Wanted: A new Mutya

Screenings in Manila for the Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant were completed last July 7. The committee moves on to Davao and Cebu to complete their early rounds of national screening, and anticipation is running high for what they expect to be the best Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant ever.

The committee has set a higher standard this year for beauty and intelligence. Tati Fortuna, managing director of Scribbleworks, the company that recently bought the rights to manage the Mutya ng Pilipinas franchise, says that she’s looking for girls who have a natural appeal and exceptional eloquence. She must possess a strong beautiful presence.

The best universities in the country are also well represented with two girls coming from Ateneo de Manila University and De la Salle College of St. Benilde. Carla Lizardo is a varsity player on the badminton team at Ateneo. Erika Marie Syhongpan studies Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at De la Salle College and hopes to become an ambassador one day.

Many of the girls that came to the July 7 screening came prepared for judges’ questions about Philippine tourism, which is the main platform of the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant. This year, several provinces will be featured for their renowned tourist destinations.

Some of the girls who will move on to the Final Screening at Resorts World Manila on July 24 were invited back for a fun photo shoot treated with a high-fashion style, a strong departure from the usual cosmetic treatment seen in local pageants in years past.

The next round of official screenings will be held today, at the AegeanRoom, Waterfront Cebu from 1 to 5 p.m. and on July 20 in Davao. The Coronation Night for this year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas will take place in the new auditorium at Resorts World Manila on August 28. The live show will air on ABS CBN on September 5.

For more information about the pageant and the National Screenings, check out www.mutyapilipinas.com or call/text 0917-8578359.