A former overseas Filipino worker in Dubai has emerged as a notable contender for Binibining Pilipinas 2024, demonstrating that dreams have no boundaries.
In an exclusive interview with The Global Filipino Magazine, Jasmin Bungay shared her passion for pageantry and her decision to leave Dubai to chase a childhood dream.
“Growing up joining pageants year after year when I was a teenager, pageantry had become a major plot in my story,” she revealed.
Despite a five-year hiatus and a successful career abroad, Bungay felt an irresistible pull towards the pageant scene.
“I cannot seem to just close the chapter without trying to go the next level,” she stated, emphasizing her readiness to embark on a new journey.
Bungay’s path in Dubai began when she moved there at 21, seeking a change from her profession as a licensed teacher. She found herself intrigued by the logistics and freight forwarding industry, a field where her career flourished alongside opportunities in modeling.
Reflecting on her time in Dubai, Bungay recounted, “Through dedication and sheer will, my career steadily progressed.”
However, the journey was not without its challenges. The biggest, she shared, was “learning how to live well far away from the people who take care of you.”
The isolation was intensified by the pandemic lockdowns, yet Bungay found solace in a supportive community that became her family away from home.
Beyond the glamour, Bungay is driven by a cause close to her heart — the plight of OFWs.
“More than my own story, I will be bringing with me the many stories of my fellow OFWs,” she asserted, highlighting the need for conversations around their struggles and triumphs.
The decision to join Binibining Pilipinas 2024 was met with mixed feelings from her family, initially hesitant due to her promising career in Dubai. However, they soon became her staunchest supporters, understanding her need to pursue this dream. Friends, too, shared in her excitement, eagerly anticipating this new chapter.
Bungay believes her OFW experience has equipped her with unparalleled resilience and determination, qualities she plans to bring to the competition.
“If you survive being an OFW, you are capable of anything,” she confidently declared.
Her participation in Binibining Pilipinas is a tribute to the OFW community, aiming to inspire others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the magnitude.
“Success is exactly what it means to you,” Bungay advised fellow OFWs contemplating significant life changes.
The new titleholders will be succeeding Binibining Pilipinas International 2023, Angelica Lopez, and Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022, Anna Valencia Lakrini, embodying grace, intelligence, and the values of Filipinos worldwide.
In the previous year, the Binibining Pilipinas pageant awarded only two titles: Binibining Pilipinas International and Binibining Pilipinas Globe.
