MANILA, Philippines - Newly-crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International 2013 Koreen Medina (third from left) is all set for the 2013 Miss Intercontinental in Egypt in November. She won the title Saturday night, July 27, at the NBC Tent at The Fort, Taguig City. In photo with her are (from left) Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Communities Asdis Liza Karlsdottir (of Iceland), second runner-up Kristian Aubrey Nolasco, Jacqueline Tan (president of Mutya ng Pilipinas, Inc.), Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito (one of the judges), Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International Angeli Dione Gomez and first runner-up Maureen Ann Montagne.
The other judges were (below, from left) Sen. Chiz Escudero (with girlfriend Heart Evangelista), Tingting Cojuangco and Christian Espiritu, together with PNP Chief Gen. Alan Purisima, Robert de Ocampo and Erlinda Legaspi.
The show was hosted by Chris Tiu and Patricia Fernandez, with fellow Mutya beauties Kristine Caballero-Aplal and Kirby Anna Basken as co-hosts, and one-time Bb. Pilipinas Joyce Ann Burton-Titular as annotator.
Among the guests were Sen. Grace Poe, Renee Salud (who designed the evening gowns and ternos of the contestants), 1989 Miss Asia Pacific Lorna Legaspi, 1984 Mutya Asia Pacific Aurora Mandanas, 1988 Mutya World Dana Narvadez-Silverio, 2011 Mutya Overseas and reigning Bb. Pilipinas-International Bea Rose Santiago, and Mutya 2012 runners-up Emma Tiglao and Larah Lacap. —photos by Celso De Guzman Caparas