R’Bonney Gabriel goes ukay shopping, tries balut in Pateros

R’Bonney Gabriel / Screencap from R’Bonney Nola/YouTube

The Philippines has a prestigious roster of Miss Universe winners: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018). However, for many Filipinos, another name resonates deeply – Filipino American R’Bonney Gabriel, crowned Miss Universe in 2022, holds a special place in their hearts as the country’s unofficial fifth Miss Universe.

Having immersed herself in Philippine culture during her stay for quite a long time, the beauty queen has deepened her connection to her roots through exploration.

Recently, she took to the streets of Metro Manila, documenting her adventures in a candid vlog on YouTube. Her journey included a visit to Pateros, known for its “ukay-ukay” (thrift shopping) scene and iconic “balut” (fertilized duck egg).

As a fashion designer passionate about sustainability, R’Bonney finds joy in upcycling fashion treasures from thrift stores. “I just love doing it,” she shared.

During her ukay-ukay excursion, she humorously negotiated prices, showcasing her “tawad” skills, a quintessential Filipino trait that she acknowledged needs practice.

Her vlog also captures authentic moments, like riding a jeepney – a symbol of Filipino transportation – and her quest for affordable blazers, despite noting they’re cheaper back in the States.

Her finds included a pair of pants she was able to get for Php. 180 and blazers priced at Php. 600. Still quite high, right?

But no Filipino experience would be complete without sampling “balut,” much more in Pateros, the capital of the “balut” industry in the Philippines.

Reflecting on her first encounter with the delicacy a decade ago, she admitted that she wanted to try again because she forgot the experience she had.

“For the record, I am Pescatarian. I don’t eat meat, but I’m making an exception because I feel like balut is something that you have to try,” she shared before eating.

Eating the balut in the traditional Filipino manner, she described the taste as surprisingly enjoyable. “I like eggs, so it was very eggy. It was super enjoyable. There was a hard part, and I think that was the toughest part.”

She rated the experience at six-and-a-half, affirming, “Definitely not something I’ll be eating every day.”

Venturing further, R’Bonney also tried “Penoy Higop,” a more liquid version of the local egg delicacy, rating it a solid eight.

Over time, Miss Universe 2022 has been gradually revealing her strong Filipino side, and more of her candid moments, including her Filipino humor, are showcased on her TikTok.