Binibining Pilipinas 2022 first runner-up Herlene Budol recently announced that she’s looking for an interpreter to join her at the Miss Planet International pageant in Kampala, Uganda. While her fans are extremely excited about this opportunity, some netizens couldn’t help but question her need for an interpreter, most of them leaving derogatory comments on her social media accounts.
TikTok star and Miss Universe Philippines 2021 contestant Ayn Bernos took notice of this and immediately defended her fellow beauty queen through a video.
“Herlene Budol is representing the Philippines in an international pageant and I am here for it! However, I’ve been seeing so many comments questioning her need for an interpreter and even leaving ‘haha’ reactions,” she says. “Ang hindi ko gets, bakit pakielamera kayo?”
According to Ayn—who is also a teacher and public speaker—English is “not a pre-requisite” to join international pageants, noting that even contestants from other countries work with interpreters for their Q&A segments.
“English may be an official language of the Philippines, but that doesn’t mean that all Filipinos have the same access and privilege to be able to learn English the way some of us do,” she continued. “Just because iba yung background and experience ni Herlene does not mean hindi siya pwede mag-represent ng Philippines. If she needs an interpreter, she deserves one.”
The video was showered with supportive comments from netizens asking Ayn if she could be Herlene’s interpreter at the international competition.
It seems like the beauty queen is up for the challenge! When an Instagram account asked netizens who they wanted Herlene’s interpreter to be, Ayn commented: “Tara na sa Uganda?”
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