BACOLOD, Philippines – Negrosanons and Bacolodnons will be cheering for two stunning and beautiful mothers, in the search for the next Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) in early 2025.
20-year-single mom from Pontevedra town, Franches Anne Laguibla, and a 28-year-old banker Louise Liam Bobe from Murcia were both crowned MUP Negros and Bacolod 2024, respectively, in a nearly 4-hour grand coronation pageant held at the jampacked SMX Convention Center of SM City Bacolod Sunday night, November 24.
Laguibla and Bobe bested 19 other hopefuls — all single ladies — with their beauty, intelligence, and inspiring advocacies about motherhood, like body diversity and breastfeeding.
The two mom queens are the very firsts from Negros Occidental and Bacolod to be sent to the MUP stage in Metro Manila next year, ever since the Miss Universe Organization in 2023 allowed married women, mothers, and transgenders to join with no age limit.
A mestiza stunner, the 5’6″ Laguibla didn’t expect to dominate the pageant, considering that the other contestants were no ordinary foes. But with her persistence, confidence, and “game lang” mantra, she proved that motherhood doesn’t have to be a hindrance. With a one-year-old son, she made her “no-expiration” dream to become a beauty queen a reality.
Winning the title of MUP-Negros was indeed a vindication for Laguibla, who also suffered from “bullying” and “discouragement” because of her current “unmarried, single mom” status.
Standing 5’6″, too, Bobe, who had already been crowned Mutya Ng Pilipinas-Negros Island 2017, and Lin-ay sang Negros 2016 first runner-up, conquering the MUP stage was her ultimate dream since then.
In 2020, she married television news anchor Adrian Bobe of GMA-Western Visayas, and then gave birth to a baby girl a year later. She thought all the while that it was the end of her ambition to conquer the “Universe.”
But when Miss Universe Organization revised its rules and guidelines allowing wives, mothers, transgenders last year, it was a breakthrough for Bobe’s dream. She prepared for the first ever MUP-Negros search, and she succeeded.
Laguibla is advocating body diversity, while Bobe wants to further on breastfeeding and access to medical facilities for those with heart illnesses.
Laguibla’s advocacy is about shifting focus from society’s narrow definitions of beauty to a broader celebration of all body types.
Through her platform, she aims to dismantle unrealistic beauty standards and promote self-acceptance among women and young girls, encouraging them to see their unique qualities as strengths.
“Joining this pageant as a mother is not just about embracing my journey; it’s about inspiring others to chase their dreams fearlessly, regardless of their roles or life stages,” Laguibla stressed, adding, “I believe we should celebrate all body types and focus on self-acceptance rather than conforming to unrealistic standards.” This, as she said that true beauty is found in embracing who you are.
On the other hand, advocating for the strength and resilience of wives, mothers, and women from all walks of life was Bobe’s focus through her paramount voice as a beauty pageant contender.
Through breastfeeding, Bobe shared her experience nursing her three-year-old daughter, hoping to normalize and celebrate the journey of motherhood which, for her, is beautiful and challenging.
But aside from breastfeeding, Bobe’s advocacy also extends to accessible healthcare, particularly cardiovascular care, which she knows firsthand.
Diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) when she was a teenager, she underwent heart surgery at the Philippine Heart Center 10 years ago, or before turning 18.
This experience, she said, fueled her mission to raise awareness and promote affordable heart care for underserved communities in Negros Occidental.
“Equitable healthcare isn’t just a privilege — it’s a necessity. I want to fight for better access to treatment here in our province,” Bobe said.*
Named runners-up were Talisay City’s Althea Nicole Gadingan, Ilog’s Patricia Ysabel Monsale, Silay City’s Mary Angelique Faye Caballero, and Bago City’s Beniel Larit as first, second, third, and fourth, respectively.
The judges included two beauty celebrities — Miss International 2018 First Runner Up and Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024 Ma. Atisha Manalo and Miss World Philippines 2022 Negrense Gwendolyn Fourniol. – with reports by Ambo Delilan/Rappler.com