Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific pageant hauls fruitful harvest
Twenty-four candidates will compete for five crowns in the 2022 Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific pageant./ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Singapore-based Lumiere International Pageantry conducted a fruitful final screening of applicants for the Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific pageant, with a total of 24 aspirants successfully qualifying for the competition.
Pageant organizer Justina Quek flew in from the “Lion City” to oversee the proceedings held at the Glass Room of Okada Manila in Parañaque City on March 18, together with four of her titleholders based in Singapore, 2019 Mrs. Singapore Global Universe Ronalyn Tingcang Tay, 2019 Mrs. Singapore Worldwide first runner-up Mary Ann Carlson, 2020 Mrs. Singapore Asia Pacific Cosmopolitan Andrea Lim York Mun, and 2021 Mrs. World Peace Special Queen Ambassador Shan Shan Lim, and 2019 Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nations Marinel Obejas from Myanmar.
The Singaporean delegation was welcomed by Lumiere’s Filipino queens, 2019 Mrs. Asia Pacific Global Avon Morales, 2019 Mrs. Worldwide second runner-up Llena Tan, 2022 Mrs. Worldwide Special Queen Ambassador Sarima Paglas, 2022 Mrs. Worldwide Lumina Golden Goddess Krisanta La Madrid, 2022 Mrs. Asia Pacific Special Queen Ambassador Monaliza Salenga, and 2022 Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nations Louise Suzanne Alba-Lopez, who also helped in the screening of applicants.
In an exclusive interview with the Inquirer conducted on March 17 at the Goryeo Restaurant of Okada Manila, Quek discussed her expectations and said, “the most important is the educational background.”
The Singaporean organizer explained: “We really need candidates with the highest standards. If you are going to represent the Philippines in the future, you really need queens like [Morales] with a high standard. It is one thing, but the personality is also important.”
Here is the list of the successful applicants who are now official candidates of the 2023 Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific pageant:
· Jocelyn Alcala
· Cristal Sarmiento Delac
· Michelle Toledo
· Juvenisa Cutor Fajardo
· Roxan Deris
· Jenelyn Panganiban
· Antonette Paler
· Maria Elma Grace Corona
· Nerrissa Ramirez
· Cheramie Joyce Reyes
· Christine Garcia Esguerra
· Rose Angela Montes
· Jasper Himacas
· Dean Syrryl Baltazar
· Christine Mae Deloso Skinner
· Maria Christina Pilones
· Lorna Bausas Teano
· Gigi Moriones
· Annunsacion Salazar
· Geraldine Dela Cerna
· Mary Grace Pilapil
· Jovy Zhdankin
· Ma Lorna B. Toriado
· Lloeve Tibayan
Quek also said that no entry fees were collected from all the applicants. She did not disclose any final details pertaining to the final competition, but told the Inquirer that “chances are high it will be in Okada” sometime in June.
Five titles will be awarded in the national pageant — Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific Global, Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific All Nations, Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific Cosmopolitan, Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific Intercontinental, and Mrs. Philippines Asia Pacific Tourism.
Lumiere International Pageantry will shoulder the license fees of all the eventual national winners for their participation in the Mrs. Asia Pacific pageant in Singapore next year, Quek said. EDV
