Maria Luisa Varela wins

Miss Planet International 2023

By Kathleen a llemit Philstar.com

M ARIA Luisa Varela has been crowned Miss Planet International 2023 in Cambodia, drawing a reaction from vlogger and pageant director Wilbert Tolentino.

Varela competed at the coronation night held on Sunday, January 29, in Koh Pich Theater, Phnom Penh City.

Zimbabwe’s Jemima Mandemwa and Japan’s Aya Ono are 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

Other winners include Tiffany Ha (3rd Runner UpVietnam), Katarina Juselius (4th Runner Up - Finland),

Alina Safronova (5th Runner Up - Latvia) and Pok Srevleak (6th Runner Up - Cambodia).

The Miss Planet International (MPI) was mired with controversy late last year when Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol, together with her manager and MPI national director Wilbert Tolentino, had to back out due to several mishaps prior to landing and while joining the pre-pageant activities in Uganda, where it was supposed to be held.

With Varela’s win, Tolentino aired his scathing remarks on his Instagram on Monday, January 30. He claimed that the competition was rigged, and that the Philippine contestant was already aware of the finals question.

“FYI lang po guys, bayad po ang Korona ang na panalunan ng Miss Planet Philippines at alam na nya final Question. Bago cya lumipad ng #Cambodia para sumabak ng MPI.

Ate Girl (Maria Luisa) lumaban ka ng patas kawawa din mga co candidate mo at nag e effort din cla para sa Pageant sinalihan nila at mag travel pa sila patungong #Cambodia,” Tolentino wrote. He had also called out a certain Miki Antonio, with

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When Boy said, “Umayos ka,” and repeated his question, Paolo confirmed his relationship with Yen.

“Yes,” he revelead. “Ang samin kasi, kung baga, what you see is what you get na naman e, ‘di ba? Hindi na namin pwedeng ipilit ‘yung tao to be happy for us, hindi na namin pwedeng ipilit ‘yung mga tao na paniwalaan ‘yung gusto nilang paniwalaan. Sana lang isipin nila na kung ano lang ‘yung nakikita nilang naka-post, ‘yung lang ang truth na alam nila.”

He clarified though that when the trending “Baguio as a friend” photo came out, they were not yet an item. It also took place when LJ had already left for New York. Paolo also denied that Yen was the cause of his separation with LJ. “Hindi. Somehow, medyo

Paolo Contis and Yen Santos in an Instagram post. Photo from Instagram/@paolo_contis matagal na kaming hindi okay ni LJ pero we were together officially. Napapadalas ‘yung away. I think it was a combination of stress sa pandemic and everything.

“One of my biggest mistakes was hindi ko inalala ‘yung mental health. Isa ‘yan sa feeling ko simula ng downfall namin. Hindi ko inisip ‘yun. Plus ‘yung pag-didiskarte ko ng sarili ko na hindi ko na iniinform sa kanya ‘yung mga bagaybagay, which led to bigger problems. I won’t divulge na sa isyu na ‘yun. Eventually it piled up. Again, hindi kami naguusap nang maayos.

Everytime na lalabas ako ng bahay dahil may pandemic, may work, e, may mga kalokohan din akong ginagawa,” Paolo shared.

Paolo and Yen starred in the 2021 movie shot in Faroe Islands. In the same year, news of Paolo and then partner LJ Reyes broke up when the latter admitted it in her guesting in Abunda’s online show in August 2021.

In August 2021, LJ moved to New York with her children, Aki and Summer. Aki is her son with actor Paulo Avelino, while Summer is her daughter with Paolo Contis.

Last Friday, January 27 Paolo talked to Boy about his failed relationships and his greatest fear of being hated by his daughters. Apart from Summer, Paolo is also father to Xonia and Xalene, his daughters with ex-wife, former dancer Lian Paz.