Cebu’s latest pride Nicole Borromeo: Goofy girl, adrenaline junkie
Nicole Yance Borromeo was supposed to join another national pageant only after graduating from the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus where she is on her third year of majoring in Interior Design. But she was persuaded by the Origin Model & Artist Management team to enlist this year and aim for the Binibining Pilipinas International crown.
Origin, in partnership with Aces and Queens, trained and prepped Nicole for five months until Sunday’s coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, which saw the 21-year-old Cebuana nabbing what is now Bb. Pilipinas’ topmost title.
She was crowned by Hannah Arnold, who will be competing at Miss International in Japan this December – giving Borromeo more than a year to plot out her international assignment.
“I think I would speak for everyone when I say that we all lost our voices the next morning,” Origin head Sven Chua told The FREEMAN. “When we saw Nicole in the hotel room, she was still in an elated daze.”
In a competitive batch that saw a social media sensation enjoying most of the publicity, returning favorites who seemed back with a vengeance, and an international pageant winner, Borromeo’s bid wasn’t as loud and flashy.
She in fact missed the press presentation after testing positive for COVID-19. But Borromeo trudged on and gained more believers after the pageant’s primer where she exuded spontaneity, charm and authenticity while fielding questions.
When called as part of the Top 12 candidates during the July 31 finals, Borromeo used her time on the mic to talk about experiencing her worst typhoon last December via Odette, thus her wish for more resilient housing for Filipinos and a more united nation in the next six years of the new administration.
Dressed in a sequined lilac evening gown by Cebuano designer Mel Maria, the fivefoot-eight
model and recent “plantita” was as brief yet clear during the the Q&A segment when he was asked by virtual guest panelist, actor Donny Pangilinan, how she would rate herself as a responsible Filipino citizen on a scale of 1-10.
“As a responsible Filipino citizen, I’d like to give myself a good 8, because I always know there’s room to improve,” she remarked. “There’s so much I don’t know. But there’s so much I’m willing to learn. And I hope to do that with you.”
Her answer recalls to mind an observation that top pageant blogger Norman Tinio shared to The FREEMAN when he sat as judge during Reyna ng Aliwan 2019, wherein Borromeo also came out victorious.
“…the young girl is not lost. She doesn’t pretend to be older and wiser. You can just feel that she grew up with happy memories and is looking forward to building more as an adult,” said Tinio, adding that more than being tall, beautiful, and with a hint of class in every move she makes, she articulates herself well, thinks on her feet, and can amuse you with many stories.
Borromeo won her first major title, Miss Cebu City Olympics 2016, at 15 years old. The year after, she won Miss CESAFI and Miss Silka Cebu. When she got to the national stage for Miss Silka 2017, she finished second runner-up.
She then joined Miss Mandaue 2018, placing first runner-up to Gabriella Mai Carballo, now the reigning Miss Cebu.
“Nicole is thoughtful, humble, and extremely grateful,” Garballo shared to The FREEMAN. “She expects nothing from anyone, so the smallest form of love towards her makes her so happy! She’s gained so much success after our Miss Mandaue stint together and yet she’s the same goofy girl that I feel privileged to call one of my best long-term friends.”
“One memorable thing is that whenever I’m at her house, she really does everything in her power to make me stay longer because she wants to spend more time with me since we both have busy lives! Sometimes she blocks the door (HAHAHA)! It’s cute because you can really feel it when Nicole values and cares about you.”
2019 was a big year for Borromeo: she was hailed Sinulog Festival Queen, Reyna ng Aliwan, Miss Teen Philippines second runner-up, and Miss Millennial Philippines. Her streak was briefly marred when Reyna ng Aliwan dethroned her for joining another pageant while still an Aliwan title-holder.
Borromeo, the second of three siblings, considers herself lover of the arts, and frequently writes and draws. Her other interests furniture refurbishing, DIY projects, and photography.
Chua shares of her, “Nicole is a ball of warm energy, at the same time also calm and composed. Many people might not know because of her very shy demeanor that she is an adrenaline junkie. She’s always up for a good adventure. One time we had to trek a waterfall with just a thin piece of rope separating us from a very high fall.”
Another big winner Sunday night was last year’s first runner-up, Gabrielle Basiano of Borongan, Eastern Samar, who was named Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022. Hailed Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, she will attempt a back-to-back at this October’s Miss Intercontinental 2022 finals in Egypt.
Seasoned pageant contestant Chelsea Fernandez of Tacloban City was named Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2022. Like Basiano, she will also try to achieve a backto-back at Miss Globe 2022 this October in Albania.
International titlist Roberta Tamondong of
San Pablo, Laguna was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Grand International. This Miss Eco Teen International 2019 winner will also have an October finals schedule for the Miss Grand International 2022 finals in Indonesia.
Crowd pleaser Herlene Nicole Budol of Angono, Rizal (who received majority of the sponsor awards) and actress Stacey Daniella Gabriel of Cainta, Rizal were named first and second runners-up, respectively.
Asked about the long pause that preceded Borromeo’s announcement as Bb. Pilipinas International, leading not a few to speculate that there was a mix-up in the announcement of placements, Chua says, “Honestly we still have no clear idea. A lot of people have different speculations, but speculations will always remain speculations.”