New pageants, good intentions

I had the chance to be with the founders of the newest pageant in the country, Turismo Pilipina, last Sunday at the Parklane International Hotel. Over lunch, 2002 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Karen Loren Agustin Ostrea, 2006, Bb. Pilipinas International Denille Lou Valmonte and 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman explained that that it has been their longtime dream to come up with a pageant that would bring to a focus the tourism industry of the country.

Precious and Karen narrated that it was in 2006 during the training for Denille and Cebuana beauty Anna Maris Igpit in Manila for their respective international pageants, that the concept was hatched. It was also during this time that the Philippine Ambassadors of Beauty, an organization of former Bb. Pilipinas beauties, was formed. Fast forward to 2008: they now strongly believe that it’s time to implement the idea. Turismo Pilipina is set to have its coronation night on October 10 at the AFP Theater.

The vision is noble—to reintroduce the Philippines, particularly the beauty of its 80-plus provinces, to Filipinos. There are still lots of undiscovered attractions in the country. For Denille, it is disheartening to note that when one says white, pristine beach, it is Boracay that immediately comes to mind, when in fact there are other unexplored beaches that could equal if not surpass the pride of Aklan. If plans won’t miscarry, there is going to be Turismo Pilipina-International next year, where Filipino communities abroad will be invited to send a candidate to encourage Pinoys to return to the country and explore the unexplored. Each candidate automatically becomes a spokesperson of her province.

During the presscon, Lara answered questions about the reaction of Madam Stella Marquez Araneta of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. on the birth of Turismo Pilipina. Lara said that they have not talked to Madam Stella, but they are positive she is happy with their undertaking because they are just following in her footsteps. She maintained that they are not turning their backs on Bb. Pilipinas. In fact, they are still training the reigning queens for their international derbies. Lara also said that they are not a breakaway group; it’s just that they’ve long wanted to do something different from Bb. Pilipinas, which has been around for a long time and has its own vision and programs.

Interestingly, Karen revealed that the production group behind all national pageants will also handle the coronation night to meet expectations of a superb show. The founders said that candidates will be taken cared of and pampered so well that they will remember the pageant in a very positive way. And what the founders did not like during their respective reigns will not happen in Turismo Pilipina.

For sure, this is a make or break situation for Turismo Pilipina. Personally, I do hope they would make it because it is a pageant that is obviously a labor of love; one that is aimed at enhancing the level of pageantry in the country. Yes, this is an ambitious undertaking that does not only involve a lot of hardwork but plenty of money as well. This may not be an easy journey for the founders, but as it has been said that undertakings with noble intentions do succeed. Good luck Turismo Pilipina 2008!

Aside from Turismo Pilipina, there is also another pageant that will have its debut right in our very own backyard next month. I’m talking about Mr. Cebu 2008, the first ever male pageant with such a title in the Queen City of the South. I first heard about it last June through one of the candidates, John Michael Contreras, who goes to the same gym where I work out, but I never got the chance to know the story behind its conceptualization. Thankfully, PR Works furnished me a press release aptly titled “The Birth of Mr. Cebu 2008.” So I learned that Bong Cago Bantilan of BCB Productions, a physical therapist based in the US, is the person behind the pageant. He was watching Miss Cebu last January when the idea cropped up, getting positive feedback and encouragement from friends. And the rest, as Bantilan now says, is history.

 “The pageant envisions to create role models out of its young and active participants. Far from being an ordinary event, Mr. Cebu is about promoting Cebuano cultural awareness and to bring out the best of Cebu for the entire world to appreciate,” Bantilan shared.

Like other prestigious pageants in the country, the 16 candidates are now undergoing workshops, seminars and trainings to mold their total personality that would greatly help them not only in capturing the title on October 10 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, but also in becoming real assets to the society they live in. Mr. Cebu supports charitable institutions too, such as the SOS village. But what captured my attention though is its plan to send 10 less fortunate kids to school every year. According to Bantilan, “We believe that education is an effective means of breaking the cycle of ignorance and poverty.” I salute to that pronouncement to the highest level! With that, I definitely support and endorse Mr. Cebu 2008!

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