45 years of the Mutya ng Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Mutya ng Pilipinas celebrated its 45th anniversary with a national and international search for the 2013 Mutya ng Pilipinas candidates. The 31 official delegates were flown to Puerto Princesa City where the swimsuit competition was held at the Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa, the official resort partner. 

The serene coastline of Sabang beach, home to the underground river system in Puerto Princesa City, became the perfect backdrop of the swimsuit competition.  Sheridan Beach Resort and Spa’s beachfront stage offered the best venue for the lovely candidates, who paraded in their two-piece bikini swimsuits.   

The gorgeous lasses from all over the Philippines and from the overseas communities set foot in the majestic paradise of Puerto Princesa City for the first time for a breathtaking and memorable island adventure. All the candidates, including the seven from the overseas Filipino communities of Canada, California, Arizona, Iceland, Maryland, Germany, and Scandinavia immersed themselves in exploring the natural and magnificent allure of Palawan.

Aside from warm and hospitable welcome from the people of Puerto Princesa City, the ladies admitted that they were lucky to visit Puerto Princesa’s Underground River.

This year’s nature-loving lineup of delegates were excited to see the beautiful island because the pageant’s “Beauty Tourism Adventure” also highlighted other natural wonders of Palawan  including the jungle trail, mangrove and tropical forest, wildlife sanctuary and white sand beaches.

The ladies were also mesmerized by the natural allure of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.   It features a mountain landscape with an 8.2-km. navigable underground river, reputed to be the longest underground river and the most beautiful subterranean river in the world.

Aside from being an ambassador for the country, Asian business conglomerate San Miguel Group is eyeing the candidates as potential product endorsers, and some of them are being considered to join flag-carrier Philippine Airlines.   If this happens, some of them will be assigned in destinations  in Europe.  

Beauty tourism, fashion with social responsibility — no other beauty pageant can capture all these better than the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013 sojourn in Puerto Princesa City was only the start of unlimited opportunities and memories. It is just an embarkation of endless possibilities and spell-bounding experiences.   The pageant serves as a platform to contribute its share in highlighting the latest “New 7th Wonder of the World’’ — the Underground River / Subterranean National Park (PPUR) — and the equally attractive features of Puerto Princesa City.

This year’s major titles were Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities.   The winners will be sent to represent the Philippines in the elite international competitions Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Tourism International. 

The grand coronation night was  held at NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig last July 26. Specials Awards went to: Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013 Friendship Ivy Camille Villanueva; Mutya ng Zen Institute  Koreen Medina;  Mutya ng Crimson Koreen Medina; Mutya ng Lancaster Hotel Manila Koreen Medina; Mutya ng Mags Joselle Mariano; Mutya ng Informatics Catherine Denise Trivino; Mutya ng Crimson Angeli Dione Gomez; Mutya ng IVI Collagen - Maureen Ann Montagne

The top 10 finalists were Angeli Dione Gomez of Cebu City; Zandra Flores  of Pangasinan; Maureen Ann Montagne of Arizona; Asdis Liza Karsdottir of Iceland; Joselle Mariano of Cavite City; Catherine Denise Trivino of Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Koreen Medina of Quezon City; Kristian Aubrey Nolasco of Caloocan City; Vina Openiano of Laguna; and Nazita Reyhanian of Scandinavia.

Koreen Medina was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International and last year’s winner Camille Guevarra turned over the crown. The 18-year-old, Mass Communications student from Quezon City also  received a prize package worth P1 million, and will represent the country in the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt later this year.   She was also proclaimed Miss Talent, Miss Sheridan Beach Resort, Miss Lancaster Hotels and Miss Zen Institute. Another winner was Angeli Dione of  Gomez, who was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism. She is hoping to also win the international like last year’s Mutya representative, a fellow Cebuana Rizzini Alexis Gomez in the Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia. Asdis Liza Karlsdottir from the Filipino community of Iceland won as Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities, while Maureen Ann Montagne from the Filipino community of Arizona and Kristian Aubrey Nolasco from Caloocan City were proclaimed first and second runners up, respectively.