The Miss Philippines Pauline Amelinckx (left) and Mister Pilipinas Supranational Johannes Rissler will relinquish their national titles at the culmination of The Filipino Festival in October./ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration may just be mounting its inaugural edition this year, but it has already attracted seasoned aspirants to the search. The Mister Pilipinas Worldwide competition had likewise drawn familiar faces that made it to the official roster of contestants.
On their respective social media pages, the two searches presented the applicants who successfully hurdled the screenings conducted for six consecutive Saturdays starting in August. The announcement was made on the evening of Sept. 13, four days after the final day of selection was held.
Twenty-one candidates were chosen from the most inclusive application process in the country, where mothers and married women were also accepted. The age limit was up to 32 years old, and no minimum height requirement was imposed.
The counterpart male competition Mister Pilipinas Worlwide also accepted fathers and married men to the competition. And while it had a higher age limit of up to 35 years old, applicants must meet a minimum height requirement of 5’8” tall.
Among the seasoned contenders who were accepted in the pioneer batch of The Miss Philippines is Binibining Pilipinas, Mutya ng Pilipinas, and Miss Universe Philippines alumna and reigning Miss GMADII (Guardians Magistrate Advocators for Democracy International Inc.) Joanna Rabe from Zambales.
The Miss Philippines candidates (from left) Isabelle delos Santos, Joanna Rabe, Chantal Schmidt, Leigh Danielle Sunga, Janine Gelera, and Maria Eddiessa Izobel Taguiam/ARMIN P. ADINA
She was joined by Miss Universe Philippines alumnae Chantal Schmidt from Cebu City and Isabelle De Los Santos from Mandaluyong City, reigning Miss Philippines Supermodel Global Nicole Lao from Manila, and recently-crowned Reyna ng Singkaban-Turismo Alethea Ambrosio from Bulacan.
The search also yielded representatives from Filipino communities in the United States—2022 Miss Filipina International Blessa Figueroa and 2021 Miss Young Philippines USA first runner-up Hanna Uyan who were both fielded by The Miss Philippines California organization, and 2020 Miss Hawaii USA semifinalist Isha Rose Mata.
Perhaps the most familiar face among the gentlemen is 2020 Manhunt International Male Supermodel semifinalist Daumier Corilla from California. Sought-after model Aaron Davis is also in the fray. They are joining 15 other contestants for the second staging of the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide contest.
The official candidates in both searches will become influencers whose task is to promote Philippine culture and heritage during the first-ever The Filipino Festival in October, through “The Filipino Food and Products Fest,” “The Filipino Music Fest,” “The Filipino Fashion Fest,” and “The Filipino Film Fest.”
The winners in the two searches will be proclaimed in back-to-back events that will headline the celebration of The Filipino Festival, with Kemans as presenting partner. They will each receive a Wuling mini electric vehicle, and custom-made trophies exclusively designed by Jef Albea.
The winner of The Miss Philippines will get the chance to represent the country in the 2024 Miss Supranational, 2024 Miss Asia Pacific International, or 2025 Miss Charm pageant, while the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide winner will have the opportunity to participate in next year’s edition of Mister Supranational, Mister International, Manhunt International Male Supermodel, Mister Global, or Mister Cosmopolitan.
And while the search for The Miss Philippines and Mister Pilipinas Worldwide candidates may have already concluded, The Filipino Festival is still looking for participants to its various events. Those who are interested may visit its social media pages, or send an e-mail to thefilipinofestival@empire.ph. Entries to the fashion, film, and music fests will be accepted until Sept. 25.
Miss Supranational first runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, who was proclaimed as the first titleholder of The Miss Philippines by Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup in August, will crown her successor at the end of the competition for the ladies. Mister Pilipinas Supranational Johannes Rissler will also relinquish his national title to his successor, barely five months since receiving it.
Here are the official candidates in both searches:
THE MISS PHILIPPINES
– Rikka Alcomedrez
– Vincy Cordova
– Joanna Marie Rabe
– Isabelle De Los Santos
– Raniele Shaine Saulog
– Nicole Trisha Lao
– Blessa Figueroa
– Hanna Uyan
– Allysandrea Tan
– Chantal Schmidt
– Therese Abbygale Laurel
– Janine Gelera
– Maria Eddiessa Izobel Taguiam
– Leigh Danielle Sunga
– Gessa Evonne Villaroel
– Rebecca Rose Ayuban
– Alcea Aira De Jesus
– Aleckzandria Beatrice Engson
– Alethea Ambrosio
– Lauren Skeoch
– Isha Mata
– Alexangela Salvador
MISTER PILIPINAS WORLDWIDE
– Emerson Gomez
– Jordan San Juan
– Justine Carl Ong
– Antonio Dujali
– Jupheter Franco
– Kenneth Luke Hutchinson
– Brandon Espiritu
– Lorenzo Isip
– Emmanuel Jimenez
– Aaron Davis
– John Peterson Sanchez
– Alex Herberich
– Arthur Reyes
– Anthony Cunningham
– Valentino Jaafar
– Jeffrey Ilagan
– Daumier Corilla
EDV