Goodbye, Planet!

 Hipon Girl formally withdraws from MPI 2022 pageant

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

In a prior report, there was optimism that the arrival of Miss Planet International Organization president Sr. Pedro Francisco Marquez would somehow iron out the brouhaha happening in Kampala. With the contestants fending off for themselves in both bed & board with their own resources, the controversy has resulted in, at least, six delegates withdrawing from the competition - and deciding to return to their respective countries instead.

Earlier, Wilbert Tolentino, manager of Miss Planet Philippines 2022 Herlene Nicole Budol said they would wait on the organizers to fix the current problem, as well as its official statement. However, in a 360-degree-turn, Tolentino changed his mind.

In a social media post on Facebook, Wilbert Tolentino wrote, "Due to uncertainties by the organizers, I have decided to withdraw Herlene Hipon Budol from the competition despite numerous attempts to fix some pageant debacles. It seems like the Ugandan Government has no initiatives to intervene."

I guess Wilbert's decision puts a stop to all the circulating speculations on what will happen to Hipon Girl in Uganda. While most Filipino fans were optimistic Herlene would return home victorious, untoward incidents has necessitated her withdrawal from the competition.

Pageant observers were of the opinion that since the MPI is a young pageant, it should have held the 2022 pageant in Cambodia rather than Uganda to save on logistics and minimize overhead costs. The 2019 pageant, they say, was a top-notch production. Too bad, the Kampala controversy has nipped the pageant's bud very early on.

Here's hoping Herlene finds another international pageant to compete in, should her team still wants to.

The 2022 Miss Planet International coronation night was supposed to unfold on Nov. 19 at the coastal city of Kampala in Uganda. If the pageant gets scrapped this year, reigning titleholder Monique Best of South Africa will remain in history as, not only the first crowned winner, but also its longest reigning titleholder.