MALL OF ASIA ARENA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Move over, GCash. This time it’s the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines coronation night that was hit by a glitch! And boy, it did cause some major math problems (forget the Leni Robredo math)!

The pageant’s technical difficulties started right after the top 18 was narrowed down to the top 10 finalists. It was a heartbreaking “goodbye girls” for the 8 contestants eliminated.

But wait. When the coronation night resumed broadcast after a long pause and repeated commercials (did the advertisers get free air time for that?), pageant host Xian Lim announced that the top 10 was back to top 18 and that the final 5 would be chosen from all 18. So, the glitch recalculated the math as 18-8=10+8?

Well, we were happy for the returning girls.

There’s more.

When the final announcement of the new Miss Universe Philippines came, the final 5 finalists stood there anxiously waiting.

First to be announced was the 2nd runner-up, Miss Pampanga followed by the 1st runner-up Miss Zambales. And then there were 3 left. The next announcement was the new Miss Universe Philippines (Miss Makati).

Many netizens asked: “shouldn’t the remaining 3 be named Miss Universe Philippines, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively? Does that mean that Miss Bohol was supposed to be the 1st runner-up and Miss Baguio the 2nd runner-up, or vice versa?

But who cares. The live audience and online viewers were treated to the enchanting beauty of pageant hosts Xian Lim and Alden Richards, not to mention reigning Miss Universe and Filipino American R’Bonney Gabriel, 2019 Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, Italian-speaking 2022 Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi, and of course, the aging but still beautiful 1973 Miss Universe Margarita Moran.

All’s well that ends well!