National titleholders troop to first Miss Rotary pageant

MANILA, Philippines—The first Miss Rotary Philippines pageant will be staged in March next year. But this early, the socio-civic organization has presented a partial roster of contenders that includes familiar faces who have graced the stage of various national competitions.

Already a national titleholder, 2019 Miss Scuba Philippines Liz Mabao now finds herself among fellow pageant veterans as well as rookies in the pageant organized by the Rotary International District 3830 here in the country. They were presented to a select group of media scribes at the Mindoro room of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City on Dec. 8.

Other familiar faces joining Mabao in the inaugural staging of the competition among the 111 clubs in the district are 2021 Miss World Philippines Second Princess Janelle Lewis, 2021 Miss Bikini Philippines First Runner-up Vienne Feucht, 2022 Miss Aura Philippines Second Runner-up Vera Dickinson, and 2019 Face of Tourism Philippines alumna Joana Marie Rellosa.

“Hopefully I will be able to have a bigger practice, and more involvement with whatever the cause of Rotary is,” Mabao told the Inquirer at the sidelines of the presentation.

Liz Mabao, Rotary Club of Makati Northeast/ARMIN P. ADINA

Lewis shared that her father was part of Rotary. “So I’ve always known about the advocacies and what they stand for. So this time I am able to put forward my advocacy which is helping the youth and children with their education. Miss Rotary is more focused on inspiring and being able to help one another,” she said.

For her part, Dickinson said, “What attracted me most is their advocacy, because they actually do charitable activities, and we are already included in those activities. So it’s really a privilege to be joining this pageant.”

Vera Dickinson, Rotary Club of Makati/ARMIN P. ADINA

The district’s governor, Dr. Mildred Vitangcol, said at the sidelines of the presentation that the pageant is a celebration of “diversity, equity and inclusivity,” and the aspirants must also possess “inner beauty” in order to serve as an effective ambassador of Rotary International in the Philippines, and participate in the organization’s different projects that promote education among the poor, and women empowerment.

Rotary Club of Taguig West President Jennifer Cauilan said the cash prize for the first Miss Rotary Philippines is set at P100,000 “for now,” and it may increase by the final competition if more sponsors come in.

The 2023 Miss Rotary Philippines pageant will be staged at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on March 5.  /ra

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