When Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015, the whole country rallied behind her. It’s a rare kind of mania, it seems, when the country comes together in a frenzy to support a fellow Filipino, such as the kind only seen before whenever Manny Pacquiao would embark on another title bout with a foreign boxer.

But Filipinos love their success stories, and beauty pageants continue to pervade Philippine society, bringing with it what seems like a hypnotizing effect that people just cannot resist. But while the support for Filipino beauty queens have been thunderous, it’s rare to hear of a Filipino man winning in the pageantry world and getting the same patronage.

Mark Andrew Guerta Baron may be an unfamiliar name, but he is winning major titles internationally in male pageants. Apart from modeling, the 24-year-old Baron is also a public school teacher. In his latest triumph, Baron became the first-ever winner of the Mr. Star Model Universe 2018, which just recently concluded in Peru.

Baron took to his Instagram page two days ago, May 28, to share about his win. “At long last, with all the effort I put into this contest. The discipline. The favorite foods that I tried hard to ignore….. lahat ito, sa pahintulot ng Dios Ama, nakamit ko na maging kauna unahang (all of this with God’s grace, I became the very first) Mr. Star Model Universe 2018,” wrote Baron on his Instagram as he shared a photo of him holding up a Philippine flag.

Baron, however, did not sugarcoat his win. He shared that the long travel to Peru had not been easy for him, as it took two days to get there. He also had problems adjusting his body clock and adapting to the climate in Peru, where he eventually caught a bout of cough.

At long last, with all the effort I put into this contest. The discipline. The favorite foods that I tried hard to ignore….. lahat ito, sa pahintulot ng Dios Ama, nakamit ko na maging kauna unahang Mr. Star Model Universe 2018. Kahit po mahaba ang byinahe namin, dalawang araw kami bumiyahe papuntang Peru, tapos ang paga adjust ng tulog at body clock, at ang paga adopt sa klima dito sa Peru, ako ay minalat at inubo isang araw bago ang paligsahan. Nawala po ang boses ko. Pero ginabayan tayo ng Dyos Ama kaya naka recover tayo agad upang ipagpatuloy ang laban. Sa awa po ng Dyos, nakamit natin ang tagumpay para sa bansa natin. Ang dami dami ko pong dapat pasalamatan sa tagumpay na ito. Maraming salamat po sa lahat lahat ng walang sawang sumuporta at naniwala sa aking kakayahan ! , sa mga nag cocongratulate na hindi ko pa narereplayan maraming salamat po at sa mga post tungko sakin maraming salamat po, at sa lahat lahat sobrang salamat ! Di pa po ako nakakatulog hanggang ngayon dahil sa galak ! Ang tagumpay ko na ito ay Para sa Pilipinas ! Maraming salamat po sa mga designers ko na sobrang gagaling kaya ako araw araw napapansin sa mga suot ko !, Jhune Angeles Antonio Antonio Rodell Salvador Edwin Uy Chris Jasler Sidney Perez Sio Manila Jovan A Dela Cruz Rocky Gathercole Frederick Peralta Julius Pegarro Jaguio, sa aking skin care mula kay Doc Charlie Mendez sa aking dental care Dennis de Dios sa aking pang araw araw na pabango Fragranza Eaudeitalia sa mga tumulong sa aking pinansyal Cheryll Limso Boss wilbert tolentino Mike Arenas William Prendiz de Jurado Mayor John Rey Tiangco Velzon Hizon Velez Ryan Elrey Librea Navarro Egay Moneda Reyes James Tiu James Tiu at lalong lalo na sa aking manager na Joey Mancilla ikaw ang dahilan ng tagumpay ko , maraming salamat sa pamunuan ng Aking paaralan Joji Fernando sa walang sawang pagsuporta , sa aking mga kaibigan , maraming salamat po Motherj Samonte , Jaime Acosta , sa mga bloggers at media Jonas Yu Atorni Ton Joy Arguil Jao Arcano Ko Ferdinand Galdones Abejon Jerry Olea gorgy Sol Gorgonio Rula jobert sucaldito Leklek Tumalad IV The pageant queens , sash Factor, the Philippine Pageantry , at sa lahat lahat , muchas gracias

A post shared by Mark Andrew Guerta Baron (@baron.andrews25) on May 28, 2018 at 10:28am PDT

Hola Peru!

A post shared by Mark Andrew Guerta Baron (@baron.andrews25) on May 23, 2018 at 5:17pm PDT

A post shared by Mark Andrew Guerta Baron (@baron.andrews25) on May 9, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT

After thanking his supporters, he added that he still hasn’t slept because of the happiness: “Di pa po ako nakakatulog hanggang ngayon dahil sa galak! Ang tagumpay ko na ito ay para sa Pilipinas!”

(I haven’t been able to sleep because of the joy. My victory is for the Philippines.)

Baron’s win was definitely a “Pinoy pride” moment for many, with netizens taking to his Instagram to extend their salutations. This isn’t the first time Baron has won a major title in pageantry, however.

Baron also won in the Mr. Real Universe Philippines pageant back in 2015, which saw him represent the country in the Mr. Real Universe competition in Ecuador that same year. JB

‘Filipinos take pageants seriously’