Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino beauty queens and pageant figures have spoken out on national identity and pride after controversial remarks about so-called “halfies” by male pageant titleholders triggered online backlash.

Former male pageant titleholders and models Brandon Espiritu and Jether Palomo drew criticism after suggesting that the Philippines would struggle in international pageants without mixed heritage candidates.

The remarks did not sit well with Filipina titleholders who said that being Filipino goes beyond bloodline or ethnicity.

“I still remember standing on an international stage, I wasn’t thinking about bloodlines, percentages, or labels. I was simply proud to represent my country,” said Miss Grand International 2025 Emma Mary Tiglao.

“For me, being Filipino is not about being half or pure. It’s about the love you have for your country, the pride you carry, and the heart you put into representing it,” she added.

Michelle Dee, who competed in the Miss Universe 2023, also highlighted the importance of unity, posting: “Different stories, same pride. Where would I even be without the bayanihan spirit?”

Meanwhile, Krishna Gravidez underscored the role of heritage and patriotism.

“A proud, Ilokano-Bisaya – pure-blooded Filipina who made it because of her roots and the united patriotic strength of the Filipino people,” she said. Gravidez was Miss World Asia in 2025.

Espiritu and Palomo faced criticism after a social media video showed them not singing in Tagalog during a pageant-related gathering. In subsequent replies, Espiritu said they were not from the Philippines and referred to “halfies,” drawing backlash from netizens.

Screenshots of the exchange circulated widely online even after the posts were deleted.

Both titleholders later issued apologies.

Espiritu acknowledged that his comment “came across as disrespectful,” while Palomo described his own remarks as “inappropriate”.