Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa declined to comment on the controversial, and much-panned, national costume she wore during the pageant.

In an interview with columnist Ricky Lo, Lastimosa was asked for her reactions to the blame storm regarding the gown. The beauty queen merely laughed and said, “I’d rather keep my mouth shut!”

Elswhere in the interview, Lastimosa expressed a graceful acceptance of her Top 10 status.

The national costume was designed by Colombian Alfredo Barraza. The decision to turn to a foreign designer instead of a local one for Lastimosa’s national costume and evening gown prompted many Filipino netizens to call for Colombian-born Binibining Pilipinas pageant head Stella Marquez-Araneta’s resignation. — Vida Cruz/BM, GMA

Blast from the past! The Sparkle Spell 2023 event took quite a turn when GMA Sparkle Artist Gaea Mischa sashayed down the black carpet sporting an outfit that caused a stir during the 2014 Miss Universe national costume showdown, worn back then by MJ Lastimosa.

“For tonight’s Sparkle Spell ball, I’m channeling my inner @mj_lastimosa in her most iconic National Costume gown in the history of Miss Universe. Styling by @omarsantossali,” Mischa said in a post on Instagram.

Critics back in the day compared the gown to a flamboyant birthday cake, and even sparked a meme frenzy and probably a nightmare or two for MJ. But fast forward to the present, and here we are, witnessing its glorious resurrection as a Halloween costume.

As the spotlight swung back to the long-forgotten ensemble, MJ Lastimosa couldn’t resist chiming in.

“Panaginip lang ito. Please,” she wrote on a PEP.ph post on Facebook.  Well, who could blame her? We all thought that fashion faux pas was buried nearly a decade ago, but here it is, back for a round of laughs.

The infamous dress was created by Colombian fashion designer Alfredo Barranza. In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), MJ even said in jest,”Nananahimik na daw si Barraza sa Colombia mga mariiiii.”

In 2014, critics said it cost MJ’s chances of winning in the Miss Universe where she placed in Top 10. Then Binibining Pilipinas Chair Director Stella Marquez-Araneta even had to explain why they selected the creation of a foreign designer.

“If I didn’t do it for several years, it’s because the designs that were given to us were not good enough for our candidates. That’s the reason I went abroad,” Araneta said back then.

Ten years later, we say, it just became clear that MJ’s national costume, love it or hate it, had etched its name in the pages of Philippine pageant history. You’re now iconic, MJ!