Jam Charish Libatog: All set for Miss Tourism International

Another Cebuana beauty queen has made it to the national stage again—and, who knows, will bring home another international crown to our country.

Jam Charish Libatog bested 23 other aspirants for one of the two Mutya Ng Pilipinas major titles bestowed upon her at the coronation night last December 6 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Crowned as 2008 Mutya Ng Pilipinas - Puerto Princesa Tourism, Jam is currently in Malaysia, all set to compete and vie for the title of Miss Tourism International to be held on December 31, 2008.

Jam stood out during the national competition with her height, and edged out her co-candidates via her wit which paved her way to getting high marks in the final Question-and-Answer. Her co-winner, Jonavi Quiray, was awarded as Mutya Ng Pilipinas International and is from Puerto Princesa.

This paper’s fashion scribe Dexter Alazas (who also happens to be her manager) accompanied her to what the locals fondly call as “the City in a Forest.” He recalls her protégé to getting almost discouraged at the 11th hour due to her lack of publicity as compared to her co-aspirants who seemed the favorites of the press.

“I guess that sometimes Jam is just a bit shy and hesitant to rub elbows with the so-called important people. Knowing her, Jam is really the conservative type and has not always been one to show off. I always remind her now that she should be more talkative, to keep abreast with current issues, and to touch base with our culture,” Dexter said in an exclusive interview for The FREEMAN Entertainment. 

During their arrival in Cebu the next evening, the beauty-queen registered nurse was thrilled at the motorcade prepared for her by the staff and crew of StyleFirm and A.D. Models Philippines, both managed by Dexter Alazas (who also happens to be the mentor of her colleague, recently crowned Miss Earth Karla Henry).

Jam admitted to not expecting a win over her co-candidates who seemed more confident and ambitious to win any of the two major titles. “They were really all bent on winning. They looked as though they would kill just to get the Mutya title, while I was just being myself all the time, hoping that the competition would already conclude, as I nearly got sick from lack of sleep and rest,” she revealed.

With barely a couple of days in Cebu, Jam had to fly back to Manila in preparation for her trip to Kuala Lumpur, where her fellow contenders for the 12th Miss Tourism International crown were awaiting the Philippine delegate. She’s confident that with her height, coupled with her pleasing personality, capturing the most coveted crown will not be a far cry. 

Dexter Alazas, who has been mentoring her for three years now, said, “I’m proud to say that Jam is one of the aces in our agency. She’s not only tall and beautiful, but she’s also quite keen in reasoning; hence, I’m optimistic that she has high promise to becoming the next international title-holder in A.D. Models Philippines.”

This year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant is headed by Roberto de Venecia with the help of fashion designer and beauty-queen discoverer Renee Salud and businessman Alberto “Bert” Abesamis.