From the ‘World’ to showbiz - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

Last week, Angela Perez Baraquio (whose parents are immigrants to Hawaii from Pangasinan), became the first Filipina to win as Miss America 2001. It’s another affirmation of the Filipina as among the loveliest in the world (not just in America).

Another Filipino, Roderick "Erick" Salvador, wasn’t as lucky when he competed also last week for the Mr. World 2000 title in Scotland. But another Filipino, Richard Stewart, won a special award (Best in Talent) with his juggling-magic act at the Manhunt International 2000 last month in Singapore, with the plum going to Australia’s Brett Wilson.

For sure, many of these contests’ winners and contestants will eventually land in showbiz, even Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio.

Back home, the three-year-old Mr. Philippines-World search is a good stepping stone to stardom for showbiz hopefuls. Here’s a brief history of the contest (by Funfare "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gerry Yumping and Francis Calubaquib) and the roster of bets who became movie stars:

In 1995, the London-based Miss World Jersey Limited staged a Mr. United Kingdom contest. The organizers were surprised that there were three times more applicants compared to the yearly Miss United Kingdom pageant.

To test the reaction of the world, the Morlys wrote to 35 prominent countries, including the Philippines (through Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. chaired by Stella Marquez de Araneta), asking them if they were interested to run a Mr. World contest in their countries. Again to their surprise, 34 out of 35 countries considered staging a local contest and to send their winners to the Mr. World Finals.

The first Mr. Philippines-World contest was held on Feb. 16, 1995, aired live (Channel 2 ABS-CBN) over Johnny Litton’s Oh No! It’s Johnny, at Delta Theater, Quezon City. The first Mr. Philippines-World winner was Christopher Celis, a 20-year-old Fine Arts student from UST and a commercial model. Chandro Aguas Concepcion, 23-year-old model, was first runner-up, and Wendell Briones, a 25-year-old Balikbayan was second runner-up.

In 1996, Tom Nuyens of Antwerppen, Belgium, won the first ever Mr. World Competition held in Istanbul, Turkey. Gabriel Soto Borja of Mexico was first runner-up and Karahan Cancay of Turkey, second runner-up.

The second Mr. Philippines-World (1998) winner was Rico Miguel Lee, a 21-year-old Marine Technology graduate of the Philippine Maritime Institute in Manila. Miguel is from Lobo, Batangas. Crowd favorite Amarjit "Jet" Singh Rai, a 16-year-old student at UST, won first runner-up and Jon Allauigan was second runner-up. Although Miguel didn’t win the title, he learned a lot from the experience of competing with other young men all over the world. He ventured into showbiz.

The second search for Mr. World 1998 was held at the Complexo Turistico Torralba, in Troia, Portugal. Mr. Venezuela Sandro Finnoglio Speranza, a 25-year-old model, won the title. He is famous among girls not only in his country but in other latin countries, no wonder he has won many international pageants. German Cardoso of Puerto Rico was first runner-up and Gregory Rossi of France second runner-up.

For the third time another Mr. Philippines-World competed for the title of Mr. World 2000 in Edinburg, Scotland. Roderick "Erick" Dilla Salvador, a 22-year-old AB English graduate of University of Baguio, is a full-blooded Igorot who was proclaimed as the 1999-2000 Mr. Philippines-World.

During the question-and-answer portion, Erick was asked what mission the country should take and why. He answered, "The country should be united in saving the street children because they are our future." Just what our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal wanted to do. So no wonder Erick won the top prize. He has a heart for the children.

Robert Ordillano, a 23-year-old management student at New Era College and ramp model, won as first runner-up. Crowd favorite Allan "Ice" Carvajal Concepcion (brother of actress Alma Concepcion) was second runner-up.

Here is the list of some of the Mr. Philippines-World candidates who joined showbiz and other pageants:

• 1995-1996

– Chandro Concepcion, first runner-up (joined the Bodyshots, one of the finalists, and later joined showbiz)

– Michael Sol Cruz, finalist (joined Bodyshots and Manhunt Philippines and later joined showbiz)

– Rolf Angala, finalist (won the Bodyshots along with Kuku Trinidad)
– Percival Bugayong (a.k.a. Boogie Bugayong), finalist (joined showbiz)

– Richard Gustillo, Mr. Friendship (joined showbiz)

• 1997-1998

– Rico Miguel Lee, winner (joined showbiz)

– Amarjit Singh Rai, first runner-up (joined showbiz)

– Jon Allauigan, second runner-up (joined the Bodyshots 1999)

•1999-2000

– Erick Salvador, winner (joined showbiz)

– Julius Raipan, (joined Bodyshots 2000 and showbiz)

– Raymond Nieva, semi-finalist (former Eat, Bulaga’s Modelo winner and SM Man of the Year, first runner-up)