Cebuana lass hailed Mutya winner

CEBU, Philippines - From one Cebuana to another.

After her failed Binibining Pilipinas 2013 bid, an aspiring filmmaker from Cebu was declared Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2013 Friday night in ceremonies held at the NBC Tent in The Fort, Taguig City.

Angeli Dione Barbas Gomez, 20, steps into the shoes of last year’s winner of the same title, Rizzini Alexis Gomez, also a charming Cebuana who went on to win the international pageant she was sent to. Pageant fans will look forward with much anticipation if Angeli will be able to duplicate Rizzini’s victory in the Miss Tourism International pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia scheduled this December 31st.

“Very happy, to think we have the same last name, came from the same city and won the same title last year,” says Rizzini, who wore a gown by Cebuano designer Philip Tampus and dolled up by Cebuano make-up artist Jonas Borces for her farewell walk. “All of the candidates were amazing and did really well. Cebuanas are really doing great in national pageants! Congratulations to Angeli and hopefully more Cebuanas compete nationally and bring honor to the Queen City of the South.”

During the Q&A, Angeli was asked what Western women can learn from Filipinas. She cited “our virtues and culture” as two aspects that her Western counterparts can pick lessons from.

The Reyna ng Aliwan 2012 and Miss Resorts World Manila 2012 fourth runner-up title-holder also won the Mutya ng Crimson sponsor award during pageant preliminaries.

Angeli’s proud mother Guendolyn, shares this to THE FREEMAN: “What was so touching was that moment when her grandmother went up the stage where there were a lot of VIPs taking pictures with her. She hugged her super excited grandma. Inside the van, she was just so overwhelmed with what happened and talked about the thrill of winning a prestigious pageant.”

Angeli slugged it out with 30 other contestants from all over the Philippines and overseas Filipino communities in this pageant with a strong thrust on "Beauty Tourism."

The eldest of three daughters, her dad is a pediatrician while her mom is a businesswoman. She attended high school at B.R.I.G.H.T. Academy, then majored in film at the International Academy of Film and Television in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, hoping to “make indie films and eventually break into mainstream filmmaking.”

Angeli used to ride horses and play polo, but an accident forced her to give them up. She now does poi, hoops, and contact juggling. She also collects jigsaw puzzles and now has about 50 in her collection.

The other major winner is Koreen Medina, an 18-year-old Mass Communication student from Quezon City, who was named Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International. She succeeds 2012 winner Camille Guevarra.

Medina was a heavy favorite early on with these following awards: Miss Talent, Miss Sheridan Beach Resort, Miss Lancaster Hotels and Miss Zen Institute. She will represent the country in the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt later this year.

Asdis Liza Karlsdottir (whose mother is Cebuana) from the Filipino community of Iceland won Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities.

Maureen Ann Montagne from the Filipino community of Arizona and Kristian Aubrey Nolasco from Caloocan City were proclaimed first and second runners-up, respectively.

Judges included Senator Chiz Escudero, Heart Evangelista, Tingting Cojuangco, Laguna Governor ER Ejercito and General Alan Purisima.

With Mutya celebrating its 45th year, the pageant night adopted a '60s theme (with candidates in colorful retro outfits boogieing to an Elvis Presley medley during the opening number) as the current organizer’s way of remembering the pioneers whose vision created the Mutya ng Pilipinas in the ‘60s.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013 coronation will be telecast via GMA-7 today (July 28) at 10:00 a.m. (FREEMAN)