R’Bonney Gabriel slays her packing game with some good ol’ balikbayan boxes

Photo from rbonneynola/Instagram

2022 Miss Universe Filipino-American R’Bonney Gabriel flew to El Salvador strutting not just her suitcases but also a bunch of balikbayan boxes.

Gabriel visited the country for the Miss Universe Philippines coronation night where Michelle Dee was proclaimed the new queen to battle her way to become Gabriel’s successor.

The beauty queen-slash-fashion designer also reunited with her family and strolled down her father’s place in Malate.

Flying to El Salvador for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant last Monday, Gabriel sported an all-purple ensemble with thigh-high white boots that left fans in awe.

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A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola)

But what really caught everyone’s attention wasn’t her runway-ready style, it was her uniquely Filipino baggage—balikbayan boxes in her cart.

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Social media buzz with Filipino feels

In her Instagram post on Nov. 7, Tuesday, she candidly captioned, “Manager Milana: “How many suitcases are you packing for Miss Universe?”

And her reply that had the netizens rolling, “Me: (melting face emoji)

Following this post were her followers’ applause and witty banter. Fellow beauty queen 2018 Miss Supranational 1st Runner-Up Katrina Dimaranan commented, “Yass get that balikbayan box girl!”

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A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola)

Even pageant coach Voltaire E. Tayag couldn’t resist asking, “Did you bring another national costume in those boxes?” Her coach Jamie Hadfield also chimed in, “Everything but the kitchen sink!”

But her chic outfit didn’t go unnoticed when 2016 Miss Universe Siera Bearchell said, “This purple outfit is everything !!!

Countdown to Miss Universe 2023

Dee, with her high hopes to clinch the crown on Nov. 18 is representing the Philippines and hoping to restart the country’s semifinal streak following Celeste Cortesi’s surprise early exit last year.

We’re not there yet, but we can feel the Miss Universe fever spreading, and some pageant fans are already preparing their voices for a lot of screams.