Miss International 2025 Catalina Duque visits Manila

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) welcomed reigning Miss International Catalina Duque of Colombia to the Philippines through a media presser at the World Kitchens in Araneta City.

Duque was one of two special guests at last night's Binibining Pilipinas 2026 grand coronation held at the Araneta Coliseum. The other guest was reigning Miss Globe Cheraim Saradatta of Thailand.

Gwedolyn Meliz Soriano of Baguio City won the Binibining Pilipinas International title at the end of the coronation night yesterday. 

Miss International spokesperson Stephen Diaz also informed the pageant community of its continuing partnership with BPCI.

“ICA and its national directors worldwide are loyal with each other. We continue our partnership with Binibining Pilipinas for another three years ‘til 2029,” he said.

After Madame Stella Marquez Araneta won the 1st Miss International crown in 1960, it was only last year that Colombia won the crown again.

“If ever I’ll meet Madame Stella in person, I’ll give her a big Latina hug so she wiil feel like she’s back in Colombia again,” said Catalina, who we learned worked in a cement factory – wearing a helmet and work boots – before joining the Señorita Colombia pageant.

This year, the Miss International pageant will scrap the swimsuit competition from the onstage finals. When asked how Catalina thinks about it, she was quick to say that she loves to show her legs.

“But last year, Miss Ethiopia did not want to qualify for the Top 20 because she was fearful of parading herself in a swimsuit! She works for the UN lobbying for youth welfare. So maybe she missed her opportunity in the Miss International competition because of that,” she recalled.

RELATED: North Luzon frontrunners win Binibining Pilipinas 2026 crowns