allegedly carrying a fake passport. Eventually continuing on with the competiton without BPCI’s blessing, she resigns her title afterwards. Bb. Pilipinas 2019 1st runner-up Maria Andrea Abesamis later took over.
2020
Samantha Mae Adaliga Bernardo, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2020
Placement: 1st runner-up
Pageant Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
Eventual Winner: Abena Appiah of USA
2021
Samantha Alexandra Panlilio, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2021
Placement: Unplaced
Pageant Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
Eventual Winner: Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên of Vietnam
2022
Roberta Angela Santos Tamondong, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2022
Placement: Top 20 Semifinalist, Appointed as 5th runner-up
Pageant Venue: Jakarta, Indonesia
Eventual Winner: Isabella Menin of Brazil
Additional Information
In 2014, MGI held a special pageant with Kimberly Karlsson emerging as the winner. She went on to compete at Miss Grand International 2014 in Thailand where she didn’t place.
However, during its first year, 2013, and in 2015, the Philippine delegate to Miss Grand International was chosen by the process of appointment. It’s interesting to note that both appointees—Ali Forbes and Parul Shah—were former Binibining Pilipinas queens.
2013
Annalie Mallari Forbes, Miss Grand Philippines 2013
Former Bb. Pilipinas 2012 2nd runner-up
Placement: 3rd runner-up
Pageant Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
Eventual Winner: Janelee Chaparro of Puerto Rico
2015
Parul Quitola Shah, Miss Grand Philippines 2014/Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2015
Former Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2014
Placement: 3rd runner-up
Pageant Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
Eventual Winner: Anea Garcia of Dominican Republic (Dethroned), Claire Elizabeth Parker of Australia (Assumed)
As we await the birth of the new Miss Grand Philippines pageant, may we hope that it is through this standalone pageant that we finally find the secret formula for winning the country’s first golden crown.
