IN Bea’s national competition, she wore a Bakunawa dragon costume depicted in its mid-life cycle. In Philippine mythology, the Bakunawa is a serpent-like dragon that’s believed to cause eclipses. It is said to swallow the moon. It’s also part of the shamanistic rituals of the babaylans or Filipino shamans.
She continues this narrative by taking it the Bakunawa in its final form: The Golden Lunar Dragon.
This is a metaphor for Bea’s growth and personal evolution. The costume is done in gold as it is considered to be the perfect element and acts much like an enchanted armor. The Bakunawa appears in Philippine literature, arts, pop culture, and even children’s games.
The Bakunawa costume is made by Axel Que while the intricate, handcrafted metal headdress depicting the moon and accessories were done by Manny Halasan.
