Behold your #Binibini17 Justine Felizarta in her Bb. Pilipinas National Costume by Jhobes Estrella:
“PAGLALAKBAY”
(Notes from the designer)
The Vinta is a traditional sailboat inspired by the Moro and Sama-Bajau tribe. It’s a Philippine symbol that signifies migration and the colourful traditions from the island of Mindanao.
This art is exhibited through their textiles that explode in vibrant colours, which are found in the sail of a vinta. The colors used in every line represent the rich culture and history of the Muslim people.
Aside from it’s colorful patterns, each vinta also represents a family or clan. The traditional outrigger boat doubles as their home and a means to transport goods and to travel to different lands. As children of OFW parents, I saw it fitting that the vinta symbolizes the sacrifices overseas Filipino workers go through, to provide livelihood for their families.
The vinta is a Philippine icon. In this design is a story of the ingenuity of the Filipino people–a symbol of courage, hope, and resilience that lies within our nation.
Photography: Raymond Saldaña
Set design: Henry Reyes HGR Events amd Sabrosas
normannorman.com 
I prefer “PAGLALAYAG” rather than ‘paglalakbay’
Would love to see more outrageous design of the gown’s tail (?) to signifies roaring waves and posed as if she was defying all currents
@Ram
I agree…. I see the missed opportunity there… We need something that would make this avant garde and almost over the top… cause if you remove the two banners at the back and the crown, this gown could actually be a gorgeous starmagic ball gown… beautiful.. but not enough to be a show-stopper…
@ Ram & @ Closer2Fame I am feeling you, guys! 🙂
Look at Gazini’s black column at MUP 2020 when she crowned Rabiya…
Cary Santiago executed the flouncy floral trim in such a way that it bounced cutely as she moved.
Bolder and brighter colors should have been used. I like it though
Wow ang ganda naman nito
Tayo na ba papalit sa Indonesia at Thailand for topping national costume but not winning the crown
Not that it doesnt matter as I believe France 2016 and many of the Japs won or did well at MU because of their national costumes.
@ Fabian Reyes Sir, matutuwa ka sa balita — Janick Maceta del Castillo (not Ramirez as I erroneously said below) will attempt to go for 2020 MUP(eru)! 🙂
Remember her, po? She is 3rd Runner-up to Anntonia Porsild and I recall you said “Peru is MU caliber”.
I don’t think so…
Venezuela rarely fails in getting a placement and yet they also send fabulous costumes at the same time
Beautiful… I love the execution….
Using indigenous fabrics for a terno….
I do prefer a Vinta Sail that fans out like a peacock… but those two on her back are not bad… The crown is gorgeous but a bit out of place.. Why?.. cause I wish she wore a precolonial native crown instead of that European inspired one… Overall this is still a good ensemble… 8 stars!
@ Closer2Fame Or, wings na lang sana ‘yun’g sail, kasi after all it catches the wind. 🙂
I think it was last year’s Supranational Peru (Janick Mazeta-Ramirez) that came onstage as a hummingbird. WOW! Very Carnival, but the showmanship was delightful.
(In contrast, Resham’s authentic T’boli ensemble was totally unappreciated… Designers need to bear in mind, too, that while we dignify our identity-culture-history by literally interpreting our native garb, very few foreigners are genuinely interested enough in the trappings. We might need to dumb it down a tad…And towards this end, the ideas presented by C2F are always worth consideration.)
True.. thanks for the shoutout…. hahaha
OMG ! Ang gonda naman ni Justine, dapat next time, gandang Pilipina naman ang ipadala sa Miss Universe ! Yung pinay na pinay look like Justine, Desiree , Chat, Perfida, Ariella at Janine ! Ewan ko ba ? Gandang ganda ako sa kanila!
OMGosh…. Pilit na pilit! 😦
Na-miss ko tuloy ‘yun’g 2017 season ng BBP, which featured a really good selection and had something for everybody, from Chanel Olive Thomas’ Edwin Uy pleasing Maranao dancer, Rachel Peters’ pristine terno (and-unfortunately-I-cannot-recall-who-made-it), to E5’s Pablo Galicia Mendez III sensational-if-unwieldy Cathloic saint/icon/statue.
The designer’s youth is very apparent. For one thing, the crown is not Samal-Bajau characteristic.
Dapat, “baklad” na lang ‘yun’g “palawit”… It is enough for the sail to be referenced in the dress.
And ditch the train. EDIT!
Yeah, I agree with the crown… there is nothing indigenous or at least any Filipino characteristic about it..