Four new flagbearers for the Philippines in global pageants were crowned in the 50th anniversary edition of the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant staged at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday night.

Sharifa Akeel of Sultan Kudarat, a Muslim, was proclaimed Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International and will be sent to the ongoing Miss Asia Pacific International in the Philippines, which will culminate on Oct. 4.

She received her crown from last year’s winner, Ilene Astrid De Vera, who finished fifth in the global tilt.

Aya Fernandez of Taguig City was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International by reigning Miss Tourism International Jannie Loudette Alipo-on.

Fernandez, a briadcast communication student from the University of the Philippines Diliman, will try to score another back-to-back victory for the Philippines and bag the country’s fifth crown in the Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia in December.

Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol, who got he Mutya ng Pilipinas-Global Beauty Queen crown, will compete in the Miss Global Beauty Queen contest in South Korea next year.

Kesha Ramachandran of Iloilo, who was named the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Queen of the Year International, will participate in the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International in China in November.

The four ladies were chosen from a field of 50 aspirants in the pageant’s golden anniversary edition.

They were also the first batch of queens to wear the new set of multimillion-peso perpetual crowns provided by jeweler Hoseki.

Rounding up the winners’ circle were first runner-up Mary Justine Teng of Muntinlupa City and second runner-up Kristine Micah Malicsi of Navotas City.

Jade Roberts from the Fikipino community of Australia received the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities award.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a media partner of the 2018 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant. /atm