ALV Pageant Circle adds Miss Asia Pacific International to roster of global partners
Reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Janelis Leyba (center) with her runners-up (from left) Jennifer Prokop, Selena Ali, Karen Sofia Nuñez, and Blessa Figueroa/ARMIN P. ADINA
The Miss Asia Pacific International pageant has found a new licensee in the Philippines. Arnold Vegafria is now the country’s national director for the global tilt, under his ALV Pageant Circle.
“We are delighted to welcome ALV Pageant Circle to the Miss Asia Pacific International family! Get ready for an incredible journey filled with growth, achievement, and unforgettable moments,” the global pageant posted on social media on Friday evening, June 13.
The national pageant organizer also posted on social media on the same evening: “The ALV Pageant Circle proudly announces its acquisition of the Miss Asia Pacific International franchise for the Philippines!”
Images of Vegafria with Miss Asia Pacific International Crown Management Director Onin Mas and Brand Partnership Coordinator Vicky Bugayong, and ALV Pageant Circle General Manager Aldrich Maru Dabao were also shown in the post.
For the longest time, the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant was associated with the Mutya ng Pilipinas contest, from its inception as the Miss Asia Quest, then later expanding as Miss Asia Pacific, and up to its current iteration. The two competitions were both founded by Biboy Enriquez in 1968, but are now owned by different entities.
Empire Philippines, organizer of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant and owner of The Miss Philippines brand, acquired the Miss Asia Pacific International franchise last year, and sent The Miss Philippines 2023 finalist Blessa Figueroa to the competition. She finished as third runner-up.
The national pageant organizer appointed delegates to various other international competitions after crowning Ahtisa Manalo as 2025 Miss Universe Philippines, but no representative to the Miss Asia Pacific International contest was proclaimed.
Many pageant fans have been speculating that another national pageant would be choosing the Philippines’ delegate to this year’s edition of the Miss Asia Pacific International competition even before the Miss Universe Philippines pageant commenced, so it came as no surprise to a lot of spectators that Figueroa’s successor was not announced in the May contest.
The Miss Asia Pacific International pageant is the longest-running global pageant based in the Philippines, established 57 years ago. Five Filipino women have won the crown—Maria Del Carmen Inez Zaragoza in 1982, Gloria Dimayacyac in 1983, Lorna Legaspi in 1989, Michelle Aldana in 1993, and Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel in 2018.
No competition was held in 1990 because of the massive Luzon earthquake, and in 1991 because of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. There was also no contest in 2004, and from 2006 to 2015. It was revived in 2016, but had a four-year break from 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent contest held in 2024 was its 41st edition.
ALV Pageant Circle still has not announced which of the two national pageants it organizes, the Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand International Philippines contests, the Miss Asia Pacific International delegate will be chosen from. /ra
