TARLAC CITY, Tarlac – The province has a new reason to celebrate as Sasha-Juli Belle Lacuna was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026 during the 62nd season of the prestigious pageant, with the Grand Coronation Night held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on July 18, 2026.
Lacuna, a proud representative of Barangay Care, Tarlac City, bested 34 other candidates to secure the title. The competition also crowned Gwendoline Meliz Soriano of Baguio City as Binibining Pilipinas International 2026, with Julianne Raine Antonio of Dumaguete City and Tracy Mae Sunio of Bacolod City finishing as first and second runners-up, respectively.
The road to the crown was not without its challenges. Lacuna previously represented Tarlac in Miss Universe Philippines 2025, where she finished in the top 24. Her journey began when she won Miss Tarlac City and Binibining Kanlahi in 2024, which paved the way for her national debut.
A Memorable Final Answer
During the final question-and-answer portion, the top four candidates were asked: “What future do you envision for yourself, and how will a Binibining Pilipinas title help you get to that destination?”
Lacuna’s response resonated with the judges and audience alike:
“The values of Binibining Pilipinas is all about charity work. It’s all about serving the Filipino people. And my life’s purpose is to put myself in situations of inconvenience in order to be of service to the Filipino people. And Binibining Pilipinas is already set on that legacy, and I stepped into this pageant in order to be a vessel, to be part of that legacy, and continue with the work of the organization that is already built upon.”
Inspired by a Queen
In a post-coronation interview with ABS-CBN, Lacuna revealed that her inspiration and “lucky charm” is Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. The newly crowned queen shared that Gray’s words of encouragement backstage during rehearsals deeply inspired her performance.
“I look up to Catriona Gray as my idol,” Lacuna shared. “Her words gave me the strength and confidence I needed on that stage.”
Local Government Celebrates Victory
The Tarlac City Government and Mayor Susan Yap were among the first to extend their congratulations, stating:
“Congratulations Sasha! Hindi lang Tarlac City, kundi ang buong Probinsya ng Tarlac ang napabilib mo!“
The Provincial Government of Tarlac and Governor also released a heartfelt message:
“Taos-puso nating binabati si Sasha Lacuna sa kanyang pagkakahirang bilang Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026. Buong Lalawigan ng Tarlac ay nakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng iyong tagumpay.“
Eyes on the International Stage
The 62nd edition of Binibining Pilipinas featured 35 contestants vying for two major titles, both of which will represent the Philippines on the international stage.
Lacuna is set to compete in Miss Globe 2026 in Phuket, Thailand, on November 7, aiming to bring home the country’s third Miss Globe title, while Soriano will vie for the Miss International 2026 crown in Tokyo, Japan, on November 25.
For now, Tarlaqueños across the province continue to celebrate as one of their own prepares to carry the Filipino flag on the global stage.
