Binibining Pilipinas candidate Herlene “Hipon” Budol is grateful to her grandparents for being her inspiration in her pageant journey.
“To my Priceless Nanay Bireng at Tatay Oreng. Salamat sa magandang ngiti at inspirasyon para ilaban ko ang prestihiyosong patimpalak sa national pageant ng Bb. Pilipinas 2022,” she said in an Instagram post.
Herlene earlier announced that her advocacy will be focused on autism awareness and detection in order to help those diagnosed with this condition live a fruitful life in the future.
“Nais kong makatulong sa pagmulat sa mga magulang ang importance ng maagang detection ng autism para malunasan or lumaki ang batang may autism na may medical attention at sila ay maging kapakipakinabang na mamamayan paglaki nila. Importante magkaron ng speech & occupational therapy dahil I believe children are our future,” she explained.
Herlene said she herself realized the importance of speech therapy when she became a host.
[RELATED: Herlene ‘Hipon’ Budol ibinahagi ang adbokasiyang nais isulong sa Binibining Pilipinas]
“Laki ako kay Nanay Bireng at Tatay Oreng. Hindi sila aware pag ang isang bata ay may limitadong kakayahan sa pakikipag-usap o tinatawag na delayed speech ay kailangan kumunsulta sa Specialist para magkaron ng Assessment,” she recounted.
“Pero syiempre kinoconsider ni Hipon Girl n’yo na dati ay hindi rin uso mga ganyan proseso at kailangan gawin bukod sa mahirap din ang buhay namin noon.”
She earlier said that it was her manager Wilbert Tolentino who convinced her to try joining Bb. Pilipinas.
“Parang sabi nila, para ma-boost pa ‘yong confidence ko, maging maganda ako sa paningin ko. Kasi hindi po ako nagagandahan sa sarili ko,” she revealed.