From left, Miss Universe Philippines first runner-up Annabelle McDonnell as the new Miss Charm Philippines; Miss Tourism Philippines Justine Felizarta; and, Miss Tourism International Philippines Maria Angelica Pantaliano. MUPH PHOTO/MISS TOURISM WORLD PHOTO/MUTYA NG PILIPINAS PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Three national pageants made separate announcements one after the other, introducing the country’s representatives to three different international competitions.
Competing in the much-delayed inaugural edition of the Miss Charm pageant is 2022 Miss Universe Philippines first runner-up Annabelle McDonnell, who represented Misamis Oriental in the national pageant in April.
The British-Filipino student at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will fly to Vietnam next year for her international tilt. The Miss Charm pageant was originally scheduled in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the organizers’ plan to launch the competition.
Ashley Subijano Montenegro, daughter of beauty queen Cara Subijano and model Hans Montenegro, earned the right to represent the Philippines in the international pageant’s inaugural edition when she was crowned Miss Charm Philippines at the 2019 Global Asian Model Philippines competition.
But she gave that up when she joined the 2022 Miss World Philippines pageant, where she received the Miss Eco Philippines crown. This gave her the responsibility of representing the country in the 2023 Miss Eco International tilt in Egypt, and try to inherit the crown from reigning Filipino queen Kathleen Paton.
Montenegro’s Miss World Philippines batchmate Justine Felizarta also received her international pageant assignment.
When Felizarta was awarded the Miss World Philippines Tourism title, equivalent of a first runner-up spot, it did not give her an international competition to participate in. But the national pageant organization announced recently that she will be sent to the 2022 Miss Tourism World pageant which will take place in Vietnam in December.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, meanwhile, announced that 2019 candidate Maria Angelica Pantaliano will represent the Philippines in the 2022 Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia later this month.
The national pageant organization did not stage any competition in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was able to send a representative to the Malaysia-based global tilt’s virtual edition last year.
Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up Cyrille Payumo was sent to the international pageant in 2019 and became the fifth Filipino woman to bring home the crown.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant has already rolled out its 2022 edition, and is currently screening applicants. EDV