Man of the World Philippines Kenneth Cabungcal / ARMIN P. ADINA
The Philippines is off to a good start at the sixth Man of the World pageant with Filipino contender Kenneth Cabungcal clinching medals in preliminary events.
The Negrense lad finished second in the Beach Wear category at a competition held at Villa Elisa in Botolan, Zambales, on Sunday, July 21.
Puerto Rico’s Fernando Padin topped the category, with Brazil’s Cassio Miguel Leles De Souza finishing third.
The Brazilian hunk also got the gold medal in the physique category, followed by Vietnam’s Doan Con Vinh, and Kazim Keskin from the United Kingdom.
In the swimsuit category, heavy favorite Sergio Azuaga from Venezuela won the gold, with France’s Gwen Jegouzo and India’s Lavesh Moran Bharambe settling for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
During the press presentation and national costume competition held at the Winford Manila Hotel and Casino on Friday, July 19, Cabungcal and Azuaga amassed the most votes in the “Press Favorites” poll, both getting gold medals.
Ecuador’s Sebastian Mora collected the second highest votes to earn silver, while Jegouzo got the bronze medal.
Cabungcal also snagged the silver medal in the national costume competition, with Bharambe topping the contest. Mora and Singapore’s Joyner Samson tied for third place.
Jegouzo collected the gold medal in the “Best in Arrival Costume” category, with De Souza and Rostislav Prochazka from the Czech Republic getting silver and bronze, respectively.
Cabungcal will try to score the Philippines’ first victory in the Manila-based tilt. The highest placement for a Filipino contender was the first runner-up finish posted by Clint Karklins Peralta in 2018.
The 2024 Man of the World pageant will hold its coronation show at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati on Friday, July 26. Twenty-three delegates are competing this year.