A post shared by Nelda Ibe | Pilot Queen (@neldaibe) on Mar 31, 2018 at 11:19pm PDT

MANILA – Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2017 Nelda Ibe announced on Sunday that she is setting her sights on the Miss World Philippines 2018 pageant.

She first joined Miss World Philippines in 2014 and placed second runner-up to Valerie Weigmann.

“Many are encouraging me to give it a try for the second time around, and I don’t want to regret anything in my life. I am more than ready for another challenge,” Ibe said in an Instagram post.

“Yes, I conquered the globe, but my heart, my purpose, and my story is worth sharing back to my first love, Miss World. Yes to Miss World Philippines,” she added.

Many expressed their excitement over Ibe’s Miss World Philippines bid, commenting on her Instagram post.

Among them is Sirene Sutton, who competed in Bb. Pilipinas last year along with Ibe.

“Wow babe ang galing! Go lang!” Sutton said.

Others, however, questioned the timing of Ibe’s post, speculating that it may be an April Fool’s joke.

“Humanda ka, Nelda, ‘pag April Fool’s ito, magtago ka na,” one netizen said in jest.

“Naku, pag April Fool’s Day ito ihahagis kita papuntang Miss World Organization,” another joked.

“April Fool’s ba ito?” a fan asked.

Ibe, who finished as first runner-up in Miss Globe 2017, has yet to respond to the comments doubting her announcement.

But the local pageant website Philippine Pageantry has already picked up the beauty queen’s post, and added that Katarina Rodriguez is also rumored to be eyeing the Miss World Philippines crown.

Rodriguez, who also joined Bb. Pilipinas last year, finished first runner-up in Miss Intercontinental 2017.