Herlene Budol opens up about her feelings on being called 'Hipon Girl', speaks up about various controversies

Herlene Budol has spoken on what she really feels about being called “Hipon Girl.”

The Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up opened up about her life, career, and beauty pageant journey in a one-on-one interview with Ms. Jessica Soho on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”

“Noong una po masakit. Gusto ko nga pong manampal kapag tinawag akong hipon dati,” Herlene told Jessica Soho.

[It hurts at first. I wanted to slap those who called me hipon (shrimp).]

In 2017, Herlene joined Binibining Angono ng Sining. She then joined a TV game show and later met her mentor, her now manager Wilbert Tolentino.

On July 31, Herlene was named first runner-up and won several special awards at Binibining Pilipinas 2022.

As her dreams became reality, Herlene gained a new-found appreciation for her moniker “Hipon Girl.”

“Hindi ko na po iiwanan iyong pagiging hipon ko,” she said. “Masarap din po pala sa feeling na iyong panlalait na iyon dadalhin ka sa maganda.”

[I’m not going to turn my back on being called ‘hipon.’ That insult brought me to a better place.]

Herlene revealed that her walk on Binibining Pilipinas was inspired by her humble beginnings in a squatter area.

Herbert Budol, her father, said Herlene had a promise: “Pa, hindi ako titigil hangga’t hindi tayo mayaman.”

[I won’t stop until we’re rich.]

Because she was the family’s breadwinner, Herlene had tried all sorts of odd jobs, from selling at the market, being a golf course umbrella girl and coffee shop crew member, to handling a front desk job at the municipal office.

Her colleagues shared that after work, Herlene would go to the tiangge to bring home food for her grandparents, who raised her. “Ganyan siya kasipag,” they said.

[That’s how hardworking she is.]

Through her hard work, Herlene now has a car and a condominium unit. She has also finally graduated from college.

Her only regret was that her grandmother was no longer around to witness her success. Lola Bering died while Herlene was in the middle of preparations for Binibining Pilipinas.

“Bigat po. May pinagdadaanan po ako pero wala pong magawa,” she said in tears.

[It felt so heavy. I’m going through something and I can’t do anything about it.]

“Kailangan ko po nakangiti ka pa habang nagpe-perform ka. Pero hindi po nila alam na ang sakit po na habang naglalakad po ako, wala na pala iyong lola ko. Sabi ko, sana hindi na ako sumali. Baka nakasama ko siya ng matagal. Pero hindi po pala, kasama ko rin po pala siya hanggang ngayon,” she added.

[I had to smile while I was on Binibining Pilipinas. But they don’t know that while I’m walking, my grandmother is already gone. I thought, I shouldn’t have joined, maybe she will still be here. But I realized, she’s still here with me.]

Herlene revealed that she was good at making other people laugh, but she was a bit hard on herself.

She said she developed more confidence in herself when she realized she could turn what she thought were her weaknesses into her strengths.

“Kailangan mo palang i-work out lahat ng kahinaan na meron ka para in the future magamit mo siyang strength,” she said.

[You need to work out all your weaknesses so in the future you can use them as your strengths.]

When she decided to join Binibining Pilipinas, many expressed their disbelief and discouraged her.

Her participation in the pageant was also surrounded by controversies, particularly her “fro” hairstyle for a photoshoot. Her concept drew flak on social media for cultural appropriation.

“Pinapakita ko lang po dun sa litrato ko na ‘yun na kahit anong itsura na meron ka, mahalin mo. Kasi kahit anong itsura mo, kulot ka man, unat man ang buhok mo, may magmamahal sa ’yo.”

[I just wanted to let people know that they’re beautiful no matter what and that there is someone who will love them for who they are.]

She was also bashed for being a ‘politically incorrect’ queen.

“Siguro po tawagin nila akong ‘bobo’. Kumbaga para po akong isang bata na kailangan turuan para mas malaman ko po talaga ‘yung dapat at sa mali. Dapat pala in a proper way na pala ako kung paano ako sumagot.”

[I guess they can call me ‘dumb’. But when it comes to these things, I’m like a child who still needs guidance.]

“[Tinatanggap ko ‘yung mga puna] kasi tao lang din naman po ako nagkakamali kaya humihingi din po ako ng pasensya.”

[I’m not perfect, I make mistakes, and I acknowledge that.]

Despite everything, Herlene pushed through with the help of her manager.

“Kaya Sir Wilbert maraming, maraming salamat sa’yo dahil kung hindi dahil sa’yo baka nagtitiis pa rin kami sa bahay na walang kisame at sana huwag kang mamatay at humaba pa buhay mo. I love you so much!” she said.

[Sir Wilbert thank you because if not for you, we would still be living in a house without a ceiling. I hope you live a long life.]

Her manager helped train her not only to stand out with her beauty, but also to be able to answer during the Q&A.

To test Herlene’s skills, Jessica asked her some beauty pageant-inspired questions.

“If you win as our Binibini, how will you deal with fake news and other negative comments criticizing your looks, intelligence, and the way you live your life?” said the host.

“Noong sumali ako sa Binibining Pilipinas, first day pa lang ang daming bumabatikos sa akin lalung-lalo na nga sa social media. Pero hindi po nila alam na ginawa ko lang po iyong oportunidad. Lahat ng panlalait nila para ma-improve nga po iyong sarili ko because I know for myself that I am uniquely beautiful with a mission,” said Herlene.

[When I joined Binibining Pilipinas, I received a lot of criticism, especially on social media. But they don’t know that I used this as an opportunity to improve myself because I know that I am uniquely beautiful with a mission.]

“Para sa akin hindi po ako iyong typical na pang beauty queen eh. Nalaman ko po iyong purpose ko sa Binibining Pilipinas iyong makatulong, iyong magbibigay ng inspirasyon, at maka-impluwensya po sa mga taong nawawalan ng pag-asa, kasi iyon po iyong naranasan ko dati.”

[I don’t think I’m a stereotypical beauty queen. I learned my purpose on Binibining Pilipinas– to help and inspire those who are losing hope, because I also had the same experience.] – RC, GMA News