The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Thirty-five young men will vie for the four major titles at stake in the inaugural edition of the Mister United Continents Philippines pageant, which will be held at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasig City on April 14.
The candidates, who were presented to the media at the Fisher Mall in Quezon City on April 7, hail from the country’s different regions. They have submitted a short video of themselves presenting their advocacies as part of the requirements of joining the competition, which aims to promote “Service to Humanity” and envisions a Philippines with no street children in 2030.
They will compete for the Mister United Continents Philippines 2015, Mister Universal Ambassador Philippines 2015, Mister Real Universe Philippines 2015 and Mister Global International Philippines 2015 titles.
The winners will represent the country at the Mister United Continents pageant in Manila from May 15 to 31; the Mister Universal Ambassador competition in Bali, Indonesia, from September 6 to 16; the Mister Real Universe pageant in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from October 1 to 19; and the Mister Global International competition in Toronto, Canada, from August 4 to 9.
Pre-pageant contests
As part of pre-Finals Night activities, the candidates participated in several preliminary competitions last week. One was the Regional/Festival Costume competition, held at the Fisher Mall on April 7, which saw Arcel Pacaigue of Marinduque province, Victorio Bote of Laguna province, Kevin Dale Jovellano of North Cotabato province’s Midsayap town, Nikko Abdul of Sultan Kudarat province, and Edviro Fuentes of Leyte province’s Tacloban City emerge as the five finalists. The winner of the Best Regional/Festival Costume prize—one of the pageant’s eight “Fast Track” awards—will advance to the Top 18 semifinal round.
Meanwhile, Mark Andrew Baron of Navotas City won the Mr. Darling of the Press prize during the event.
Another was the Gala Fashion Show held at the Palladium Bar in Makati City on April 8. In this preliminary competition, Danilo Magtoto Jr. of Pampanga province’s Angeles City bested finalists Reynaldo Ruiz Cataluna III of Rizal province’s Angono town, Ricardo de Jesus of Pampanga’s Candaba town, Reuter Hanz Velano of Cebu City, and Jovellano to win the Best Model prize, which is another “Fast Track” award.
Besides Magtoto, de Jesus, Cataluna, Velano, Pacaigue, Bote and Baron, other perceived pageant favorites are Ahmer Timothy Manalansang of Marikina City, Michael John Lumibao of the United States Filipino Community, Mark Gibson Aberion of Rizal’s Antipolo City, John Henry Pescador of Benguet province and Coco Salvacion of the Davao region. ARVIN T. ELLO