Mister International PH pageant opens doors to married men, fathers
Mister International Philippines Myron Jude Ordillano (third from right) joins his fellow national titleholders (from left) Andre Cue, John Ernest Tanting, Kitt Cortez, Mark Avendaño and Michael Ver Comaling. Image: INQUIRER.net/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines—After the Miss Universe pageant and its counterpart national contest in the Philippines and other countries opened their doors to married women and mothers, a male tilt in the country followed suit and removed restrictions on civil status and parenthood for its applicants.
In a social media post on Friday, March 10, the Mister International pageant announced an on-site screening of applicants in Metro Manila, with the requirements of being single and childless missing in the list of qualifications, which were enumerated as “male, Filipino citizen, at least 5’9” in height, 18-32 years old, and of good moral character.”
“Inclusivity” was the brief response of the organization’s communication director Norman Tinio when the Inquirer asked for some clarification and confirmation.
The pageant will conduct its screening on March 30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Roly Halagao Training Productions and Casting Studio at 108 Panay Ave., Quezon City. The venue is located behind the National Bookstore branch on Quezon Avenue. For additional details regarding the application, interested individuals are advised to call +63-949-4473297.
The pageant did not disclose yet how many winners will be proclaimed, and what titles they will be receiving. But lawyer Manuel Deldio, who heads the organization, earlier said that the second edition of his competition will be held in June this year.
Last year, the national pageant awarded national titles to the runners-up belatedly, weeks after top winner Myron Jude Ordillano captured the Mister International Philippines title at the culmination of the final competition.
First runner-up Mark Avendaño received the Mister Global Philippines title, while second runner up Michael Ver Comaling was proclaimed Mister National Universe Philippines. Third runner-up Kitt Cortez got the Mister Tourism International Philippines title.
Fourth runner-up Andre Cue was initially appointed as Mister Teen International Philippines, but he later received the Caballero Universal Filipinas title.
Ordillano finished fifth in the 14th Mister International pageant held in Manila in October, while Avendaño brought home the Best in National Costume award from the eighth Mister Global tilt staged in Thailand in February.
Cue was proclaimed “Best Body” and finished in the Top 10 of the second Caballero Universal contest held in Venezuela in December. The organization has not clarified if he will still be sent to the Mister Teen International pageant in Cambodia later this year.
The Mister International Philippines organization also bestowed a national title to finalist John Ernest Tanting, who was sent to the Mister and Miss Beauté Internationale competition in Turkey in November. He reportedly won the contest’s male division.
Comaling and Cortez have yet to see action in their respective international competitions. Cortez was initially set to leave for Indonesia last year, but the global tilt was postponed. Comaling’s competition is scheduled for June. /ra
