Masbate Governor Rizalina Gave Bea Santiago 20 Pesos

Going back to the Philippines at 22, a move Bea Rose Santiago admitted was "very risky," Santiago brought her mother's encouragement and her memories as a girl in Masbate.

This optimism, however, was initially met with a disappointing reality. "Before Binibining Pilipinas, it was so hard for me," she said. "I've been rejected by so many people, saying, 'Why are you joining? You shouldn't join.'"

Santiago recalled it was especially difficult to enlist the help of the local government of Masbate, which she noted had never sent a candidate to the national competition.

"In Masbate, they've never had a delegate for Binibini. And the first time, I asked our governor, she just rejected me. It was painful. It was very painful," she said. She was referring to Governor Rizalina “Dayan” Seachon – Lanete.

"She actually gave me P20 as a mock donation. Because, you know, every delegate asks for support from their city, and that's what she did to me. I was shocked at first. I had no idea what happened."

What followed, Santiago recounted, were several more disappointments. "Even my dad, they weren't as supportive as I thought they would be. There were a lot of people saying, 'You shouldn't join.'"