Make no mistake, they are gay and successful.
Thirty-six gay men – which include a policeman, teacher, nutritionist, nurses, businessmen, and a father of two – were presented to the media during a special presentation of the official candidates for the 9th Mr. Gay World Philippines held in Quezon City last Thursday.
This year’s official candidates are Richard Castones, call center agent; Plaveo Pineda, fashion designer; Rolando Teves Jr., artist; John Raspado, businessman; Mark Lopez, sales officer; Leo Andrew Ponce, make-up artist; Kyle Tecson, teacher; John Jeffrey Carlos, property consultant; Jesse Regin Nacilla, physiotherapist; Jerome Mantilla, son of a former soldier and father to two children; Jose Jade Ingay, event organizer; Madrid Layan, of Dumaguete City; Peter Leary Brown, working for a charitable institution; Erick Jay Dario, operations manager, BPO company; Greg Obcena, junior stylist; Ronald Lamson, computer analyst; Mark Errol Casilihan, real estate manager; Gian Liangco, advertising graduate; Ian Roy Paderanga, BPO manager; Erwin Javier Ostos, into buy-and-sell business; Ronaldo Ramos, Palawan; John Bench Ortiz, licensed nutritionist; Jerome Lacsa, bank manager; Joemar Narciso, overseas Filipino worker; Rolando David Jr., nursing graduate; Frankie Chiu, nurse; Romel Angelo Ruanto, hotel front desk officer; Raffy Gavina, real estate agent; Saveno Santillan, businessman; Jaybee Cana, accountant; Jessie Quitevis, policeman; Mark Anthony Bacongan, sales representative; Godofredo dela Cruz, entrepreneur; Ronald Ata, a global maritime seafarer chef; Omar Naga, financial analyst; and Khalil Vera Cruz, corporate executive.
At the press presentation, Raspado, the former grand winner of Mr. PoGay contest on “It’s Showtime” on ABS-CBN, was named favorite of the press.
The grand coronation night will be held at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City on October 2. The winner will represent the Philippines in the Mr. Gay World 2017 contest in a venue to be announced soon.
Last year, Christian Lacsamana, Philippine representative to the Mr. Gay World 2016 contest in Malta, won 2nd runner up.
Eric Butter and Dean Nelson founded the Mr. Gay World contest which embarks on a mission to create a global competition that would inspire and empower gay men to come together in a public performance that would show the world that being gay encompasses a broad spectrum.
