From our Bb. Pilipinas 2019 2nd Runner-Up Samantha Mae Bernardo herself:

What I always read now on my social media is, “Samantha, you are too strong kasi. You are too rehearsed. You are too pageant patty, your makeup is so dark and so on.. that’s why you are a runner up again” “Where is Samantha? She’s so bitter. Why is she not attending activities? She deserves to be 2nd runner up because she’s not fulfilling her duties now. She has a bad attitude and etc”

Dummy accounts, seriously? 😅

What we allow you to see is just the surface, you guys don’t know anything. I’ve been so sick for almost 2 weeks until Coronation night (all the staff can attest that I used oral spray and nasal spray every now and then before going out on stage just to be presentable) and I need to go to Singapore now for a wedding (FYI, Binibini knew about this). Give me a break. I have fulfilled my duties as 2nd runner up last year and I must admit that being 2nd runner up again this year was quite a shock. But I know truly in my heart that I gave my all, I deserve better and that I have no regrets. I fully respect and trust the decision of all Bb. Pilipinas judges that night on choosing the right queens and I have nothing against it. People should know that runners up are not required to show up on every activity, it’s our prerogative. ♥️

So let’s stop the hate and let’s just focus on spreading love and positivity. Let’s support our queens and waste our energy on things that matter the most! 🇵🇭

I have served my purpose and I will continue doing this whatever happens, with or without a crown. 👸🏻

To anyone who’s going through tough times, please read:

Don’t be afraid to start all over again. Don’t be afraid that your heart is hurting. It means your feelings are genuine. I went through a lot that I can only surpass with courage and acceptance and if you need to let go of whatever is hurting you, then do it to heal. DO IT BECAUSE WHATEVER HURTS YOU, SHOULD NOT BRING YOU DOWN, BUT TO RISE BEYOND WHAT IS NO LONGER WORTH KEEPING BURIED INSIDE YOU. Be brave, beautiful soul. 💃🏻

Makeup artist Jr Constantino
Hairstylist Darwin Siñel
Earrings Jacatel
Gown Cyrus Gueta
Stylist Styled By Kenneth R.
Associate stylist Karl Dioso
Photographer Don Caras

When Samantha Bernardo duplicated her 2nd Runner-Up finish in 2018 during last night’s finals of Bb. Pilipinas 2019, many pageant fans and supporters felt bad for this Palaweña beauty who is aggressively aiming for one of the six crowns to extend her 18-month contract with BPCI as a titleholder and not as a pageant bridesmaid so to speak. After all, she had dutifully served her runner-up status for almost a year. She is ripe for a good crown. But what happened? Was her trending 30-second freespeak clip to be blamed for not rising above her previous 8th-ranked placement?

Or was it the above combined with her Q&A performance in the Top 15 that sealed the deal for a consecutive 2nd Runner-Up nod? Her answer about the question on rape jokes sounded passable at first. But when her thoughts went beyond sexual harassment to include the safe spaces bill, she needed to connect it with the original query, babbled a bit then went on to close her statements beyond the time limit (I’m not sure if the judges were instructed to deduct points when a candidate would “persist” in finishing her reply after the bell sounded).

Honestly, I don’t want to overthink the situation anymore. Last night, Sam was perhaps graded by the judges with a cumulative score that was only good enough to squeak in to the Top 8. Could this mean that she is being “encouraged” to give it a third and final try in 2020? Or was it an indication that she needs to accept her fate and quietly move on with life?

What are your thoughts, dear readers?