International pageant veterans join Mr. World Philippines 2026
The 2026 edition of the Mr. World Philippines pageant has attracted aspirants who have already carried the nation’s colors on various international competitions.
Among the applicants who attended the “final screening” on Saturday, April 11, at the Double Dragon Center in Pasay City was reigning Mister Pilipinas-Global Jether Palomo.
The Taguig-based student previously lived in the United States, and joined pageants when he flew to the Philippines. He represented the country at the 2023 Mister Tourism World contest where he finished as first runner-up.
He then joined the Century Superbods search in 2024, and topped the male division. The next year, he entered the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide contest and earned his ticket to the Mister Global pageant in Thailand. He finished in the Top 11.
Staging his comeback to ALV Pageant Circle, organizer of the Mr. World Philippines contest, was RaÉd Al Zghayér from Cebu, who was appointed by the organization to represent the country in the 2022 Mister Supranational competition, where he finished in the Top 20.
He joined the 2024 Misters of Filipinas pageant and earned the top title that sent him to the 2025 Man of the World contest held in Manila. He finished in the Top 11, then rescinded his national title afterwards.
Also from the Misters of Filipinas stable was Vandave Paragas of Pangasinan, who captured the Mister Tourism and Culture Universe Philippines title in the national search held in 2019.
His supposed international pageant journey in Myanmar in 2020 was sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he got another chance to represent the coutntry abroad at the I Am Model Search in Malaysia where he finished as second runner-up.
Another Misters of Filipina alumnus who joined the screening was Archan Perez from Batangas, while the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide alumni were Aaron Davis from Bicol and Michael Alfonso Carter from the Filipino community of the United Kingdom.
A total of 14 applicants were proclaimed as official candidates of this this year’s national male search, and the organization is poised to add more contenders to the roster.
Here is the list of successful applicants:
MJ Quiroz – Orion, Bataan
Archan Perez – Tanauan, Batangas
RaÉd Al Zghayér – Basak, Cebu
Leinard Curachea – Sariaya, Quezon
Kennedy Ebuenga – Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Rizmel Cabigao – Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Michael Alfonso Carter – FilCom UK
Aaron Davis – Bicol
Harvey Joshua Sagum – Malasiqui, Pangasinan
Kristoffer Alexei Cruz – Manila
John Eric Hernandez – Candaba, Pampanga
John Paulo O. Delacruz – Lucena City
Jether Palomo – Taguig City
Vandave Paragas – Bayambang, Pangasinan
The 2026 Mr. World Philippines coronation night is scheduled on June 21 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
Reigning Mister International Kirk Bondad was the last person to hold the Mr. World Philippines title, which he received back in 2022. His Mister World pageant only pushed through in 2024, and he finished in the Top 20 in the competition. /edv
