CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Cebu’s candidate for Binibining Pilipinas 2026, Christine Jorelle F. Usaraga, could have worn a typical Sto. Niño-inspired ensemble to represent her hometown’s famed Sinulog Festival. Instead, she showcased another of Cebu’s greatest treasures: its seas.
At the national costume showcase on July 2 in Quezon City, Usaraga embodied a sea siren in a marine-inspired ensemble designed by Manny Halasan and Uly Montenegro, paying tribute to Cebu’s coral reefs and rich marine biodiversity that have made the island one of the country’s top diving destinations.
“This masterpiece honors Cebu’s breathtaking marine majesty,” said Usaraga, 27, in a voiceover played during her runway walk. “This costume mirrors the rich biodiversity of Cebu’s renowned sanctuaries, with a headpiece symbolizing the dance of the waves and the grace of her people. She’s a true siren of the Visayan seas.”
Her national costume drew praise online, with pageant fans applauding its intricate details and the way it highlighted an underrated aspect of Cebu’s identity.
“Sobrang galing ng pagkaka-represent sa marine biodiversity ng Cebu. She looked stunning in this costume,” one commenter wrote, while another said, “Siren of the waves? She looks like a literal queen.”
Usaraga, however, was not selected among the ten finalists in Best in National Costume.
Making the Top 10 were Britney Angel Rubino (Caluya), Mylene Manschus (Tanza), Sasha-Juli Belle Lacuna (Tarlac), Ain Niqyla Abad (San Jose), Anne Klein Castro (Pampanga), Samantha Marie Zabarte (Dasmariñas), Iris Oresca (Bicol Region), Kaye Pastelero (Cavite), Patricia Lynn Beerda (Iloilo) and Pauline Thea Ann Ibuyan (Aklan).
Several finalists drew inspiration from agriculture, the sea, and nature. Lacuna, Abad, Oresca, and Pastelero, for instance, paid tribute to their provinces’ farming heritage through their ensembles.
Wearing a creation by Simeon Cayetano, Lacuna’s costume honored Tarlac’s farmers with a towering carabao backpiece symbolizing the strength of Philippine agriculture.
“This costume celebrates the resilience of our farmers, the abundance of every harvest and the enduring spirit of a province that helps feed the nation,” said Lacuna, 22.
Pastelero, 25, also highlighted agriculture through a national costume designed by Norgine Calle Rambaud. Inspired by palay, the ensemble symbolized new beginnings and a bountiful harvest.
“The design honors the hardworking farmers whose dedication continues to nourish generations,” she said.
Abad’s costume, designed by Michael Jayzon Dela Cruz, represented the Kalibasib, considered the “last legend of Mindoro,” symbolizing resilience, hope, and wildlife conservation.
“Crafted entirely from wooden rattan, it celebrates the rich artistry of our people and the forests that sustain both culture and biodiversity. The towering twin tamaraw figures embody Kalibasib’s enduring spirit and remind us that our natural heritage is a responsibility we all share,” said Abad, 19.
Meanwhile, Oresca’s ensemble by Jeric Sayno featured abaca fabric, celebrating the Bicol Region’s long-standing abaca industry.
“This creation honors the artistry of Filipino hands. The blooming headpiece represents the abaca flower, while the backpiece transforms into a life-sized abaca plant, representing strength, sustainability, and the enduring spirit of the Bicolano people,” said Oresca, 24.
Like Usaraga, Rubino and Manschus also turned to marine life for inspiration. Opening the showcase as candidate No. 1, Rubino wore a Tata Pinuela creation inspired by the tatus, a coconut crab considered a delicacy in Caluya.
“More than a costume, it celebrates the harmony between nature, culture and the enduring spirit of the Caluyanons,” said Rubino, 21.
Manschus turned heads in a Karl Balao and Arleigh Ron creation inspired by the hipong urong, better known as the mantis shrimp.
Castro and Beerda also incorporated frogs into their national costumes.
Castro’s Deonard Mabeza creation paid homage to the tugak marangle, a frog regarded as a culinary delicacy in Pampanga.
“This national costume transforms a beloved culinary symbol into a majestic guardian of the rice fields. It embodies fertility, abundance and the promise of a bountiful harvest,” said Castro, 21, who was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-World Top Model 2024.
Beerda’s costume, designed by Al Manases Alcoran, highlighted the rare limestone frog found in Iloilo, whose eggs hatch directly into froglets without undergoing a tadpole stage.
“This symbolizes resilience, adaptation, and new life born from nature itself, representing the strength and unwavering spirit of the Ilonggo people,” said Beerda, 25, first runner-up of Miss Teen Philippines 2019.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Zabarte and Ibuyan, whose costumes embraced butterflies and gardens as symbols of their hometowns.
Designed by Ashly Garcia, Zabarte’s butterfly-inspired ensemble represented Dasmariñas’ transformation into a thriving city while remaining rooted in its heritage.
“Inspired by the butterfly, my piece embodies transformation, resilience, and the courage to rise above all challenges,” said Zabarte, 23. “It tells the story of a city that has grown through perseverance, embracing change while staying true to its roots.”
For Ibuyan, her Louis Pangilinan creation is deeply sentimental for the 26-year-old candidate. Taking notes from the Ati-Atihan Festival, the butterfly and floral-themed costume was a tribute to her grandfather, who, she said, “filled my childhood with orchids.”
“My piece mirrors Aklan pride, like the vibrant butterflies that take flight from those gardens as I gracefully spread my wings onstage,” said Ibuyan.
The winner of the national costume competition will be announced during the Binibining Pilipinas 2026 coronation night, which will be held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on July 31.
| Januar Junior Aguja / VAB
