LOOK: All the mouthwatering details of this Miss World PH candidate’s batchoy-inspired national costume

They say you are what you eat...

This couldn’t have been better epitomized by Iloilo City’s Miss World Philippines bet Ann Roxal Palmares, who took inspiration from The Original La Paz Batchoy for her national costume.

The candidate dished some details of her stunning NATCOS made by Tata Blas-Pinuela on Facebook, where she pointed out that the well-loved Filipino offering originated in her hometown.

“The simple broth’s taste depicts the Ilonggos as the friendliest people in the country, warm and welcoming, gentle and soft-spoken, who would go out of their way to make perfect strangers feel at home,” she captioned the post. 

Palmares continued to explain that the beef and pork loin, pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, and chicken stocks are “a fusion of Ilonggo taste buds influenced by Spaniards, while the condiments were from the prehispanic traders.” She also added that the round noodles symbolize the Ilonggos' close family ties—“firm and strong.”

“A bowl of a delicious La Paz Batchoy is not only a merienda but also the journey of Ilonggo influences from the past to the present, molding them into creative, practical, fun-loving and God-fearing persons, truly a treat of Ilonggo's trait, identity, and heritage,” the beauty queen concluded.

Palmares is among the 45 hopefuls looking to clinch a crown at this year's Miss World Philippines competition on Sunday, July 25, which will be streamed via KTX at 6:00 p.m. and GMA broadcast at 10:30 p.m.

The winners are set to represent the country in international tilts, namely Miss World, Miss Supranational, Miss Eco International, Reina Hispanoamericana, Miss Tourism, Miss Eco Teen International, and Miss Environment International.