Mags Cue lays down duties of Miss Universe Philippines ‘local directors’

Miss Universe Philippines VP Mags Cue (right) shares her advice to Miss Universe Philippines-Occidental Mindoro Neil Silva. Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.net

Since last year’s competition, all candidates of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) pageant have been fielded by “local directors,” or partners in different towns, cities, provinces and even overseas Filipino communities authorized to choose delegates.

When the standalone Miss Universe Philippines pageant was born in 2020, the national organization already pitched this local directorship concept. But it was only in 2024 that the program was enacted in full, and no general screenings have been held ever since.

MUPH Vice President for Global and National Search, Mags Cue, discussed the entire scope of the local directors’ responsibilities when it comes to sending a delegate to the annual competition.

“He or she is in charge of everything; number one is to pay the franchise fee or local director’s fee. And he or she will give all the support, financially, emotionally, everything that a candidate will ever need to join the pageant,” she said at the coronation of a 2026 delegate.

Neil Silva, who is studying to become a doctor of optometry at the Centro Escolar University in Manila, was crowned 2026 Miss Universe Philippines-Occidental Mindoro at Pandan Asian Cafe in Quezon City on Sept. 5.

Her proclamation as the Southern Luzon province’s 2026 bet to the national pageant served as the renewal of the agreement between MUPH and Rogelio “RJ” Burbon, the local director for Occidental Mindoro.

Burbon’s representative, CJ Costales, said he continued to partner with the organization because of the national pageant’s advocacy, including “women empowerment and equality.”

Cue said that as local director, Burbon is responsible for Silva’s needs, “from the start until the end of the competition.” He may tap other entities to help provide sufficient support to the delegate, she added.

“We do background checks if the local director is able and capable to be a local director. He or she should be financially able, emotionally stable, mentally stable, with the capacity to support the candidate all throughout her journey,” she shared.

Costales said Burbon has been enjoying the support of the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro, “from top to bottom,” in fielding the province’s bet to the national pageant.

Silva, for her part, said she will give her best to represent her province with pride, adding that she will use the pageant’s platform to shine a light on the welfare of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“I grew up with them because my mom is a correctional officer. And I think that the universe needs to see and hear their stories. Because after all, the Miss Universe organization is all about sharing inspirational stories with the beautiful girls out there,” she said.

Silva said that she became a student athlete from elementary to senior high school because of the help of PDLs, who became her first tennis coaches.

“So every serve that I make is not just a serve of skills, but a message of hope, and a rally for second chances. They taught me that hope can bounce back like a tennis ball. They are the reason why I am here at Miss Universe, because I want to share their story. And I am here to be their voice,” Silva said. /ra