Miss Manila pageant returns with beauty contest veterans among aspirants

MANILA, Philippines — The last time the Miss Manila pageant was held was in 2018, which was two city administrations ago. Now Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan has revived the beloved competition to find what she said are “women of worth.” And her search has attracted national and international contest veterans to this year’s revival edition.

Angela Okol, who has seen action on the 2021 Miss Universe Philippines and 2022 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageants, amassed the most votes for “Darling of the Press” from members of the media who attended the press presentation of candidates held at the Rizal Park Hotel on June 3.

She said she joined the competition to break stereotypes and standards associated in pageantry as a woman whose height does not conform to the requirements imposed in many competitions. She was supposed to be included in the Top 20 of the 2021 Miss Philippines Earth pageant, but was taken out of the contest because of her height.

“We stand on pageant platforms and on social media to fight injustice and whatever causes the beauty queen believes in… I cannot say the same for everyone else, but most of the queens I know and the sisters behind me, we stand before you guys with the most genuine advocacies we have,” said the representative from the district of Paco.

Another national pageant veteran among the roster is Juvyel Anne Saluta from Pandacan. Even as the youngest contestant at 18, she has already taken part in two national competitions — the 2021 Miss Bikini Philippines and 2022 Miss FIT (Face, Intelligence, Tone) Philippines pageants.

Anna Carres De Mesa from Santa Mesa also has two national competitions under her cap, the 2021 Miss World Philippines and 2022 Binibining Pilipinas pageants. “Backed with my experience from the national pageants I believe I have enough experience, I have enough maturity, to show not only the ‘Manileños, but the whole Philippines, what I can give,” she declared.

She also said she has been dreaming of joining the Miss Manila pageant since she was studying accountancy at the University of Santo Tomas. But her parents asked her to prioritize her studies first. She graduated cum laude and passed the licensure examinations for certified public accountants, but the contest was not held by that time.

Former Miss Philippines Ecotourism Karen Nicole Piccio is another true-blue Manileña, from Pureza in Santa Mesa, who was a scholar at the Manila Science High School and the De La Salle University. “I believe it’s a way to give back. I feel it’s a responsibility for me to always go back to my core,” she said of her participation in the city pageant.

Julie Tarrayo from Santa Cruz has already represented the Philippines in the 2021 Miss Multiverse pageant, where she advanced to the Top 10. But she said she found the “motivation” to compete in a city pageant to tell the people about agricultural entrepreneurship. “I work with farmers and fishermen, not only here in Manila but also in provinces, where I get resources from,” she said.

“The Philippines has a lot of agricultural resources that we can use, not only to help ourselves, but also help the community. I want to shed light on that, that the women of Manila have not just beauty, not just intelligence, we work every day to promote our advocacies close to our hearts,” she continued.

Twenty ladies are vying for the 2023 Miss Manila title, which comes with a P1-million prize and a crown made by Arca Bespoke Jewelry with diamonds and sapphires, and one large pearl. The winner will be proclaimed at the coronation night which will be held at the Metropolitan Theater on June 23. Proud Manileña Angeline Quinto, who sang the pageant’s theme song, is set to perform, while 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray will host the ceremonies. EDV

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