Mutya ng Pilipinas President Cory Quirino (left) and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon Shannon Robinson/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — After a two-year hiatus, the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant has really come back with a bang. The first queen it sent this year captured an international title, Annie Uson who was crowned 2023 Miss Chinese World in Malaysia.
Prior to its most recent edition held in December last year, the national pageant last held a competition in 2019. No contests were held in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On its return, the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant has also acquired new licenses from several international organizations that allowed it to appoint new delegates, including Uson, a semifinalist in the 50th anniversary edition held in 2018.
In an online interview with the Inquirer, Mutya ng Pilipinas President Cory Quirino said the new queen’s victory “sets the tone and pace for Mutya Ng Pilipinas. We begin our year by winning a significant crown in a relatively young pageant that advocates solidarity and unity among all women while taking pride in their Chinese ancestry.”
The national pageant organizer also dedicated Uson’s victory to the country, and said, “this crown is for you, our beloved Philippines!” She edged out more than a dozen aspirants from different parts of the world to win the crown at the contest held in Kuala Lumpur on May 20.
Quirino congratulated the Filipino queen for her unprecedented feat. “You have brought great pride to the Philippines. Thank you for your outstanding presence and impressive participation at the Miss Chinese World Pageant,” she said.
Mutya ng Pilipinas Chairman Fred Yuson (second from left) joins his queens (from right) Mutya ng Pilipinas-Visayas Megan Deen Campbell, Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs, and eventual 2023 Miss Chinese World winner Annie Uson at the latter’s send-off party./ARMIN P. ADINA
She also highlighted her national pageant’s role as “the stepping stone for every aspiring queen,” and said, “we take this seriously by giving every candidate a chance to compete in the international stage with success.”
Quirino said the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant is planning a homecoming and a press conference for Uson, and they are “checking Annie’s schedule now.”
After Uson, reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon Shannon Robinson will be the next to compete. She will represent the Philippines in the second edition of the Miss Environment International pageant in India next month. The delegate will try to exceed Filipino queen Michelle Arceo’s second-place finish in the global tilt’s inaugural edition. EDV