Hari Sa Sugbo: New advocacy pageant rises

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu is well-known for many things: its stunning beauty, rich culture and wonderful people. This February, one gentleman is set to add to the city’s laurels as the competition for the first ever Hari Sa Sugbo unfolds before us.

Having crowned its first Binibining Cebu last year, a new pageant emerges for the Queen City of the South. This time, Malayka Yamas, whose name often dominates the pageant and fashion circuit for her clothing creations, carves a new path as she comes up with a pageant of her own. Hari Sa Sugbo (King of Cebu), is the designer’s brainchild. And yet the competition is more than just a search for the ultimate Cebuano eye candy.

An advocacy pageant, Hari Sa Sugbo 2018 screened 50 Cebuanos which were trimmed to 18. Today, there are 14 candidates vying for the title: OJ Ventura, Bong Cata, Alexis Malagar, Vann Ramos, Elcid Camacho, Adrian Jose, Aldee Solano Magne, Delio Duja, Fibo, French Bonn, Ise Bernales, Joshua Felicitas Olaco, Ram Termulo and Serg Compuesto.

Standing out from other male pageants, Hari Sa Sugbo, in its first staging, champions for HIV education and awareness. It couldn’t be timelier with the current increase in the number of people living with HIV. Yamas sees it fitting to continue this awareness through Hari Sa Sugbo as a way to fight against the stigma surrounding HIV-AIDS.

“We also encourage people to practice safe sex. It’s not all the time that we get to practice abstinence,” OJ Ventura, a graduate of hotel and restaurant management from Visayas State University in Leyte, says of the pageant’s advocacies during an interview alongside four other candidates, Elcid Camacho, Bong Cata, Alexis Malagar, and Vann Ramos.

As an advocacy pageant for gentlemen, the candidates have taken part in outreach programs in Barangay Zapatera where they had a feeding program and handed out gifts for the children. Posing for a shoot that not only highlights their looks, the candidates also carried the messages they would like to spread in line with the pageant’s main advocacy.

Despite no further pre-pageant events, the Hari Sa Sugbo candidates continue to highlight Cebuano pride as they model for Filipino clothing brand – Bench’s latest fragrance – Cary by Bench Perfume Pour Homme in partnership with master couturier Cary Santiago.

Judged according to different exposures such as their production number in their “Hari” costume, swimwear competition, Bench fashion show and formal wear in barongs—only seven will continue on in the anticipated question and answer portion which will determine the top three.

The five candidates who visited The Freeman newsroom admit that they somehow dread the Q&A since it has the ability to make or break a candidate regardless of how well they perform in other aspects of the competition.

“It’s difficult because you become prone to mental block,” Ramos, 23, says among the chorus of agreement regarding the Q&A portion. “Most of the time, you give your answer but then afterwards as you leave the stage, a better one suddenly pops into your head.”

For first timer Alexis Malagar—a hospitality and restaurant management major at the University of Cebu—he’s still learning the ropes, seeing that he is competing against those more experienced than him.

“I think my edge is the support of my family. They motivate me because they know that this is my first pageant. I prepare as much as I can. I go to the gym regularly, I do my Q&A drills,” the 19 year-old quips, saying that he didn’t expect to enjoy the pageant experience like he does now.

The candidates also shared their thoughts surrounding male pageantry. Pageant critics remarked on how degrading pageants can be for women. So when asked if they feel degraded in any way the same way candidates of female pageants are thought to be, Camacho came forward and explained how personally, that notion couldn’t be any more wrong.

“We are aware of that, some people say male pageantry is exploitation. But for us, who join pageants, we were able to gain confidence and we got to make healthier versions of ourselves inside and outside. I can’t see a reason for pageants to be degrading when it has a positive effect on us,” the 26 year-old civil engineering major justifies.

The candidates shared how they became more comfortable in their own skin, how they’re more confident to say what’s on their minds, and the friendship and brotherhood they’ve formed all thanks to the pageant industry.

Camacho adds that he plans to change this stereotype by showing the public how candidates change for the better after joining pageants.

“We want to set a good example—like dedicating ourselves to advocacies. As we educate others about HIV, people see that we are trying to do good and that reflects towards the pageant. I’ll work to be more healthy, more fit so as to inspire others,” Camacho shares.

The candidates also shared how, as straight men, they would not like to be mistaken as gay or bisexual just because they decided to join male pageants. They note, however, that there really shouldn’t be any discrimination towards anyone, especially LGBTQ candidates.

“The issue of gender orientation doesn’t matter in the competition. As long as you know who you really are, that’s what’s important and pageants are open for everyone,” Ramos calls out.

Cata says that there is respect among candidates regardless of gender identity, while Ventura adds that if like them, pageantry has become one’s passion, then the very act of pursuing it is already a great venture.

Throughout their Hari Sa Sugbo journey, the gentlemen have made brothers among their competitors in virtue of sportsmanship. They constantly push each other to do their best.

Asked what they think makes one a deserving Hari sa Sugbo, the candidates say that although masculinity and physique are technical factors, there is a bigger challenge ahead of them.

As Ramos puts the task simply: “You don’t need to be Batman or Superman to be a Hari. Be yourself. If you want to make the world a better place, then take a look at yourself and be the change.”

The Hari Sa Sugbo 2018 coronation night will be on February 18 at the Arctic Hall of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.