MANILA-Roxas City native Cindy Dumol was proclaimed Miss Republic of the Philippines while Dennis Malones Jr. bagged the inaugural title Mister Republic of the Philippines in ceremonies staged at the Grand Ballroom of Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila on Wednesday evening.

 Dumol bested 18 other aspirants from around the Philippines and overseas Filipino communities, while Malones snagged the title from a field of 16 contenders.

 Excelsa De Jesus, who represented the Filipino community of New York, was crowned Miss Republic of the Philippines-International. No overseas candidates joined the male division.

 The pageant also bestowed special titles to the runners up.

 Davao City’s Thamara Pacursa was proclaimed Miss RP-Luzon, Caloocan City’s Patricia Mae Baratilla was hailed Miss RP-Visayas, and Laguna’s Charisse Gusay was crowned Miss RP-Mindanao.

 Bataan’s John Carlo Morales was hailed Mister RP-Luzon, Lipa City’s Jay Lester Abrenica was chosen Mister RP-Visayas, and Taguig City’s Jedryk Costes was proclaimed Mister RP-Mindanao.

 The winners received scholarship packages worth P5 million.

 Their respective reigns will run for two years, during which time they will travel to different parts of the country to promote tourism, culture, heritage and education.

 The activities will be conducted in cooperation with the pageant’s partners, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

 Revived in 2015 after a 39-year hiatus, the Miss Republic of the Philippines pageant expanded this year to accept male aspirants for the counterpart Mister Republic of the Philippines title.

 Now a biennial search, the next edition will be staged in 2020, which the organizers dubbed as its third season.