CEBU, Philippines — Ginoong Pilipinas kicked off its 2023 edition after a three-year pause with a welcome dinner, sashing ceremony, and press meet & greet, Thursday, May 11, at the IL Corso Lifemalls branch of Jonie’s Sizzlers & Roast.
The 15 candidates are Fritz Arvi Dormentes, 25, Bacolod; Margarito Roldan, 23, of Bantayan Island; Reymar Cris Pasquito, 22, of Cagayan De Oro; Ariel Camporedondo, 29, of Canlaon City; Jerricho Ponce, 24, of Cavite; Larz Kent Dawson, 21, of Cebu City; Rickmhar Pooten Bayonao, 24, of Cordillera; and Justin Harvey Rivera, 21, of Dalaguete.
Also in the roster are Jonathan Palabrica, 23, of Iloilo; Marvin Barnego, 26, of Lapu-Lapu City; Wesley Frias, 23, of Mandaue City; Louie Cristian Estrella Simbajon, 24, of Marama, Bukidnon; Joachim Boniel Sivertsen, 18, of Talisay City; Christian Jay Arivas, 21, of Valencia, Bukidnon; and Erald Billy Pilanga, 26, of Zamboanga.
Preliminary activities include yesterday’s Heritage Walk Parade and Barong Filipino competition at the Casa Gorordo Museum during the Gabii sa Kabilin, a Swimwear Competition in Dapitan City, Zamboanga’s Dakak Beach Resort on May 15, a Toastmaster’s workshop on May 17, and a regional costume competition on May 18.
Ponce, the younger brother of ABS-CBN actor Jerome Ponce, said of having a famous sibling: “It’s a good help for me because not everyone is given the chance to be here. If I introduce myself and not mention my brother, I can still excel and they wouldn’t even know that I am related to him.”
Dawson feels the big shoes he has to fill since reigning Ginoong Pilipinas and Mister Universe Tourism 2023 Erik Lennart Visser also represented Cebu City in 2019.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say I’m not pressured especially since Erik is from Cebu City and we are from the same agency. But for me, I take it as a challenge and an inspiration. I hope I make my hometown proud,” he said.
Sivertsen shared a similar sentiment, saying, “It’s not easy because the winner of Mister Island Tourism Philippines [William Paul Zenz] is from Talisay City so I have a lot of pressure on me. What I can offer is my hard work and determination to win this pageant.”
Bayonao, an Igorot youth community leader, said he joined Ginoong Pilipinas to “make people see what it really is like to be an Igorot” so as to correct textbook and media misrepresentation.
“In elementary, I was the darkest among my classmates so I was bullied because of my skin color,” he said. “I am going to use this platform to educate how one’s skin color should not define your personality – the color of your heart should.”