Pinoys in Pageants: 13 Major Sucesses in 2013—Philippines Hailed Country of the Year

The year 2013 has been a very successful one for the Philippines in the field of beauty pageants and now considered the best year the country has ever had in terms of pageantry. Without any doubt, the Philippines is country of the year when it comes to beauty competitions.

This year, our representatives to both male and female pageants did very well, bringing home five crowns, six runner-up trophies, and two semifinals honors in major pageants as well as in a handful of other pageants overseas. A history was also made this year as the Philippines became the first and only country in the world to have won all six major titles—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International, Miss Supranational and Miss Tourism Queen International.

Update: Angeli Dione Gomez Crowned Miss Tourism International 2013/2014

Here's a run-down of the beauty kings and queens that made the Philippines proud in 2013:

				1. Megan Young, winner, 63rd Miss World Megan made history as the very first Filipina to win the Miss World crown which has been elusive to a Filipina for the past six decades. Megan, who is the favorite to win the title, bested over 120 delegates all over the world at the 63rd edition of the pageant held on September 28 in Bali, Indonesia.
				2. Bea Rose Santiago, winner, 53rd Miss International Bea Rose is the fifth Filipina to win the title of Miss International. The Pinay beauty from Masbate beat 66 others in the finals held on December 17 in Tokyo, Japan. Bea’s success in Miss International finally sealed the Philippines’ status as country of the year 2013 in world pageantry.
				3. Mutya Datul, winner, 5th Miss Supranational Mutya started the country’s winning streak in international pageants this year with her victory in the Miss Supranational pageant held on September 6 in Minsk, Belarus. The Filipina is the first Asian to win the 5-year-old grand slam pageant. The beauty from Santa Maria, Isabela also won the Miss Personality award
				4. Amber Delos Reyes, winner, Miss Teen Expoworld Universe The 14-year-old Amber was crowned Miss Teen Expoworld Universe 2013 at a pageant held in Guatemala last November 21. The pageant is part of Guatemala’s Festival de Belleza ExpoWorld 2013, which also includes six other beauty contests. She also won Miss Photogenic.
				5. Maria Isabelle Mendoza, winner, Miss Campus World Marisse, a 19-year-old management senior from San Beda College, beat other student-delegates across Asia at the Miss Campus World 2013-14 which promotes student empowerment. The pageant was held on December 5 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
				6. Roland William De Dios, first runner up, Mister Campus World William is close in duplicating Marisse’s win in the 1st Campus World pageant held in Malaysia with his first runner up placement. The education sophomore from Cabanatuan City, who also bagged the Best in National Costume award, lost to Ian Chua of Singapore.
				7. Alvin De Joya, second runner up, ATV Mr. Asia Former Mr. Philippines World 2010, Alvin De Joya, secured a 2nd runner up placement at the Asia Television Limited Mr. Asia Contest 2013 held last November 15 in Hong Kong. Zhong Hao of China emerged as the winner.
				8. Ariella Arida, third runner up, 62nd Miss Universe Ara may not have won the most-coveted Miss Universe crown but her exemplary performance in 62nd edition of the pageant earned her another top 5 placement for the Philippines, duplicating Shamcey Supsup’s 3rd runner up finish in 2011. Gabriela Isler of Venezuela took home the crown.
				9. Annalie Forbes, third runner up, 1st Miss Grand International Bb. Pilipinas 2012 2nd runner up Ali Forbes was able to clinch a third runner up placement the at the inaugural Miss Grand International pageant held November 19 in Bangkok, Thailand. Miss Puerto Rico, Janelee Chaparro won the crown.
				10. Koreen Medina, third runner up, 42nd Miss Intercontinental After winning Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International, Koreen Medina earned her ticket to the 2013 Miss Intercontinental pageant held December 14 in Magdeburg, Germany. The Star Magic talent won 3rd runner up and was hailed Queen of Asia and Oceania.
				11. Gil Wagas, fourth runner up, 8th Mister International This Cebuano model has once again proven that Filipinos are also a force to reckon with when it comes to male pageants. Gil’s 4th runner up finish in Mister International 2013 held in Jakarta, Indonesia is the Philippines best placement in the pageant’s history while eventual winner, Jose Anmer Paredes of Venezuela also made history as his country’s first winner.
				12. Angelee Delos Reyes, Top 8, 13th Miss Earth Angelee is one of the early favorites to win the Miss Earth 2013 crown but did not snatch even an elemental crown, just like her predecessors. This pageant veteran, however, managed to slip into the Top 8 of the pageant held December 7 in Manila, Philippines. Miss Venezuela, Alyz Henrich bagged the second Miss Earth title for her country.
				13. Cindy Miranda, Top 10, 8th Miss Tourism Queen International Cindy fortunately had the chance to represent the Philippines abroad in the Miss Tourism Queen International 2013 after the pageant was cancelled the year before. She entered the top 10 of the said pageant while Latvia’s Alisa Miskovska was hailed winner.

Also welcome additions to the list is the recent first runner up finish of Christine Paula Love Bernasor in the Miss Scuba International 2013 held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia last December 21 and the Top 15 placement of Czarina Rosales in Miss Asia Pacific World held in South Korea last October.

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Koreen Medina of Philippines Wins Miss Intercontinental 2013 3rd Runner up

Miss Philippines Koreeb Medina was hailed 3rd runner up at the Miss Intercontinental pageant held December 14 at Magdeburg, Germany. Ekaterina Plekhovm of Russia was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2013, its first crown from the said pageant.

Koreen Medina, who was also awarded as the Queen of Asia/Oceania in the said pageant, got her ticket to the pageant by winning Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International. She was also a Star Magic talent and the grand winner of My Girl of the defunct ABS-CBN noontime show Happy Yipee Yehey.

Here are the winners of the 2013 Miss Intercontinental:

Miss Intercontinental 2013 – Russia, Ekaterina Plekhovm (Europe) 1st Runner up – Puerto Rico, Aleyda Ortiz (North America) 2nd Runner up – Colombia, Margarita Peralta (South America) 3rd Runner up – Philippines, Koreen Medina (Asia and Oceania) 4th Runner up – South Africa, Kayla Nel (Africa)
Top 15 Semi-Finalists
Thailand, Keeratika Sawangjaeng New Zealand, Hannah Carson Hungary, Timár Brigitta Germany, Elena Schmidt Poland, Natalia Pigula	England, Alexandra Devine Argentina, Josefine Jimenez Curacao, Yolanda Cristal Smallegange Costa Rica, Brenda Muñoz Panama, Sara Bello
Special Awards
Miss Photogenic – Portugal, Berth Elouga Miss Press – Turkey, Fulya Kilic Miss Congeniality – Germany, Elena Schmidt Best Smile – Puerto Rico, Aleyda Ortiz	Best in Swimsuit – Puerto Rico, Aleyda Ortiz Best National Costume – Panama, Sara Bello Best in Evening Gown – Argentina, Josefine Jimenez

Congratulations Koreen! Another placement for the Philippines.

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Manilyn Reynes Topbills MMK Halloween Special this October 27

Prepare to scream in the Halloween episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” this Saturday (October 27), topbilled by seasoned singer-actress Manilyn Reynes. Manilyn will play the role of Anna a mother and wife, whose third eye is open.

Anna’s happy married life started to suffer when she confessed her extra-ordinary ability to her husband Sonny (Gio Alvarez). Granting her husband’s request, Anna tried her best to live a normal life and ignore her third eye. But everything changed when Anna’s husband and youngest son started to see the spirits and feel the souls around them. How is it for a family to live with their third eyes opened? 

Together with Manilyn and Gio in MMK’s horror episode are Neil Coleta, Barbie Sabino, Auriette Divina, Liz Alindogan, Jong Cuenco, Koreen Medina, Gerald Pesigan, Gelo Echaluce, and Ingrid Dela Paz. It was researched by Alexandra Mae Martin, written by Mark Duane Angos, and directed by Dado Lumibao. 

Don’t miss the hair-raising Halloween episode of “MMK” this Saturday, after “Wansapanataym” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.mmk.abs-cbn.com, and follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter and visit the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MMKOfficial.

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Aiko Melendez and Jomari Yllana Reunited on MMK this May 5

Former sweethearts Aiko Melendez and Jomari Yllana prove that true love waits in a special episode of “Maalala Mo Kaya” this Saturday (May 5) as they portray the characters of Mariz and Nonit, whose feelings for each other both tried to stand the test of time.

Despite finally meeting her 'one great love,' Mariz had to let Nonit go because she has to fulfill her promise to her siblings that she will not get married unless all of them have already graduated from college. After parting ways, Mariz found out that Nonit got married. Since she could not imagine herself to be with any other guy, Mariz remained single even after her siblings have already graduated. Just when Mariz thought she was meant to be an old maid, fate will let her meet Nonit again. After so many years, has their love for each other remained?

Together with Aiko and Jomari in the "MMK" episode are Bernadette Allyson, Dexter Doria, Daria Ramirez, Debraliz, Bodjie Pascua, Yda Yaneza, Nene Tamayo, DM Sevilla, Jessica Connely, Buddy Palad, and Koreen Medina. It was researched by Alexandra Mae Martin, written by Joan Habana, and directed by Don Cuaresma.

Don’t miss another remarkable TV masterpiece this Saturday in the longest running drama anthology of Asia, “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (MMK), after “Wansapanataym” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.mmk.abs-cbn.com, follow MMKOfficial on Twitter, and “like” www.faceboook.com/MMKOfficial.

Text by ABS-CBN

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HYY's My Girl Winner is Koreen Medina

The long search for Happy Yipee Yehey's "My Girl" culminates in a grand presentation at the AFP Theater, February 4 together with the noontime show's final bow.

Koreen Medina of Quezon City grabbed the title of "My Girl" in a smashing win over 23 other lovely finalists. She took home P1-million cash prize, a Star Magic Contract and other big time prizes including P120 thousand worth of gift certificates, a GE camera and a Redfox computer. She was also the texter's choice, making her the big winner of a brand new car, courtesy of BNY.