Leigh Sunga, Pampanga/LEIGH SUNGA FACEBOOK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The celebration of the month-long “The Filipino Festival” shone a spotlight on promising visual storytellers through “The Filipino Film Fest,” but the event also showcased the creativity of local fashion designers whose creations graced the occasion’s red carpet with the candidates of The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration serving as their muses.
The contestants of the counterpart male competition Mister Pilipinas Worldwide also attended the film fest, where the entries of the 10 finalists were screened at the Estancia Cinema in Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Oct. 18. Both searches for men and women are the headline events of the first-ever The Filipino Festival.
The candidates of both competitions earlier showcased their runway skills in “The Filipino Fashion Fest,” also at the Estancia Mall, and championed the diverse flavors of the country and the remarkable local merchandise at the opening of “The Filipino Food and Products Fest” on Oct. 6. The festival opened with “The Filipino Music Fest” on Oct. 5.
The winners of both searches will serve as ambassadors of Filipino culture and heritage, and will be proclaimed in back-to-back events at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Oct. 24. The winners of The Filipino Music Fest, The Filipino Fashion Fest, and the Filipino Film Fest will also be announced during the program, which is presented by Kemans.
Blessa Figueroa, Northern California/BLESSA FIGUEROA FACEBOOK PHOTO
Online voting for the three fests is now up, as well as the web polls for The Miss Philippines and Mister Pilipinas Worlwide. The links to the respective voting portals, and additional details, are available on The Filipino Festival’s social media pages.
Aside from earning the right to represent the country in some of the most prestigious international competitions for men and women, The Miss Philippines and Mister Pilipinas Worldwide winners will also each bring home their own Wuling electric mini vehicle and custom trophy designed by Jef Albea.
Reigning Miss Supranational Andrea Aguilera from Ecuador and Mister International Kim Goodburn from Thailand will attend the final show, with Thai actor Nattawat Jirochtikul staging his Philippine comeback at the event. Gigi De Lana and her band The Gigi Vibes will perform during the program. “Diwata” and “Dalisay” hitmaker Sam Concepcion will open the show with his new single “Otomatika,” while Josh Cullen from P-Pop group SB19 will close the evening.
Isabelle Delos Santos, Mandaluyong/ISABELLE DELOS SANTOS FACEBOOK PHOTO
Miss Universe Philippines titleholders Rabiya Mateo and Beatrice Luigi Gomez will host The Miss Philippines final show with Miss Charm first runner-up Annabelle McDonnell, while former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Andre Brouillette will handle the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide program. /ra