MAKATI CITY, Philippines —The enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to address the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of many live events, including the 2020 Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines pageant which was supposed to hold its final coronation ceremonies in April.
But the MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation, organizer of the annual beauty pageant for mothers and married women, announced that the final competition “will still push through with major changes.”
In a statement posted online, the national pageant organization said, “The Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines contest will be underway without the physical conduct of the event.”
The foundation’s board, the statement said, “resolved that the pageant will be held online.”
The criteria relayed to the candidates will still be followed. The contenders, who have been selected as early as the first quarter of the year, are instructed to prepare clear videos of their advocacy introduction, evening gown parade, national costume showcase, and talent presentation.
For the crucial question-and-answer portion, “the judges will interview the candidates individually by Zoom or teleconferencing.”
The organizer also advised the delegates to continue securing public votes, where the judges would gauge their popularity.
MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation executive director Mitzie Go-Gil told the Inquirer in an interview via Facebook Messenger that the organization would release additional information soon.
She also wished the delegates the best of luck and urged them to “try their best because this is the first time that we will have the pageant online.”
Go-Gil also appealed to the fans and followers: “Your support is very important to us. Please watch our Mrs. Queen of Hearts pageant online.”
The national pageant will select the Philippines’ representatives who will vie for the Mrs. Worldwide, Mrs. Asia Pacific Global, Mrs. Asia Pacific All Nations, Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism, Mrs. Asia Pacific Intercontinental, and Mrs. Asia Pacific Cosmopolitan titles later this year, and the Mrs. Global Universe crown next year.
Go-Gil was crowned Mrs. Asia Pacific Tourism in 2018.
The foundation had also spearheaded a donation drive amid the pandemic.
“Over 1,000 care packages have been distributed to residents of Angono, Rizal, and to frontliners nationwide,” Go-Gil shared.
The pageant organizer also said the board directors, reigning queens, and candidates also pooled their own resources to contribute to the donation drive.
The foundation had already sent out three batches of packages to the frontliners serving at the PNP General Hospital in Quezon City, and a tranche at the Mary Chiles General Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila.
It had also donated an amount to the Rotary Club of Makati East and sent out donations in kind to the Inner Wheel Club Metro Premiere.
EuroTV Philippines had likewise benefited from the foundation’s donation drive.
As of this writing, the Philippines has reported 9,223 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,214 recoveries and 607 deaths.
/atm