Looking for this year’s batch of ‘Misters’ perfection

MISTERS 2015 contestants visit the Philippine Daily Inquirer office in Makati. ARNOLD ALMACEN

COP NEIL Perez’s victory in the 2014 Mister International pageant in South Korea has elevated the male pageant industry in the country, said the local organizer of Mister 2015: The Pageant.

Carlo Morris Galang, president of pageant organizer Prime Events Productions Philippines Foundation Inc., told the Inquirer, “Male pageants weren’t given much attention before. Now, lots of young men have become interested because they idolize Neil.”

Perez’s triumph was the first for the Philippines in the 9-year-old global tilt.

Prime Events Philippines currently holds the Philippine franchises for six international male contests—Mister International, Mister Global, Mister Tourism International, Mister Model International, Manhunt International and Mister Asia.

For Misters 2015: The Pageant, four local titles will be awarded—Mister International Philippines, Mister Global Philippines, Mister Tourism International Philippines and Mister Model International Philippines.

The Philippine representatives to Manhunt International and Mister Asia will be chosen in different local searches because those international tilts follow different sets of qualifications.

Training sessions

Winners in the Misters 2015: The Pageant will undergo a series of training sessions (in modeling, styling and interviews) to prepare them for the big league. They will also embark on charity work around the country and promote the competition’s mission of healthy living.

Galang also revealed that there is added pressure on the country’s bet in the Mister International pageant. He is not only gunning for a back-to-back victory for the country, but he will also serve as host delegate because the global tilt will be held in the Philippines in November.

“This is the first time that the Philippines will host the Mister International pageant, and it’s only fitting because of the Department of Tourism’s campaign ‘Visit Philippines 2015’ and the coming Apec summit,” he said.

Meanwhile, the four winners of Misters 2015: The Pageant will receive a yearlong salary from organizers, one-year membership from Cross-Fit Halcyon, skin care at Derma World for one year, a year’s worth of services from Urban Smile, plus round-trip airfare with pocket money and accommodations for their respective international contests.

The finals night of Misters 2015: The Pageant will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila in Pasay City on Sept. 13.
The 17 official candidates will be presented to the public at One Esplanade in Pasay City today.