Meet the first Mr. Cebu

It’s a great honor for David Chai Mandap-Tangalin to make history as the first-ever Mr. Cebu. He was named winner among 16 hopefuls during the Mr. Cebu pageant night held last October 10 at the Grand Pacific Ballroom in Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug.

David did not expect to win the title as he told The FREEMAN in an exclusive interview, “I was very surprised and at the same time, shocked when I was hailed as Mr. Cebu. I couldn’t even believe that I was able to make it to the top.”

“It was my first pageant ever and I didn’t have any experience in modeling and in the world of pageantry. That’s why I am very grateful that I was able to make it,” he added.

During the pageant night, David avoided feeling any pressure or tense feelings by simply enjoying the entire show.

“This was fun because we were able to be ourselves. I felt natural in the stage… that’s really what I felt,” enthused David.

Nevertheless, David believes that to be named Mr. Cebu entails great responsibilities and that he has to make changes with himself to be able carry them out. 

“Winning Mr. Cebu means I should be more responsible. At the same time, I need to be more confident, because I am by nature a shy person. I should learn to cope with [my shyness] and I need to be confident in order to exercise my responsibilities well,” he said.

But it shouldn’t be much of a difficulty to David, who admitted that, growing up, he learned to develop a sense of responsibility. This 20-year-old has had traveled to many places with his parents who are volunteer workers.

David is born in Thailand, but his parents are pure Filipinos—Mr. Irenio and Mrs. Jovita Mandap-Tangalin. His father is from La Union, while his mother is from Pampanga. By the time he was 12 years old, David relocated to Cebu when his parents, who are working for an international non-government organization, got assigned here. Together with his family, David has been living in Carmen, Talisay City for eight years now.

David is a product of an international home schooling system. If based on the formal education standards of the Philippines, he is in second year college level, but in American standards, he is still in fourth year high school. For now, he has stopped schooling and currently works as a call center agent.

But part of David’s plans for next year is to enroll in a university and take up nursing as a preparatory course for his intention to pursue medical studies.

During his reign as Mr. Cebu, David told The FREEMAN that volunteer work will be his main advocacy, with projects aimed at helping the less fortunate. He hopes that by giving importance to them, they will not be discouraged by their situations.

When asked if he would still be joining other pageants after Mr. Cebu, David has this to say: “This would be my first and last pageant, because being Mr. Cebu is already a great honor for me, and it’s a title I would keep and value forever.”

Rounding up David’s court are the Filipino-Norwegian Hans Joakim Grogaard (first runner-up), ramp model Kurt Agbay (2nd runner-up), Lapu-Lapu City SK councilor Mariano Dandie Dimataga (3rd runner-up) and the optometry student Marvin Campaner (4th runner-up).

Mr. Cebu organizer, Mr. Bong Bantilan of BCB productions, said that the event was a success and the winners were really deserving of their victory.

Kids from the SOS Children’s Village, the pageant’s beneficiary, provided a heart-warming intermission number during the program.

Mr. Cebu 2008 was hosted by model-actress Angel Aquino and former Bb. Pilipinas World, Ana Maris Igpit.