A SCHOLARSHIP pageant for young men and women has been launched to foster education for a better and brighter future among Filipinos.
Known as Mr. and Ms. Republic of the Philippines, the scholarship pageant also aims to unite young Filipinos around the world to uphold their heritage, and strengthen their identity.
“Mr. and Ms. Republic of the Philippines is a revolutionary approach to pageantry with emphasis on scholarship for winners and Philippine pride among the new generation of Filipinos based here and abroad,” said CEO and President Lynette Padolina.
“It’s an engaging concept to cultivate a positive image of Filipinos that they can now be empowered with education and create a good and lasting social impact with their influence. The new Mr. and Ms. RP focuses on education, Philippine heritage and strengthening Filipino communities around the globe,” Padolina said.
Forty candidates – 20 men and 20 women – will compete in the scholarship pageant which offers prizes of scholarship grants up to P900,000, cash prize of P100,000 to top winners, cash prize of P30,000 to runners-up, travel opportunities abroad to attend Philippine Independence Day celebrations, wardrobe allowances equivalent to P100,000 and travel key destinations in the Philippines to foster tourism and culture.
New York-based Dr. Romulo Alcalde Aromin Jr., chairman of Mr. and Ms. RP search, said that candidates of Filipino descent will come from overseas Filipino communities in the US, Canada, Europe, Nordic countries, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They will join other key activities such as the gala night and coronation night.
Winners of the pageant will be awarded with these titles: Mr. and Ms. Republic of the Philippines, Ms. Republic of the Philippines International; and Mr. and Ms. RP runners-up Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao during the grand coronation night at the grand ballroom of Sofitel Philippines Plaza on January 31, 2018.
After almost four decades, Ms. Republic of the Philippines is revived from its prestigious roots of being the official pageant for selecting candidates to the Miss World pageant from 1970 to 1976. This year, the search has been expanded with the inclusion of male candidates.
Ms. Republic of the Philippines luminaries are Ms. RP for Ms. World 1973: Evangeline Pascual, Ms. RP 1972 Ms. Luzon Elizabeth Oropesa (multi-awarded dramatic actress); Anna Bayle – Ms. RP 1975 Ms. Luzon (the first Asian supermodel); Bessie Badilla – Ms. RP Visayas 1977 2nd runner-up (Filipino international model); and Ms. RP 1977 for Ms. World 1976 Joy Salazar Condewo relinquished her crown to 2016 Ms. RP Fermina Dianne Ramos.