Cebuano wins international beauty tilt

CEBU, Philippines - While everyone else was preparing to ring in 2013, a Cebuana was spending New Year’s Eve easing out 54 other ladies from all over the world in a bid to give the Philippines its last beauty pageant victory for the year.

Rizzini Alexis Gomez, 22, won the Miss Tourism International pageant held at the Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

The reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International was also named Best in Evening Gown and Miss Sunway Charm.

Mutya ng Pilipinas director Jacqueline Tan lauded Gomez’s success in a statement sent to The FREEMAN.

“As the president and in behalf of the organization, we are very proud and happy. Not only us, but the whole country. Rizzini is very beautiful inside and out. She’s very humble, kind, smart and witty, which I think made her stand out from the rest of the candidates,” said Tan.

The annual tourism-driven tilt which began in 1994 in Kuching, Malaysia is traditionally held every December 31st.

Gomez is the 16th Miss Tourism International winner and the second Filipina to win the title, after Maria Esperanza Manzano earned the honor back in 2000.

Other Philippine representatives who placed in the contest were Barbara Salvador (third runner-up, 2010), Racquel Uy (first runner-up, 1999), Mellany Montemayor (second runner-up, 1998), Sherilynne Reyes (third runner-up, 1995) and Maria Riza Martinez (fourth runner-up, 1994).

Last year’s hometown winner, Malaysia’s Aileen Gabriella Robinson, turned over the crown to the statuesque registered nurse whose roots are in Mabolo, Cebu City.

The Malaysian press described Gomez as “an obvious choice with her warm persona and her model-like looks.”

Gomez received a scholarship from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, a cash prize, jewelry set and other sponsor packages.

Her court is made up of first runner-up and Miss Tourism Global Marielis Alejandra Castellanos of Venezuela, second runner-up and Miss Tourism Metropolitan International Monika Rodulovic of Australia, third runner-up and Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International Lourdes Maria Del Carmen Motta Rolon of Paraguay, and fourth runner-up and Dreamgirl of the Year Jun Yong Wan Jun of Malaysia.

It has been an eventful year for Gomez, whose attempt for a national crown began when she screened for Binibining Pilipinas 2012.

While she already had three pageant titles to her credit, namely Miss Mandaue 2008, Miss Cebu 2009 first runner-up and Aliwan Festival Queen 2010, Gomez did not make the finalist cut.

She moved on to try her luck with Miss World-Philippines, where she became an official candidate but was shut out of a semi-finals slot.

Mutya ng Pilipinas was her third, and last stop.

This time, the Cum Laude graduate from the University of Cebu (UC) had luck on her side after being declared Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International 2012, earning the right to represent the country in Malaysia.

Tan said Gomez trained hard to be in fighting form.

“Right after she won Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International, she underwent rigid training for make-up, personality development, posture, and current events. She read up on Malaysian culture and other related subjects to prepare her for the international stage,” she said.

Gomez is the eldest of three children of former PBA player for the Alaska team, Ruel Gomez while her mother is working as a nurse in the United States.

The doting father described her daughter to THE FREEMAN as “respectful, religious, loving and family-oriented”.

“She is a wide reader and a lover of the outdoors,” Ruel said.

While Gomez has lived a sheltered life and has never ridden a jeepney, according to her father, the “daddy’s girl” grew up to be level-headed and a humble person.

“I see in her that she really has a plan and has direction. She doesn’t have a come-what-may attitude,” said Gomez, who is now head coach for the UC basketball team and Visayas director for the Alaska Basketball Power Camp.

Before she left for Malaysia, Gomez said he told his daughter to trust herself and believe she can clinch the crown.

“I know that she’s mature enough. I told her that once she’s there, she’s not bringing her family name, but the tourism of the Philippines. And always our advice for her has been, listen and absorb the question first before you open your mouth,” he said.

In a phone patch interview over GMA-7’s “Balitanghali,” Gomez said she plans to pursue Law studies instead of entering show business.

She also advised beauty queen hopefuls to “believe in yourself and always pray. Never forget the people who helped you on your way to the top.” —/MBG (FREEMAN)