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.