MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American model and fashion designer R’Bonney Gabriel has been in the Philippines for about a week now for “special projects,” she told Philstar.com and other press at Rustan’s Makati’s summer launch last week.

From eating local delicacies like Turon and Kalamay, to learning traditional raffia loom weaving in Bohol and posing as a driver of the motorcycle hailing service Angkas, Miss Universe 2022 is keen into tracing her Filipino roots.

“Learning my Tagalog words of the day: LAGING TRAPIK,” she said in a post, where she showed a video of her being interviewed by this author and enjoying Rustan’s summer event.

At the event, R’Bonney told Philstar.com her plans during her Philippine stay, including hosting the upcoming Miss Universe Philippines 2024 finals next month.

As for her must-haves during her summer stay in the Philippines, she told Philstar.com: “Anything with silk, linen pants, comfortable silk pants, I love anything denim, too!”

In true Texan fashion, Miss Texas added as post script: “And a cowboy hat!” — Video by Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo, video editing by Martin Ramos