Thanks to Jamin Lim for the Invitation

By Oggie Medina

I arrived at Manila Hotel’s Ten City at 4 pm, Sunday, June 28, for the coronation night at 7 pm of the Mrs. Universe Philippines (MUP), as instructed by my cousin photographer and entrepreneur Jamin Constantino Lim, one of the major sponsors of Mrs. Universe Philippines 2026.

Then at the venue, he asked his male staffer to assist me and he brought me to Table 33, near the stage.

At the venue, singer-actor Lance Raymundo came forward to greet me. Lance told me he would be the host that night (the coronation night ended during wee hours due to so many other awards to be given to individuals, not the MUP contestants).

I was quietly sitting on my chair for several hours when actor-model-host Raymond Gorospe, one of the judges that night, came toward me. He was surprised I arrived early.

Later, I received a message (in Facebook’s Messenger) from Ms. Lalaine Geronimo of La Visual Corp. who was handling Dr. Allen Quirit, a judge that night, that they were in Manila Hotel’s Champagne Room, serving as holding area for VIPs like the judges that night and other celebrities like GMA Network ‘s Kris Bernal and Chariz Solomon.

So, I excused myself from my media colleagues for a while and went to Champagne Room. There, I was introduced to Dr. Quirit and we had picture-taking.

Then a friend from GMA Network, Ms. Malou Santiago Tibayan, hugged me and she was surprised I am back to the Philippines after taking good care of my American mom Rosita Constantino Medina in Fairfield, California (I will return to the US for Asian Journal Publications tasks in LA soon since I am a credentialed member of the Foreign Press Centers in Washington DC and New York City).

At the venue, I also greeted and exchanged chats with Richard Hinola and director-actor Romm Burlat.

The sumptuous dinner was past 8 pm. The program began shortly before 9 pm. The coronation night ended during wee hours when the grand chandelier lights at the lobby of Manila Hotel were off.

It was Mrs. Pampanga who was declared Mrs. Universe Philippines 2026 winner.