Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs (center) is flanked by her court of co-queens (from left) Jesi Mae Cruz, Jeanette Reyes, Arianna Kyla Padrid, Marcelyn Bautista, Shannon Robinson, and Megan Campbell. (Photo by ARMIN P. ADINA / Contributor)
MANILA, Philippines — Three years after it last staged a competition, the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant has crowned a new queen, and she is Iona Gibbs from Bataan.
She bested 37 other aspirants for the top prize at the coronation night of the national pageant’s 52nd edition staged at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Dec. 4, and inherited the title from Klyza Castro who won the national pageant in 2019.
Several other queens were proclaimed — Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International Jeanette Reyes from Camarines Sur, Mutya ng Pilipinas-World Top Model Arianna Kyla Padrid from Northern California, and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities Jesi Mae Cruz from California.
The runners-up were likewise given special titles — Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon Shannon Robinson from Makati City, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Visayas Megan Campbell from Lapu-Lapu City, and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Mindanao Marcelyn Bautista from Tarlac City.
Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs (Photo by ARMIN P. ADINA / Contributor)
Reyes will represent the Philippines in the 2023 Miss Tourism International pageant, while Padrid will compete in the 2023 World Top Model contest. It has not been determined yet where Gibbs will be sent, but the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization said they are looking for an international pageant for her to compete in.
Castro hosted the event, together with broadcaster Gretchen Fullido and actor Marco Gumabao, while P-pop group Alamat provided entertainment, along with girl group G22 and Jon Guelas.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant took a break in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs (second from left) receives her crown from her predecessor Klyza Castro as pageant president Cory (left) and chair Fred Yuson look on. (Photo by ARMIN P. ADINA / Contributor)