Imelda Schweighart Scoffs at Local Bakers in Puerto Princesa

Former Miss Philippines Earth Imelda Schweighart is once again in the spotlight — this time not for her pageant crown, but for her candid and controversial take on the state of baked goods in Puerto Princesa.

In a series of blunt social media posts, Schweighart shared her disappointment with what she perceives as a lack of culinary creativity and quality in the city’s bakeries.

“No shade, just truth,” she began. “Pero bakit walang magaling na baker sa Puerto Princesa? ‘Pwede na’ ang lasa pero cakes, pastries — medyo hindi talaga swak sa panlasa ko.”

According to the beauty queen turned singer and social media personality, most of the bread she’s tasted in Puerto Princesa lack softness and originality. She pointed to ensaymadas that aren’t fluffy, pastries that taste stale, and cakes that she claims are made with margarine and uninspired icing.

“Does somebody out there understand the beauty and yumminess of a soft and fluffy bread… or a high-quality cake?” she asked, expressing frustration over what she described as a culinary scene lacking in innovation and “travel experience.”

The comments quickly drew mixed reactions online. Some netizens called out Schweighart for her harsh and sweeping generalizations, viewing her remarks as unnecessarily demeaning to local small businesses. Others, however, defended her right to express her opinion, saying she raised valid points about culinary standards and creativity in regional cities.

Schweighart, known for her outspoken social media presence, did not back down from the criticism. “I’m not sorry for saying this,” she wrote, doubling down on her critique of Puerto Princesa’s bakeries.

This isn’t the first time the former beauty queen has made headlines for her unfiltered opinions. And while her recent remarks may spark debate, they also raise broader questions about culinary diversity, regional innovation, and the power of social media to influence — or inflame — local communities.