Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2022 Roberta Tamondong pays homage to the first ever beauty queen in her national costume.

In her Instagram post she wrote, "UNANG REYNA. This work of art was made to introduce contemporary audiences to the original Pinay beauty queen, who created a new prototype for the modern Filipina. It was a set of diverse elements that was part of her journey to be the first Miss Manila Queen of Carnival."

"Purificacion Villanueva y Garcia was only 22 years old when she became the first 'Queen of the Orient' in the first Manila Carnival in 1908. This makes her the first Filipina beauty queen in our country," she added.

Manila Carnival is an annual festival previously held during the early American colonial period until the Second World War.

Festivities were staged as a form of celebration of the United States and the Philippines' relations.

The beauty queen shared that her costume was made by Roman Sebastian.

The gown is a structured work of art, filled with beads and lace in white, green, and gold. She also dons a headpiece with a crescent and sun-shaped topper and gold thigh-high boots. A thin scepter completed the look.

"The 'First Queen' was created to honor the legacy of a girl, who used her fame to fight for women's rights and become a feminist pioneer, leading the campaign for women's suffrage in the Philippines.
It also introduces contemporary audiences to the original Pinay beauty queen, who created a new prototype for the modern Filipina," Sebeastian wrote in his Instagram post.
The National Costume portion of the competition was held on 20 October.

The 20-year-old delegate aims to be the first Filipino beauty queen to win the Miss Grand International crown, after Samantha Bernando finished at first runner-up during the 2020 Miss Grand International and Nicole Cordoves in 2016.
The beauty queen from San Pablo, Laguna is also the last Filipino beauty queen to compete this month, after Gabrielle Basiano and Chelsea Fernandez competed in their respective pageants on 14 and 15 October, respectively.

Tamondong is set to fight and hopefully take home the crown on 25 October, which is also the 10th-anniversary edition of the Miss Grand International pageant in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"And I am hoping that I will follow in Pura's footsteps and become the first Filipina to win the Miss Grand International competition and receive the golden crown," she stated.

The gown's designer seconded saying, "Nawa'y tulad ni Pura Villanueva Kalaw ay makamtam din ni Roberta ang pagiging unang reyna at ang gintong korona, para tumindig bilang isang babae at isang Filipina.

"Pilipinas, Hindi pa tapos ang laban!"

Tamondong is set to fight and hopefully take home the crown on 25 October, which is also the 10th-anniversary edition of the Miss Grand International pageant in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"Pilipinas, umpisa pa lang ng laban!" she declared.

The coronation night of the competition will be held in Bogor, Indonesia on 25 October and will be available for streaming on the GrandTV YouTube channel.
Bring home the first Grand International crown Queen Roberta Tamondong!