The 20-year-single mother from Pontevedra city Franches Anne Laguibla and 28-year-old banker Louise Liam Bobe from Murcia greatest 19 different hopefuls
BACOLOD, Philippines – Negrosanons and Bacolodnons will likely be cheering for 2 beautiful and exquisite moms, within the seek for the following Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) in early 2025.
20-year-single mother from Pontevedra city, Franches Anne Laguibla, and a 28-year-old banker Louise Liam Bobe from Murcia have been each topped MUP Negros and Bacolod 2024, respectively, in a virtually 4-hour grand coronation pageant held on the jampacked SMX Conference Middle of SM Metropolis Bacolod Sunday evening, November 24.
Laguibla and Bobe bested 19 different hopefuls — all single women — with their magnificence, intelligence, and galvanizing advocacies about motherhood, like physique range and breastfeeding.
The 2 mother queens are the very firsts from Negros Occidental and Bacolod to be despatched to the MUP stage in Metro Manila subsequent yr, ever for the reason that Miss Universe Group in 2023 allowed married ladies, moms, and transgenders to hitch with no age restrict.
A mestiza stunner, the 5’6″ Laguibla didn’t count on to dominate the pageant, contemplating that the opposite contestants have been no odd foes. However together with her persistence, confidence, and “sport lang” mantra, she proved that motherhood doesn’t need to be a hindrance. With a one-year-old son, she made her “no-expiration” dream to turn out to be a magnificence queen a actuality.
Successful the title of MUP-Negros was certainly a vindication for Laguibla, who additionally suffered from “bullying” and “discouragement” due to her present “single, single mother” standing.
Standing 5’6″, too, Bobe, who had already been topped Mutya Ng Pilipinas-Negros Island 2017, and Lin-ay sang Negros 2016 first runner-up, conquering the MUP stage was her final dream since then.
In 2020, she married tv information anchor Adrian Bobe of GMA-Western Visayas, after which gave beginning to a child woman a yr later. She thought all of the whereas that it was the tip of her ambition to overcome the “Universe.”
However when Miss Universe Group revised its guidelines and pointers permitting wives, moms, transgenders final yr, it was a breakthrough for Bobe’s dream. She ready for the primary ever MUP-Negros search, and she or he succeeded.
Laguibla is advocating physique range, whereas Bobe needs to additional on breastfeeding and entry to medical amenities for these with coronary heart diseases.
Laguibla’s advocacy is about shifting focus from society’s slender definitions of magnificence to a broader celebration of all physique sorts.
By way of her platform, she goals to dismantle unrealistic magnificence requirements and promote self-acceptance amongst ladies and younger women, encouraging them to see their distinctive qualities as strengths.
“Becoming a member of this pageant as a mom isn’t just about embracing my journey; it’s about inspiring others to chase their desires fearlessly, no matter their roles or life phases,” Laguibla confused, including, “I imagine we must always rejoice all physique sorts and give attention to self-acceptance quite than conforming to unrealistic requirements.” This, as she mentioned that true magnificence is present in embracing who you might be.
Then again, advocating for the energy and resilience of wives, moms, and girls from all walks of life was Bobe’s focus via her paramount voice as a magnificence pageant contender.
By way of breastfeeding, Bobe shared her expertise nursing her three-year-old daughter, hoping to normalize and rejoice the journey of motherhood which, for her, is gorgeous and difficult.
However except for breastfeeding, Bobe’s advocacy additionally extends to accessible healthcare, notably cardiovascular care, which she is aware of firsthand.
Recognized with Rheumatic Coronary heart Illness (RHD) when she was a young person, she underwent coronary heart surgical procedure on the Philippine Coronary heart Middle 10 years in the past, or earlier than turning 18.
This expertise, she mentioned, fueled her mission to lift consciousness and promote inexpensive coronary heart look after underserved communities in Negros Occidental.
“Equitable healthcare isn’t only a privilege — it’s a necessity. I need to combat for higher entry to therapy right here in our province,” Bobe mentioned.*
Named runners-up have been Talisay Metropolis’s Althea Nicole Gadingan, Ilog’s Patricia Ysabel Monsale, Silay Metropolis’s Mary Angelique Faye Caballero, and Bago Metropolis’s Beniel Larit as first, second, third, and fourth, respectively.
The judges included two magnificence celebrities — Miss Worldwide 2018 First Runner Up and Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024 Ma. Atisha Manalo and Miss World Philippines 2022 Negrense Gwendolyn Fourniol. – with experiences by Ambo Delilan/Rappler.com
