19/04/2026
Naging mainit na usap-usapan sa social media ang kasuotan ni Miss Tacloban Jacqueline Gulrajani sa National Costume competition ng Miss Universe Philippines 2026.
Hango kasi ang kanyang costume sa mapaminsalang Super Typhoon Yolanda noong 2013, dahilan upang makatanggap ito ng magkahalong papuri at matinding batikos mula sa mga netizens.
Idinisenyo ni Charlotte Rodriguez ang controversial costume na nagtatampok ng isang malaking headdress na sumisimbolo sa “mata” o ulap ng Bagyong Yolanda.
Ang mismong gown naman ay sumasalamin sa pinsalang idinulot ng storm surge. Makikita rito ang mga alon, mga nawasak na bahay, ang sikat na barkong MV Eva Jocelyn na inanod, at mga figures ng mga taong nalulunod at humihingi ng saklolo habang inaanod ng baha.
Ayon sa opisyal na pahayag ng Miss Universe Philippines - Tacloban , ang kasuotan ay hindi lamang nakatuon sa kalungkutan kundi isa itong “crescendo of courage” o pagpapakita ng tapang.
“More than remembrance, it is a declaration that Tacloban City remains steadfast—a City of Hope, unshaken in spirit, undefeated in heart,” saad sa post ng organisasyon.
Paliwanag naman ni Rodriguez, ang kandidata ay hindi rumarampa bilang biktima, kundi bilang isang buhay na alaala. “Through this design, the candidate embodies more than a storm. She becomes Tacloban’s story—of devastation, of mourning, and ultimately, of resilience,” aniya.
Pinuri ng mga pageant fans ang controversial costume. Ngunit ss kabila nito, mayroon ding mga hindi natuwa at itinuring na “insensitive” at “out of touch” ang nasabing konsepto. Para sa ibang netozens, lalo na sa mga nakaligtas sa hagupit ng bagyo, hindi dapat ginagawang inspirasyon sa isang beauty pageant ang isang trahedyang kumitil ng libo-libong buhay.
Narito ang ilang sa kanilang mga komento:
* “In my opinion, great disasters like Super Typhoon Yolanda shouldn't be used as costume inspiration only for pageantry or amusement, especially when the impact is still felt by many. More respect.”
* “Grabe for the first time, a national costume gave me goosebumps and left me speechless (I actually cried). I wasn’t ready for that kind of feeling, but you, Jacqueline Gulrajani, owned the stage with so much grace and power. Your performance didn’t need many words, because it spoke straight to the heart. It told a story, it carried meaning, and it honored something bigger than all of us.“
* “seriously??? turning a tragedy that took so many lives into a fashion concept on a stage like Miss Universe??? MUPH Tacloban this is so disappointing. there are so many ways to pay homage to your hometown without romanticizing resilience and glamorizing a tragedy that killed over 6000 and injured 28000 people. yall have beautiful handicrafts from bamboo, coconut and abaca,etc… and you still chose this concept You can’t make a disaster into a costume. Even if you dress it up as “resilience”. 6000 Taclobaños died!!!”
* “Taga Samar here teary-eyed by reading "waves of courage" it brought back that horrific memory and how people picked up the pieces from devastation to moving on..what a courage! I hope the MUPH costume will gain best award”
* “My tragedy is not your costume. Kung ganyan lang din pala ang gusto nyo, sana next time may sumali dyan na taga-Mindanao tapos i-costume nya din yung katawan nung mga pinatay.”
* “The national costume is a masterful representation of waray-waray people resilience. Congratulations Miss Tacloban City. 🥰”
* “Seryoso ba to? Nakabalandra pa sa gown yung mga nalulunod na tao. Hahahaha. I get the message pero maling mali na gawin mong costume yung mga ganyang trahedya.”
* “Super ganda nman...ang galing ng gumawa ng costume .and I remembered when super Haiyan strike ...how may people died”
* “Di ko makita yung resilience dun sa gown, especially yung mga nalulunod. Saan yung resiliency dun? Ipinaalala mo lang sa audience mo yung trauma na dinala ni Yolanda.”
* “Sheet! As a Yolanda survivor first hand I felt her reaction 😢 amazing...”
* “there are so many ways to pay homage to your hometown without romanticizing resilience and glamorizing a tragedy that killed over 6000 and injured 28000 people. yall have beautiful handicrafts from bamboo, coconut and abaca,etc…”
* “A very touching concept marking the journey of a city that rose above the storm...the resilience of Taclobanons! Queen Jacqy you are the perfect blend of elegance and strength in a stunning performance!”
* “I'm a Typhoon Yolanda victim and this s**t is pi***ng me the f**k off. Yolanda almost killed me.”
* “What a meaningful concept and story, delivered through an exquisite performance!”
* “Honestly, I don’t even know what to feel… why is a national disaster being turned into a national costume? And the way they styled her posing like the typhoon is some kind of goddess—just doesn’t sit right with me. It feels insensitive. This was a really poor concept.🥲”
* “It's been years but still.... the trauma is still there. goosebumps and tears......who else cried when she started to act crying”
* “This is why we need hum and soc sci bc wym you’re onstage as THE STORM!!! Which killed 6000 (but the streets say 10000 upwards)! This should have gone through a committee under the purview of the DOST-PTRI, NHCP, NCCA, LGU, DTI among others if not pa. We have so much to offer”
* “like ok gets you wanna pay homage to resilience but why would you dress up as The Tragedy that killed thousands 💀”
Ang pagkakahati ng opinyon ng publiko ay nagbubukas ng isang malaking katanungan sa mundo ng pageantry: Saan nga ba dapat iguhit ang linya sa pagitan ng sining na nagbibigay-pugay at sining na nakakapanakit ng damdamin?
Habang ang layunin ng Miss Tacloban team ay ipakita ang hindi matitinag na diwa ng mga Pilipino, nananatiling paalala ang mga reaksyon ng publiko na ang trauma mula sa Super Typhoon Yolanda ay sariwa pa rin. At para sa marami, ang sakit ng nakaraan ay hindi kailanman dapat maging isang simpleng pasiklab sa entablado.
Ano’ng masasabi niyo sa national costume ni Miss Tacloban?
