MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Maria Luisa Varela was crowned 2023 Miss Planet International pageant in Cambodia on Jan. 29, practically ending the Philippines’ losing streak in the 2022-2023 international pageant season.

The MPI also won a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only yearly pageant held twice and for its most unusual contestant-judge proportion.

The pageant was originally scheduled last Nov. 19 but tensions in Uganda caused by an Ebola outbreak prompted local organizers to cancel/postpone the competition. Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol was supposed to participate in the Uganda pageant.

In the repeat pageant in Cambodia, there were 12 judges who chose the winner among 14 contestants.