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Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Q&A Transcript

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<div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777733540572muph 2026 top 7.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>One of the most awaited segments in any pageant, the Q&amp;A, finally unfolded at the <strong>Miss Universe Philippines 2026</strong> coronation night held on May 2, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. </p><p>The Top 7 beauty queens participated in the Q&amp;A round, showing they&#x27;re not only beautiful but smart and eloquent, too!</p><p>Host Marina Summers asked all of them the same question: <strong>&quot;Many Filipinos are getting frustrated with the country. For you, why is it still worth it to represent the Philippines on the global stage?&quot;</strong> </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>SULTAN KUDARAT - Jenrose Javier </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777733884617sultan kudarat q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">&quot;Miss Universe Philippines symbolizes not just glamour. It represents us all. Through Miss Universe Philippines, we have advocacies here, and through these advocacies, we help our communities, and by that, I believe that we, women—we, Filipina women, are not just a life of beauty, but we are also a carrier of dreams and aspiration of our nations.&quot;</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>LA UNION - Bea Millan-Windorski </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777734149896la union q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">&quot;The Philippines is something and a place that I&#x27;ve been in love with my whole life. Growing up in a predominantly non-diverse part of the United States, I was identified as Filipina first and foremost. I often had to point where the Philippines was on a map to my peers, and I always felt a sense of belonging and home. I chose to pack my life into <em>balikbayan</em> boxes and suitcases because I believe in the limitless potential of the Filipino people, and the fact that we need to create local opportunities here so that people don&#x27;t have to go abroad and be separated from their families in order to survive and thrive. If I were given the title of Miss Universe Philippines, I promise to be a public servant for all.&quot;</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>CEBU CITY - Apriel Smith</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777734321977cebu city q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>&quot;I do understand that we, Filipinos, feel that way, because we care deeply. And we know that we deserve better. As an OFW myself, I always send money back home, and I feel frustrated too, but as long as we know that we show up and we don&#x27;t just share struggles, but we share the stories of hope and culture and heritage for us being Filipino. And I&#x27;m ready to represent each one of you. To all the Filipinos out there, that we don&#x27;t stop raising our flag, because [the] Philippines is worth believing in. <em>Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino</em>!&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>TARLAC - Marian Arellano <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777734464358tarlac q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>&quot;I grew up with an OFW mother and my father is [a] security guard. With this, I learned to be independent. So, as a representative of the Philippines in the international stage, I would bring this story that inspired, and I will speak up to other people. And I believe this independency [sic] molded me as an empowered Filipina because an empowered Filipina has the light that empowers and forces the universe. Thank you so much.&quot;<em></em></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>TAGUIG - Ysabella Ysmael <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777734788199taguig q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">&quot;Our country is going through a crisis right now. And although this is something that is not new to us, I believe that I am a representation of a Filipina who never gives up. I have stood on this stage before. But I came back not because this journey is easy, but because I believe that dreams are worth chasing. And I&#x27;m here before you because I want to prove that we, Filipinos, although we may stumble or fall sometimes, we will always soar twice as high.&quot;</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong> CEBU PROVINCE - Nicole Borromeo </strong></div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777734960119cebu province q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">&quot;As someone who has not only represented the country, I have lived what it means to be a Filipina. And I have seen the growth and the power that it takes to represent the country globally. The Philippines has so much to offer, not just the people, not just the stories, but our hearts. And that deserves to be spread all throughout the universe.&quot;</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>PAMPANGA - Allyson Hetland <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777735090338pampanga q and a.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">&quot;I believe it is still very important to represent the Philippines in a global stage because the Philippines has so much to offer—from its beautiful mountains to its very beautiful beaches. The Philippines is such a beautiful country to live in, and I know that the most powerful tool that I have is to use my voice and be that example, that we Filipinos are strong, independent, confident, and beautiful. Thank you.&quot;</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

Transcript: Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Top 7 Q&A

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Transcript: Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Top 7 Q&A

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Published May 02, 2026 11:20 PM PHT

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Updated May 02, 2026 11:40 PM PHT

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