Teen pageant aims to help youth recover from pandemic fatigue
The 15 Miss Teen International Philippines candidates join Yza Uy (eighth from left), third runner-up in the 2019 national pageant./ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Teen International Philippines pageant returns after a two-year break from staging a live competition because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And this time, it brings to the forefront the challenges encountered by the Filipino youth because of the restrictions imposed to address the global health crisis.
Last staged live in 2019, the Miss Teen International Philippines pageant this year will recognize how teenagers’ experiences have changed compared to how the youth went about their lives before the pandemic. And the organization offers the beauty contest platform for young Filipino women to express themselves, share their talents, and impart their thoughts, things that the pandemic restrictions have prevented them from doing.
Organized by national director Charlotte Dianco, the pageant will also select the country’s representative to the Miss Teen International pageant next year in India. The most recent edition of the global tilt was staged last July, also in the South Asian country.
Fifteen young ladies heeded the call; many of them have enlisted for the 2020 edition that was cancelled because of the pandemic. They were presented to a select group of media scribes at a restobar in Quezon City last Nov. 9.
Among those who made it to the roster of official candidates was Jamaica David, daughter of actor Roi Vinzon, and whose older sister participated in the most recent Binibining Pilipinas pageant. The candidate from Rizal had the support of her celebrity father and mother Jeany who both attended the press presentation.
Actor Roi Vinzon (left) is the proud father of Jamaica David from Rizal (center). Mother Jeany joins them./ARMIN P. ADINA
The organizers also announced during the event that aside from the main title, they will also award four more national crowns for the Philippines’ representatives in the Miss Teen Earth, Miss Teen World, Miss Teen Model International, and Miss Teen Model Universe pageants.
The additional titles, however, will not be awarded during the coronation program, and will instead be bestowed on the chosen recipients after the competition has concluded, in a separate occasion.
The 2022 Miss Teen International Philippines coronation night will be staged at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasig City on Nov. 12. EDV
