Confidently gay with a manly charm

Confidently gay with a manly charm
By JAY PATAO

Photos by Lito Caleon & Joy Arguil

THEY’RE out and proud and confidently gay with a manly charm. Thirty-six straight-looking gay men are vying to be the successor of Mr. Gay World Philippines and Mr. Gay World 2nd runner-up 2016 Christian Lacsamana at the grand finals of the most prestigious beauty search for gay men to be held at the UP Theater in Quezon City on October 2.

With new national director Wilbert Tolentino (the first Mr. Gay World Philippines in 2009) at the helm, the pageant promises to be a battle of looks, wit, charm and advocacies by a colorful mix of hopefuls that include a policeman, a make-up artist, nutritionist, entrepreneurs, a father of two, physiotherapists, computer analyst, and other professionals all raring to win the coveted title and eventually represent the country in the next Mr. Gay World Pageant, and to champion the rights of the LGBT community.

After the media presentation at Club 690 and the pre-pageant show at Trinity University of Asia Theater, Highspeed has chosen the most-likely winners namely:

• John Raspado of Baguio City, an entrepreneur engaged in online marketing and the grand winner of It’s Showtime’s I Am Pogay contest;

• Leo Andrew Ponce of Nasugbu, Batangas, a make-up artist who is the reigning Mr. Fahrenheit (Bar) and the only candidate with his own Wikipedia page;

• John Jeffrey Carlos of Cavite, a property consultant in a real estate firm who runs an online business with his partner;

• Peter Leary Brown of General Santos City, the half Spanish, blue-eyed third placer of I Am Pogay who is also popularly known as Sycris Brown;

• Ronaldo Ramos of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, who was orphaned at 10 but managed to be independent and resilient and worked hard to help his 2 siblings finish school;

• John Bench Ortiz of Tayug, Pangasinan, a licensed nutritionist and dietitian currently working as a fitness professional at a well-known fitness center.

The grand finals, to be hosted by Paulo Bediones, Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry and Mutya ng Pilipinas 2002 Kristine Caballero-Aplal with the special participation of 1993 Miss World 2nd Princess Ruffa Gutierrez, will have a delayed telecast on October 8 at 10:30 pm on TV 5.

Chito Vijandre in focus at 8th Red Charity Gala on October 8

Chito Vijandre in focus at 8th Red Charity Gala on October 8
By JAY PATAO

Photo by Lito Caleon

Teaser images from Red Charity Gala Facebook

STYLE and society mavens Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Kaye Tinga will once again spearhead the annual Red Charity Gala happening at Shangri-La The Fort on October 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Now on its 8th year, the fabulous event has consistently served to raise funds and awareness for two very worthwhile causes: The Philippine Red Cross and the Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation.

This year, the convergence of fashion and generosity will focus on renowned fashion and interior designer Chito Vijandre who is set to mesmerize audiences with his fabulous collection that celebrates Filipino artistry at its finest, making him officially join Red Charity’s league of world-renowned Filipino designers Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren and Lesley Mobo.

For the most awaited occasion, Chito will present a 40-piece Filipiniana haute couture collection, reimagined and reconfigured through the prism of Philippine history and art.

“The concept for my collection will be Filipiniana, but there is nothing Filipiniana about it,” Chito teasingly said during the event’s press launch at Salvatore Cuomo and Bar, Uptown BCG, Taguig City last Tuesday. “It will actually be minimalist, very simple,” he continued in jest quickly eliciting a reaction from Tessa Prieto-Valdes who in turn joked “Then we are not having a show!”
Of course, Vijandre’s artistic and talented bent is anything but simple. His works always stood out in, leading him to gain recognition in school, awards in art competitions here and abroad, including participating at the prestigious art forum at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

After enrolling at Slim’s Fashion and Art School in the 70s, he quickly gained recognition and patronage from Manila’s elite and fashionable set for his unique and refined designs. These women of true elegance and style included the divine Chona Recto Casten and Tingting Cojuangco. At 20, he already mounted his one-man lunchtime fashion show at the famed La Concha at The Hyatt.

Chito then naturally progressed, lending his creativity and vision to interior design, executing homes, boutiques and restaurant, eventually founded with his partner Ricky Toledo the landmark concept store Firma, the purveyor of home accents, jewelry and objet d’art, and later, AC+632 at Greenbelt 5.
“I want to be creative again,” he enthused, after a hiatus of two decades in the fashion scene. “My new collection is inspired by the important periods of our history, like the Spanish colonial era, the Galleon Trade, the Japanese Occupation and so on. It will be non-traditional but with glimpses or silhouettes of say the terno’s iconic sleeves, and the piña and jusi fibers.”

Exclusive items and services from its sponsors were also announced at the press preview, among them, a wonderful necklace from Jewelmer, a rejuvenation package from Villa Medica in Germany, watches from Omega and a chopper ride to and from Antonio’s Tagaytay. These and many more will be up for auction to raise funds for its charity undertakings that has already built homes for victims of Typhoon Yolanda in eastern Visayas and other calamities.
The 8th Red Charity Gala is directed by Ariel Lozada, fashion styling by Noel Manapat and hair and make-up by Henri Calayag.

Rizal stunner vies for 2 successive int’l tilts

Rizal stunner vies for 2 successive int’l tilts

By JAY PATAO
(Photo courtesy of CR Servillas)

PRINCESS Edilyn V. Ramos, a 23-year-old, 5’7” beauty queen from Antipolo City, Rizal will compete in two successive international pageants this October – the Face of Beauty International 2016 to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on October 8, and Look of the Year 2016 to be held in Catania, Sicily, Italy on October 22.

A BS Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate of Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong, Rizal, Princess was chosen by Megastar Productions” Ovet Ricalde, the franchise holder of the two international tilts, to represent the Philippines because of her wide experience in various local, national and international beauty pageants among them Miss Olive-C Campus Role Model 2012, Miss Tourism Philippines 2013 and Miss Globe International 2014 where she competed with more than 60 beauties worldwide in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Princess will join some 50 other delegates worldwide in Mongolia at the 4th edition of the international tilt that has been held previously in Thailand and Taiwan. The finals on October 8 will be held at Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, the capital and biggest city in Mongolia.

Win or lose in Mongolia, Princess will fly to Catania, Sicily, Italy to compete for Look of the Year 2016 along with 60 other delegates worldwide. The finals will be held at Teatro Metropolitan Catania.
Fabmanilaph wishes Princess all the best and come home a Queen!

Princess Ramos vies for 4th Face of Beauty International 2016

Princess Ramos vies for 4th Face of Beauty International 2016
Text & photos by Jay Patao

PRINCESS Edilyn Veligonia Ramos, a 23 year old, 5’7” beauty queen from Antipolo City, Rizal, left last Saturday, September 24 for Mongolia to represent the Philippines at the 4th annual Face of Beauty International, a new beauty tilt that was initiated in 2012 and previously held in Thailand and Taiwan.

Princess, who was a Miss Tourism Philippines alumnae in 2013 and the Philippines’ bet for Miss Globe International 2014 Baku, Azerbaijan, met members of media at a sendoff party organized for her at Luxent Hotel last September 22. Also present was Ovet Ricalde of Megastar Productions who is the national franchise holder of the pageant.

Princess who has trained with Kagandahang Flores, will bring with her a Mindanao-inspired national costume created by Weng Alicarte and a red serpentine evening gown by Leo Almodal. Princess will vie alongside 60 ther delegates worldwide at the finals to be held at the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on October 8.

Fabmanilaph wishes Princess all the best…may you come home Queen!

Ecuadorean crowned as Miss Global 2016, PH bet 2nd

Ecuadorean crowned as Miss Global 2016, PH bet 2nd
By JAY PATAO

Photos by Edmund Chua

MISS Ecuador Angela Bonilla Zapata, 24, was crowned as Miss Global 2016 at the 4-hour grand finals held at the Philippine International Convention Center that began Saturday night (September 24) and concluded at past midnight Sunday.

Bonilla, a 24-year-old, 5’8” beauty queen and model from San Miguel de Urcucui, Imbabura, Ecuador, bested 38 other delegates worldwide including first runner-up Camille Jensen Hirro, 28, from Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines.

When asked during the final question round “who makes the better beauty pageant judge – a man or a woman?” Bonilla replied: “I think both men and women are capable of taking the responsibility to decide in a beauty pageant. I believe in equality so both men and women are capable.”
Bonilla became the fourth woman to be crowned as Miss Global, succeeding Jessica Peart of Australia, who won the title last year, also in Manila. A Social Communications student of the Technical University of Loja in the province of Imbabura, Angela has represented Ecuador in various international pageants including the 15th Miss Earth Pageant in Vienna, Austria last December that was won by the Philippines’ Anglia Ong. Aside from the coveted title, Angela also won as Miss Photogenic, Best in Swimsuit and Miss Lady Grace.

Hirro, a Broadcast Communications cum laude graduate of UP-Diliman and a speech writer for politicians, also won as Best in Evening Gown, Best in Ethnic Costume, Darling of the Press and Miss Fashion.

The other runners-up were: Caitlynn Henry, 18, from Gold Coast, Australia, 2nd; Nikola Bechynova, 21, from Prague, Czech Republic, 3rd; and Britt Roselyn Camillo Rekkedal, 26, a Filipino-Norwegian from Oslo, Norway, 4th,

Rounding up the top 10 finalists were the delegates from India, China, Netherlands, Canada and Kenya. The first cut of 20 semi-finalists also included Misses Ukraine, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, Cambodia, Chile, Iran, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Botswana and Sweden.
The pageant was hosted by Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova, Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Angelee de los Reyes, Bobby Yan and Derrick Monasterio.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, who momentarily stole the spotlight upon his arrival, was among the judges.

The US-based Miss Global Pageant states its mission as “to provide an international platform to unify and empower women from all over the globe.” It also distinguishes itself as the only pageant open to single mothers from 18-35 years old.

Andrea Biondo goes for Mister Universal Ambassador 2016 on Friday September 30

Andrea Biondo goes for Mister Universal Ambassador 2016 on Friday September 30
By JAY PATAO

Photos courtesy of Joy Arguil and GCI

ANDREA Tangonan Biondo, 23, will gun for the Mister Universal Ambassador 2016 title on September 30 at the pageant’s grand finals at Governoor Hall, Surabaya Carnival, East Java, Indonesia hoping to bring pride and honor for the Philippines.

Standing 5’11” with a well-sculpted physique, Andrea will vie along with 48 delegates worldwide for the coveted title currently held by Christian Ortiz of Puerto Rico.

The top winner of the inaugural Gentlemen of the Philippines Pageant held last July 31, Biondo was born in Vittoria, Sicily, Italy to Italian-German Emanuele Biondo and Emilie Maria Tangonan, a Filipina from Tarlac.

He is a graduate of a technical course in surveying at the Istituto Tecnico Per Geometri Rosario Gagliardi.

After winning as Mister Bachelor 2016 title in Italy, Andrea went to Manila to represent the Filipino community of southern Italy at the inaugural Gentlemen of the Philippines where he swept several subsidiary awards and eventually the coveted Gentlemen of the Philippines-Universal Ambassador title.

Before flying to Indonesia for the international tilt, Andrea also did several endorsements for several fashion brands as well as for White Meringue, the newest high-end retail outlet in City of Dreams Manila that sells signature brands and other hard-to-find items from Paris, Rome, Milan and other fashion capitals around the world.

Andrea has prepared long and hard for his competition in Indonesia, leaving nothing to chance as he vies for the coveted title alongside 48 other delegates worldwide, making the tilt one of the biggest, if not the biggest, male pageants by number of participants.

The team behind Gentlemen Charities Inc. made sure that all bases are covered – from wardrobe to talent to Heart of Ambassador Project (advocacy) to communication skills to fitness regimen to media interviews – for the entire package.

The contestants travelled to Bali for several challenges and competitions where Andrea stood out. He was a top 10 finalist for the speech competition, top 15 in swimwear and one of 5 selected to promote Bali Rani Hotel, the delegates’ official residence in Bali before they moved to Surabaya for the grand finals on Friday.

A very good-natured young man, Andrea vowed to do his best and conquer the global stage with the passion of an Italian, the heart of a Filipino, and the soul of a multi-racial dreamer.

PH bet wins Miss United Continents tilt in Ecuador

PH bet wins Miss United Continents tilt in Ecuador
By JAY PATAO

JESLYN David Santos, 23, from the Philippines, was crowned as Miss United Continents 2016, besting 27 other delegates worldwide at the international pageant held at Palacio de Cristal in Guayaquil, Ecuador Saturday night (yesterday morning PH time).
Santos, a native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, became the first Asian delegate to win as Miss United Continents, now in its 4th edition and the 11th since it was founded as Miss American Continents in 2006.

Santos, a 5’7” Mass Communications graduate of Bulacan State University, became covered her face and became very emotional when she was announced as the eventual winner, edging Miss Denmark Mette Riis Sorensen who placed second.

Wearing a royal blue Cathy Capistrano serpentine gown, Santos succeeded Nathalie Lago from Brazil. She wore a Sinulog-instired national costume by Lemuel Rosos.
The other finalists were: Lopamudra Raut of India, 2nd runner-up; Taynara Gargantini of Brazil, 3rd runner-up; Cynthia Lizeth Duque of Mexico, 4th runner-up; and Rita Silvestre of Panama, 5th runner-up. The delegates from Colombia, Dominican Republic, South Africa and Thailand rounded up the top 10.

Proceeds from the ticket sales of the coronation night will go to the Red Cross Organization in Guayas for the benefit of the earthquake victims of Manabi last April.

Jeslyn was a contestant of Bb. Pilipinas in 2014 and 2016. She also represented the Philippines at the inaugural Miss World Peace pageant in Hong Kong last year where she finished as a top 10 finalist.
Pageant trainer John de la Vega, the discoverer-mentor of Jeslyn and Philippine licensee to the Miss United Continents tilt, watched the Internet live stream of the finals and was very happy when Jeslyn was finally crowned as winner. “I am so happy and proud of Jeslyn. I cannot thank everyone enough, especially all the people who have supported us in helping Jeslyn bring pride and honor for the Philippines once more. Her determination and desire to make us proud finally paid off. Mabuhay ang gandang Pilipina!” De la Vega said in his home in Quezon City moments after Jeslyn won.
Jeslyn arrives in Manila on Tuesday September 27 where she will meet the press and feted with a victory party on Saturday.

Interestingly, Jeslyn won as Miss United Continents in Ecuador a few hours after Ecuador’s Angela Bonilla won as Miss Global 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

MISS GLOBAL 2016 CORONATION NIGHT

Miss Global 2016 Winners
Grand winner ( EQUADOR ) Angela Bonilla
1st Runner Up ( PHILIPPINES ) Cj Hirro
2nd Runner Up ( AUSTRALIA ) Caitlynn Henry
3rd Runner Up ( CZECH REPUBLIC ) Nicola Bechyňová
4th Runner Up ( NORWAY ) Britt Roselyn Camillo Rekkedal

#MissGlobal2016

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MISTERS OF FILIPINS 2016 FINALS NIGHT

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40 beauties vie for Miss Global 2016 tilt

 By JAY PATAO
Photos by Edmund Chua & Jay Patao

FORTY beauty delegates from as many countries worldwide are in Manila for the 4th Miss Global Pageant to be held at the PICC Plenary Hall in Pasay City on September 24.
The beauties were presented to members of media at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel ballroom last Tuesday with Miss Global Organization president Van Tham and executive officer Laurie Anning in attendance along with Miss Global Philippines organizers Pauline Laping and Riza Lao.

The 40 delegates are: Maryam Barghiyan, Armenia; Caitlynn Henry, Australia; Khumo Leburu, Botswana; Mikaela Katrina, Brazil; Steliyana Filipova, Bulgaria; Dane Ny, Cambodia; Trisha Vergo, Canada; Katherine Saavedra, Chile; Helen Zhong, China; Effrosyni Lacovou, Cyprus; Nikola Bechynova, Czech Republic; Stephanie Camacho, Dominican Republic; Angela Bonilla, Ecuador; Coutney Jones, England; Tasha Delhomme, France; Anna Tochparidi, Germany; Weendy Legerme, Haiti; Veleriya Vergunova, Holland; Sonam Patel, India; Malikeh Razavi, Iran;
Danielle Bouskila, Israel; Tima Keilah, Kenya; Credella Credle, Madagascar; Su Pwint Oo, Myanmar; Ester Haikola, Namibia; Faith Obaegbulam, Nigeria; Britt Rekkedal, Norway; Camille Hirro, Philippines; Marina Shameeva, Russia; Katarina Avramovic, Serbia; Michelle Daniels, South Africa; Diana Eshani, Sri Lanka; Linnea BarboJohansson, Sweden; Buppha Nilsawat, Thailand; Tenz Ing Sangynyi, Tibet; Adrianna Edwards, Trinidad & Tobago; Daryna Ilvovska, Ukraine; Nataliya Baltsevych, USA; and Vy Khanh Nguyen, Vietnam.

Three contestants who stood out for their looks and confident stance were voted as Darlings of the Press: Camille Jensen Hirro, 28, 5’5”, a Fil-Japanese events host and speech writer from Lubao, Pampanga, first place; Caitlynn Henry, 18, 5’5”, an Occupational Therapy student at Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia who aims to bring out the best in children with disabilities and special needs, second place; and Linnea Barbo Johansson, 20, 5’5”, a model from Stockholm who also does pole and aerial dancing, third place.

Now on its fourth year, Miss Global is an international pageant open to women from 18-35 years old including single mothers. With its slogan “Empowering women, embracing cultures, and embodying the beauty within,” contestants are encouraged to express their individuality, to become trendsetters and ambassadors of goodwill. 

 

The inaugural Miss Global Pageant was held in Redondo Beach, California in 2013 and won by Canada’s Emily Kiss. The 2014 edition was held aboard the luxury liner Crown Princess while sailing from Los Angeles to Acapulco, Mexico, and won by Ela Mino of Canada. Last year’s finals was held at Resorts World Manila with Australia’s Jessica Peart winning the coveted title.
Peart will crown her successor at the star-studded coronation night at the PICC on September 24 with Derrick Monasterio and Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova as hosts and Manny Pacquiao and Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan among the celebrity judges.

Miss World PH 6 favorites

THE 6TH Miss World Philippines Pageant presented its 25 beauteous contestants last September 5 at Sampaguita Gardens in Valencia St., Quezon City with no less than Miss World national director Cory Quirino expressing high hopes that from this batch of hopefuls will emerge the Philippines’ second Miss World after Megan Young who won in Bali, Indonesia in 2013.

The grand Charity Gala Night of Miss World Philippines 2016 with the theme “beauty in giving” will be held on September 20 at Enderun Tent in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, while the grand coronation night, to be aired by GMA 7, will be held at The Tent of Manila Hotel on September 25 at 7:00 p.m.

High Speed picked its top bets for this year’s coveted title namely:

• Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray, 22, 5’10”, representing Albay. Representing her Bicolana mother’s home province, Catriona is half-Scottish born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia and pursuing a degree in Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a budding singer-composer who helps the poor by way of her Paraiso Bright Beginnings project;

• Alyana Mikaela Valles Cagandahan, 23, 5’6”, from Laguna. Literally living up to her name, this beauty queen from the capital town of Sta. Cruz was a Miss Philippines Earth 2015 top 10 finalist;

• Arienne Louise Brago, Calingo, 24, 5’7” from Angeles City, Pampanga. This beauty-and-brains graduated with honors from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She is a lecturer of Arabic language at Holy Angel University and EducationUSA Ambassador for the US Embassy in Manila.

• Jan Helen Cruz Villanueva, 23, 5’9”, from Norzagaray, Bulacan. This Bulakenya was a contestant at the 50th Bb. Pilipinas Pageant in 2013.

• Vinie Camille Dy Quiangco, 23, 5’6”, from Sapian, Antique. Trained in international studies, she has worked as researcher for Asian Institute of Management and volunteered as a missionary based in Mindanao where she teaches children how to read and write;

• Ralph Lauren Hernandez Asuncion, 25, 5’6”, from Batangas. A graduate of Business Management at San Sebastian College, Lauren has lived in the US with her family where she pursued acting and modeling. She is bent on buying motor boats that will serve as travel links from the city to the far flung areas of Batangas.

The winner of Miss World Philippines 2016 will vie for the 66th Miss World Pageant to be held in Washington, D.C. on December 20, 2016. (Jay P. Delgado)

PH ladies win titles in Mrs. Universe 2016

 By JAY PATAO
Photos courtesy of Ovet Ricalde

PHILIPPINE entries to the 10th Mrs. Universe Pageant held last September 4 at Nansha Stadium in Guangzhou, China took home special titles in the global beauty tilt for married women participated in by 71 contestants worldwide.

Mrs. Philippines Jenny Varga a.k.a. Jenny Guinto, 51, from Bacoor, Cavite, was named as Fashion Idol for her elegant fashion sense and style. Jenny is a former beauty queen and actress who is now a successful businesswoman and educator.

Mrs. Southeast Asia Maryrose Real Salubre, 40, a Sydney-based Filipina entrepreneur who was born in Baybay, Leyte, was named as Mrs. Courage for her advocacies to provide justice to the oppressed and underprivileged. She is pursuing a degree to become a lawyer.

Mrs. Southwest Asia Emma Cordero a.k.a. Emma Conde Toba, 46, was given the subtitle of Mrs. Woman of the Universe for her multi-pronged achievements as a recording artist in Japan as well as for her charity undertakings that includes running Our Lady of Fatima School in San Pedro, Laguna and in her native Borongan, Samar.

The three Pinay ladies were among 71 contestants from around the world who vied for the coveted crown won by Olga Torner from Austria. Runners-up, in order were: Tracey-Ann Buckley Aggett from Zimbabwe, Patty Wong from Peru, Yuan Wei from China and Nadine van Soest from the Netherlands.

Cordero will be given a homecoming party on Monday at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City.

2 beauties and an athlete vie for tilts

 By JAY PATAO
Photos by Lito Caleon, Edmund Ong, Dennis Natividad & Joy Arguil


TWO beauty queens and an athlete are in focus this week as they attempt to clinch the coveted titles in their respective pageants soon.
Nancy Lee Leonard, 25, from Zamboanga City will vie for the Miss Tourism Queen International Pageant to be held in Wenzhou, China on September 26.
A BS Psychology graduate of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Nancy was ecstatic when she got the news that she was picked to represent the Philippines in the tourism-themed pageant by Queen of the Philippines Foundation Inc., a new pageant organization with Cabuyao City tourism consultant Annie Refrea and her daughter Miss Tourism Philippines 2015 Roanne Refrea at the helm.
Nancy leaves on September 12 for China, bringing with her a vast experience in beauty pageants she had previously joined. She was Miss Zamboanga 2011 and Miss Philippines Earth-Water 2013 (later Miss Air after erstwhile titlist Kim Suiza forfeited the crown to join Bb. Pilipinas 2014). Nancy also joined the 52nd Bb. Pilipinas last year and the 10th Century Tuna Super Bods this year.
Born in Angeles City to US Army man Curtis Lee Leonard (deceased) and Filipina Lydia Baling, Nancy was raised and schooled in Zamboanga City when her family moved there when she was 7.
Nancy is aiming for the country’s second Miss Tourism Queen International title after Justine Gabionza who won the title in 2006. She will compete with about 60 other delegates worldwide.
Meanwhile, Jeslyn David Santos, 24, a Broadcast Communications graduate of Bulacan State University, will vie for the 4th Miss United Continents Pageant to be held at Crystal Palace in Guayaquil, Ecuador on September 24. She left last Wednesday for the pageant that gathers beauty delegates from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania.
A native of Hagonoy, Bulacan, Jeslyn is a veteran of many pageants. She was a Bb. Pilipinas contestant in 2014 and 2016. She also competed for Miss World Peace in China last year where she made it as a top 10 finalist and won the Best in Evening Gown award.
John de la Vega, Philippine licensee to Miss United Continents, expressed confidence that Jeslyn will do well in Miss United Continents that will gather some 35 delegates worldwide this year.
And finally, Vince Issen Christopher Pagente Jarina, a 22-year-old, 6’2” varsity basketball player (for NCBL) of Trinity University of Asia where he is pursuing a degree in BS Business Management, will battle it out with 26 other hunks from all over the Philippines at Misters of Filipinas 2016.
Misters of Filipinas is Vince’s first pageant but confessed he has covered all the preparations needed for the competition. He has been regularly going to the gym for his fitness regimen and has been reading current local as well as international issues.
Vince was born in Bacolod City and coming from a broken family, he persevered and focused on his studies, involved himself in sports and got a scholarship that he hopes he can hold on to until his last term in college.
For Vince, Misters of Filipinas is more than just a competition. He hopes to inspire the youth and help aspiring young basketball players. “It is not about achieving popularity status but most importantly, it is about gaining good reputation and respect from others.”
The finals of Misters of Filipinas 2016 will be held at Resorts World Manila on September 18 at 7:00 pm.

ANDREA BIONDO & VIN LEE

Perfect ambassadors for White Meringue
By JAY PATAO
Photo by Joy Arguil

WHITE Meringue or WM, the newest high-end store in City of Dreams, Parañaque City, recently appointed Gentlemen of the Philippines Universal Ambassador 2016 Andrea Biondo and Manila-based Korean model Vin Lee as its endorsers/official ambassadors.

WM offers a wide selections of branded leather bags and other luxury items that will surely cater to the meticulous and exacting shoppers. The store is a welcome addition to the growing market that would like to own genuine, precious items that can be treasured for a lifetime.

Andrea, a Filipino-Italian surveyor from Vittorio, Sicily, was ecstatic upon hearing the good news. “This is a blessing and another opportunity as well,” he said. “I’m only too happy to be a part of WM because most of the brands at the outlet are Italian brands,” the 5’11” fitness buff added.
Aside from modeling, he is busy preparing for his coming international pageant – Mister Universal Ambassador 2016 – to be held in Surabaya and Bali, Indonesia end of September. “I have prepared both physically and mentally. I want to be more than ready when I arrive in Indonesia.”
Barraged with offers (in modeling, events and product endorsements) after winning at the Gentlemen of the Philippines tilt, Andrea also want to try showbiz, but for now his focus is on his forthcoming international competition.

On the other hand, Korean model Vin Lee is happy to be part of the White Meringue family. “I am living here in the Philippines for 6 years already and so far, so good. I have regular stints in ramp modeling and commercial endorsements as well.”

His being a member of Professional Models of the Philippines (PMAP) helped him a lot in getting projects. “I love the way of life here and I guess I will stay for another 5 years or more,” said the 6-foot tall Korean mannequin who sports a 27-inch waistline.
Vin came to the Philippines six years ago to manage an English academy catering to Korean and Japanese residents in Baguio City. His modeling stints started when he came to Manila two years ago and became a part of several fashion shows for Bench as well as for other brands.
Andrea and Vin will have a series of shoots and events in the coming days to promote White Meringue.

Pilipinas Men's Fashion Week - Nico Agustin

The Pilipinas Men's Fashion Week Season 10
Autumn / Winter 2016
September 1, 2016
House Manila 

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