Years after Maria Isabel Lopez’s controversial falling-out with the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) that resulted in her not being invited to the pageant’s 50th anniversary, the former beauty queen said that she and the officials of the national tilt are now on civil terms.

Lopez, who was the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1982 titleholder, said that despite their public spat, she still has plans to attend its upcoming edition sometime middle of the year, or next year.

The feisty beauty queen made headlines during the pageant’s 50th-anniversary edition in 2013 after she wasn’t permitted to attend the pageant. She was able to secure tickets with the help of Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz but was informed that BPCI national director Stella Marquez-Araneta didn’t want her to be there.

Despite the controversial incident, Lopez clarified in a recent interview with Boy Abunda that she and the national pageant are “okay.”

“Okay naman (We’re okay). They gave me my book [of the many years of beauties],” she said on the March 7 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”

“I wasn’t able to attend but they sent it [to] my house. Siguro [Perhaps] next year, I’ll plan to attend. It’s going to be a different story. At least wala nang magpapaalis (At least no one will be kicked out),” she continued.

Lopez was also given a chance to share her side of the story, saying that despite receiving a ticket from Diaz, she was initially blocked by the security from entering the venue.

“Gloria Diaz found out na wala akong tickets so she gave me her ticket. Naka-attend ako ng 50th year. Pero ang nangyari, pagdating ko d’un, kinausap ako ng security at sinabi b’at ako nand’un,” she said. “Tapos saan daw ang ticket ko and pinakita ko ang ticket ko. Wala silang magawa pero tinanong ako saan nanggaling ‘yun. Sabi ko, Gloria Diaz gave it from me. Hindi naman nila makausap. Pero ‘yun pala, si Stella Marquez [Araneta] made it a point that I won’t be there.”

(Gloria Diaz found out that I didn’t have any tickets so she gave me hers. I was able to attend the 50th year. But when I arrived, I was questioned by the security on why I was there. They also asked me where is my ticket which led me to show it to them. They weren’t able to do anything but they asked me where I got it from. I told them it came from Gloria Diaz. They weren’t able to talk to anyone. It turned out that Stella Marquez-Araneta made it a point that I won’t be there.)

When asked why she felt she was being ill-treated by Araneta, Lopez said it probably had to do with her being a “rebel queen” due to her post-pageant background.

“Ang tingin nila sa’kin is ‘yung background ko, naging sexy star ako. Kumbaga right after winning the pageant, gumawa ako ng sexy and experimental cinema, ‘yung frontal nudity. She didn’t like that. But ever since, ayaw na niya sa akin kasi ‘yung scandals na nangyari sa Binibini after, nalaman nila,” she said.

(They focused on my background after winning where I became a sexy star. Right after winning the pageant, I went to do sexy and experimental films, where I did frontal nudity. She didn’t like that. But ever since, she doesn’t like me due to the scandals I had post-Binibini.)

Lopez also made it clear that she doesn’t agree with its policy of beauty queens not being allowed to pose in sexy photoshoots should they join the pageant.

“Iba na kasi ang law ngayon. Noong time namin, ako lang ‘yung nakalusot na beauty queen na sexy model. Ngayon nasa rules and regulations ng Binibining Pilipinas na hindi ka pwede mag-pose sa men’s magazine. Kinakailangan, dapat decent ang pictorials, photoshoots, or whatever. Wala kang nude photos,” she said.

“Hindi ako agree sa mga batas na ‘yan. Kulang na lang, ilagay na virgin ang candidate,” she further added.

(The law is different now. Back in my day, I was the only beauty queen who became a sexy model since I found my way around the rules. Now, it’s part of the Binibining Pilipinas’ rules and regulations to not be allowed to pose in men’s magazines. They should’ve been part of decent pictorials, photoshoots, or whatever. You shouldn’t have any nude photos. I don’t agree with that. What’s missing is they would ask whether the candidate is a virgin or not.)

Lopez’s absence at the 60th-anniversary edition of the Binibining Pilipinas tilt in 2024 also caught the attention of pageant fans. However, she clarified that it was due to her prior commitments in the US.