Eva Patalinjug heads new pageant Magandang Filipinas

CEBU, Philippines —  New mom and law student Eva Psychee Patalinjug has added another task to her already full plate as she is now the national director of a brand-new pageant.

The Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2018 titlist has just launched Magandang Filipinas, a pageant that espouses social responsibility, advocacy work and community building.

For Eva, the Philippines has always viewed pageants as a source of pride, so she thinks a new one is not redundant, and should be welcomed.

“There are a lot of girls who have full of potential just waiting to be unleashed for the world to see. We are a new platform born in the midst of a pandemic whose advocacy is individualism – which means we are giving the candidates the chance to highlight their uniqueness by advocating their chosen advocacies and causes which they are truly passionate about.”

The Cebuana beauty queen told The FREEMAN that the idea for Magandang Filipinas came after some of her friends, along with other beauty queens, decided to come together to help victims of last year's Typhoon Rolly.

“These friends are the ones behind me as I accept the role of becoming the pageant's national director,” she said.

“Our aim is to discover and develop new leaders who are really passionate about helping others, even when there is nothing left to give.”

Aspirants should fill out the entry form (https://forms.gle/HEGAS8kzNBoCavxr8) and submit the other requirements (one headshot, one full body photo, authenticated birth certificate/passport) on or before Sunday, May 30. They are reminded to double-check their entries because edits are no longer allowed after submission.

Minimum qualifications are: female, 18-26 years old, at least 5’6?, has never been married nor given birth, and at least a high school graduate.

Official candidates will be announced on June 1, while the competition is set this August in Panglao, Bohol.

On what she is looking for in their winner, Eva shared, “A complete package, beautiful inside and out...a Magandang Filipina who knows how to use her voice for others and who is truly passionate about her advocacies.”

The inaugural winner will receive P200,000 cash, the chance to represent the country in a still-to-be determined international pageant, and lend her voice to her chosen advocacy.

“From fulfilling my dreams of becoming a beauty queen, competing internationally, taking up Law, and becoming a new mom, this role has made everything full circle. I hope to impart all the learnings I have acquired to aspiring beauty queens,” said Eva.