The ‘full-blooded’ Filipinos who valiantly raised the flag in international arenas

The Philippines celebrates its 128th Independence Day today, June 12, on the heels of a heated discussion about “halfies” or part-foreigners making stride in international pageantry.

It was 2024 Mister Supranational runner-up Brandon Espiritu’s quip about “halfies” carrying the Philippines in international pageants that triggered the tsunamis of angered responses, not only among fanatics of beauty contests, but also from those beyond the circle.

But this observation made by the Guamanian-Filipino entrepreneur and content creator is heavily debunked by a number of homegrown contenders who had valiantly waved the Philippine flag on numerous international stages.

These men have brought honor and pride to the Philippines by posting victories and earning titles, something Espiritu himself failed to do in his own international competition.

The first big victory for the Philippines in a global male competition was June Macasaet’s 2012 Manhunt International win, besting 52 other aspirants from around the world to top the 16th edition of the modeling contest.

And who could forget “Mamang Pulis” Neil Perez, Police Officer Mariano Flormata Jr. in real life? He became the first Filipino contender to be proclaimed Mister International by defeating 28 other aspirants at the contest’s ninth edition held in Korea in February 2015.

A recent big male pageant victory of the Philippines was at the 2024 Mister Global contest courtesy of Dom Corilla, Espiritu’s batchmate at the 2023 Mister Pilipinas Worldwide contest.

He bested 32 other delegates from different countries at the competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2024 to become the first Filipino Mister Global winner. Corilla is now the president of the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide organization that chooses the Philippines’ delegates to various international contests.

Other notable wins from Filipinos who do not have immediate foreign lineage were posted by delegates fielded by the Misters of Filipinas pageant, the national competition that produced Perez.

“It’s Showtime” mainstay Ion Perez was crowned Mister Tourism Universe in 2018, the same year Carlo Pasion was proclaimed Mister Model Universe. Cebuano nurse Yves Campos won the Mister Tourism and Culture Universe title in 2019.

The Philippines posted two consecutive victories in the first two editions of the Man Hot Star contest in Thailand in 2022 and 2023, courtesy of Jovy Bequillo and RJ De Vera, while proud Ilokano-Waray Lloyd Figueras posted the Philippines’ first Mister Teenager Universe victory at the competition held in Indonesia in 2024.

And the list continues in major international pageants for women. Gemma Cruz posted the Philippines’ first-ever major victory in the global arena when she was crowned Miss International in 1964.

This was followed by the coronation of Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran as Miss Universe in 1969 and 1973, respectively, and Melanie Marquez’s Miss International victory in 1979.

Precious Lara Quigaman, Bea Rose Santiago and Kylie Verzosa also brought home the Miss International crown in 2005, 2013 and 2016, respectively, while Mutya Datul’s 2013 Miss Supranational win remains to be the Philippines’ lone victory in the Poland-based contest.  

And at the Miss Tourism International pageant, a global competition that does not allow women of mixed heritage, the Philippines is the best-performing country with six victories, courtesy of Peachy Manzano, the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez, Angeli Dione Gomez, Jannie Alipo-on, Cyrille Payumo and Liana Barrido.

The discussion on who could be considered a “full-blooded” Filipino when the country has become a melting pot of different cultures from around the world has taken several twists and turns.

But whether one identifies as a “full” Filipino or a part-foreigner, it is the country’s name “Philippines” that is still displayed on the sashes of the international pageant delegates.

And nobody can deny that at the moment, the Philippines is enjoying its status as an international pageant powerhouse, an accomplishment achieved through a combination of factors, not just the delegates’ bloodline. /ra