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.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines prides itself for having bagged the Miss Universe crown four times, but the Miss Universe Organization has now issued a correction: the record stands at three Filipina title holders.

In a statement issued today in New Orleans, site of the 71st edition of the international beauty pageant, it was clarified that two of the title holders only count as one-half: Pia Wurtzbach, who is half German and Catriona Gray, who is half Australian.

The statement then proceeded to add another one-half to the Philippines’ winning record, citing that the new Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel from Texas, U.S.A. is half-Filipina.

So as it stands, the Philippines has a total of 3.5 Miss Universe crowns. Still an impressive record.