Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel learns Filipino: ‘Nag-aaral ako!’
Photos from rbonneynola/Instagram
Filipino American Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel is currently in the Philippines for a series of special events. While enjoying her time in the tropical country, she couldn’t resist grooving to the beats of P-pop girl group BINI’s viral hit summer song “Pantropiko.”
In an Instagram video, the fashion designer radiated happiness in a chic neon orange swimsuit, captioning the moment with “Do I really need to leave?? #ilovebohol.”
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With a schedule packed full of activities ranging from judging beauty pageants to modeling and hosting, Gabriel has been busy since her arrival. She’s been diligently documenting her stay, offering glimpses into her bustling first week in the country.
One such glimpse showcased the humorous chaos of her preparations, from memorizing lines to getting her hair braided, all while trying to decipher her manager’s instructions in Filipino.
“My brain when I’m trying to prepare lines for a live broadcast, get my hair braided, stay still for makeup, drink enough coffee, plan next week’s schedule, and my manager thinks I understand her Filipino,” she wrote.
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Amid her engagements, one comment on her post caught attention: “This is an opportunity to learn Tagalog,” accompanied by a heart emoji. Gabriel responded warmly, expressing her eagerness to embrace the Filipino language with a simple yet heartfelt “Nag-aaral ako!”
Acknowledging compliments on her appearance after the comment “Kagwapa,” Gabriel thanked her in Cebuano as well, saying, “Daghan salamat po.”
Embracing Filipino cuisine and customs even more, Gabriel shared snapshots of her indulgence in local delicacies like turon and kalamay.
In recent days, the titleholder has juggled various engagements, including a judging stint at Mutya ng Tagbilaran 2024 alongside other Filipino titleholders, an appearance on a popular TV variety show and various modeling gigs scattered throughout her stay. She will also be hosting Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
