Will the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant continue winning streak in Miss Tourism International and Miss Intercontinental contests?
Mutya ng Pilipinas Iona Gibbs. Image: INQUIRER.net/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines—The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant has already scored two international crowns from the first two queens it fielded this year, and the national organization is eyeing to continue the winning streak with two more titleholders scheduled to compete in different contests in the last quarter of the year.
Annie Uson was the first Mutya queen to see action abroad, and she became the first Filipino woman to receive the Miss Chinese International crown in Malaysia in May. She was followed by 2022 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Luzon Shannon Robinson, who scored the country’s first victory in the Miss Environment International pageant in India in June.
Next in line is Jeanette Reyes, who will compete in the 26th Miss Tourism International pageant. The organization launched the 2023 competition last week, and said that Sabah, Malaysia, will host the contest in November. The Filipino queen will attempt to sustain the Philippines’ dominance in the global tilt and score the country’s sixth victory.
The Philippines is the most successful country in the Miss Tourism International pageant with five winners to date—Peachy Manzano in 2000, the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez in 2012, Angeli Dione Gomez in 2013, News5 anchor Jannie Loudette Alipo-on in 2017, and Cyrille Payumo in 2019.
Several other Mutya ng Pilipinas queens took home titles in the same competition, among them “Kapamilya” actress and host Aya Fernandez, who was proclaimed as Dreamgirl of the Year International in 2018, and A2Z channel news head Barbie Salvador-Muhlach, who was crowned Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International in 2010.
Reyes is expected to arrive in Sabah on Nov. 10, with the coronation night scheduled on Nov. 25 at the Sabah International Convention Center. The 2023 Miss Tourism International pageant will have about 45 delegates from all over the world.
Iona Gibbs, who captured the main Mutya ng Pilipinas title in December last year, will have to spend her “crowniversary” in Egypt as she aims for the country’s third Miss Intercontinental crown. The international organizer announced on social media around midnight on Aug. 9 that the 51st edition is scheduled on Dec. 15, and about 80 international delegates are expected to arrive in Sharm El-Sheikh on Nov. 28.
When Gibbs won her Mutya title last year, the organization said there was still no international competition for her, and that they were actively seeking a suitable global contest for her. Earlier in 2023, the national pageant reacquired the franchise for the Miss Intercontinental pageant from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. which had been sending the Filipino representatives since 2014.
Actress and singer Koreen Medina was the last Mutya ng Pilipinas queen to compete in the Miss Intercontinental pageant. She joined the 2013 contest and finished as third runner-up. The two Filipino winners were Bb. Pilipinas alumnae—Karen Gallman (2018) and Cinderella Faye Obeñita (2021).
Mutya ng Pilipinas Chairman Fred Yuson declared at the victory party for Robinson in June that the organization was aiming to score “five-for-five” this year, with all five delegates winning in their respective competitions. Arianna Kyla Padrid is the fifth queen in the national pageant’s arsenal. She will represent the Philippines in the World Top Model contest, whose date and venue are yet to be announced.
The national organization has also opened the application for its 2023 competition. For inquiries, visit the official social media pages of the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant. /ra
