Mister Supranational Philippines Brandon Espiritu (left) and Miss Supranational Philippines Alethea Ambrosio/ARMIN P. ADINA
Almost half way through the Pride Month celebration, two of the Philippines’ flagbearers in international pageantry—Mister Supranational Philippines Brandon Espiritu and Miss Supranational Philippines Alethea Ambrosio—have expressed their gratitude to the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and others) community.
The country’s Supranational duo faced pageant scribes to share their thoughts about their upcoming twin competitions at their send-off press conference held at Empire Studios at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City on June 10. The pair will fly to Poland this month for the July contests.
“The LGBTQIA+ community is really close to my heart. Because right now I live alone, my family is abroad. But I have friends here who are part of the community, and they went here just to support me. And these are my core friends. We’ve been friends for 11 years, ever since high school. And they’ve been supportive of me,” said Ambrosio, who topped the inaugural The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration in October last year.
The Bulakenya lass also went on to share that she has also been enjoying the love of the community even outside her personal sphere. “Everyone on social media, [members of] the LGBTQIA+ community, are very supportive, and I love them. I think that support that they give to me is the same support that I give to them. That’s how they impact my life. They are my support system,” she shared.
Ambrosio is another underdog from Bulacan who stole the show from more popular aspirants in her competition, just like reigning Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo. She received her appointment as the country’s delegate to the 15th Miss Supranational pageant in February, where the respective global assignments of the finalists in The Miss Philippines were announced.
Meanwhile, Espiritu, who won in the counterpart male tilt Mister Pilipinas Worldwide, and was proclaimed alongside Amborio last year, also cited the support he received from the community.
“I probably wouldn’t be in this position here. I’d still work hard, I’d still be myself, but I gotta give it up for that community for supporting me throughout my journey. I just have the most utmost respect and gratitude to them,” said the Guam-based entrepreneur and content creator.
Espiritu got a little more political when he cited how the community has impacted his life. “Let’s just talk about how that community can bring forth a more progressive way of thinking, they can break through conventional norms, and they represent individualism. So, me seeing that community, and many others as well, it provides a place for us, or a safe space for us to say ‘I can be myself too,’” he explained.
Espiritu’s participation in the Mister Supranational pageant was also announced during the same event in February, where he and his fellow Mister Pilipinas Worldwide finalists received their respective international pageant appointments.
The Philippines has already scored one victory in the Miss Supranational pageant courtesy of Mutya Johanna Datul in 2013. Last year’s representative, Pauline Amelinckx, came so close to the crown and finished as second runner-up. No Filipino competitor has brought home the title in the Mister Supranational contest.