QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Of all the Filipina beauties representing different regions and dialects, only one shone the brightest.
Rachel Louise Peters, a 25-year-old Filipino-British from Camarines Sur, bagged the coveted title Binibining Pilipinas 2017 in the recent concluded Grand Coronation held at the Araneta Coliseum on April 30.
Peters amazed the crowd when she was asked what she would say to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders if she was invited to speak at the ASEAN Summit.
“I believe that one of the biggest problems that our country faces today is divisiveness– in politics, in religion and also in culture. And I believe that is something that is the same across the world, and so that is something that I would want to address. I believe that when people can learn to tolerate each other’s differences and respect each other’s opinions, then we will just be a stronger nation and the world,” she said with great conviction.
Rachel Peters, who grew up in Camarines Sur, bested 39 other candidates and will represent the country in this year’s Miss Universe.
Other winners were Bb. Pilipinas International, Mariel De Leon; Bb. Pilipinas Supranational, Chanel Olive Thomas; Bb. Pilipinas Grand International, Elizabeth Clenci; Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Rodriguez; and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Nelda Ibe.
The runners up were Charmaine Elima and Kristel Guelos, first and second runners-up respectively.