MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines ended 2013 with a fourth world beauty title.

Cebuana beauty Angeli Dione Gomez was crowned Miss Tourism

International, besting 59 other candidates in a pageant held in Putrajaya, outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on New Year’s Eve.

It was a back-to-back victory for the Philippines, as Gomez inherited the crown from fellow Cebuana Rizzini Alexis Gomez (they are not related), the 2012 winner.

Gomez’s victory followed the 2013 triumphs of Miss Supranational Mutya Johanna Datul, Miss World Megan Young and Miss International Bea Rose Santiago.

The Philippines also had finalists in world beauty pageants last year.

Ariella Arida finished fourth in the Miss Universe pageant, Koreen Medina finished fourth in the Miss Intercontinental pageants and Christine Paula Bernasor finished second in the Miss Scuba International contest.

Angelee Claudett de los Reyes made it to the Top 8 in the Miss Earth contest, Joanna Cindy Miranda landed in the Top 10 in the Miss Tourism Queen International competition and Aiyana Mickiewicz finished in the Top 20 in the Miss Tourism World contest, where she was also proclaimed Miss Tourism Asia.

Mutya ng Pilipinas

In an earlier interview, Gomez said she had a hard time getting sponsors to help in her quest for an international beauty title, because almost everyone was focused on relief efforts for the survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

“I didn’t bother to ask. That was tough. Thank goodness for the Mutya ng Pilipinas organization for helping me. Without them, preparing would be harder,” said Gomez, 20, who is from Toledo City.

Gomez, who majored in film at the International Academy of Film and Television in Mactan, Cebu, earned the right to represent the Philippines in the 2013/2014 Miss Tourism International pageant when she bagged the 2013 Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism crown in July.

She was also proclaimed Mutya ng Crimson in the national competition.

Before her Mutya stint, Gomez was crowned 2012 Reyna ng Aliwan in a competition showcasing the country’s different festivals. She placed fifth in the 2012 Miss Resorts World Manila contest and joined the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas pageant in April.

Third Filipino winner

Gomez is the third Filipino to win the Malaysia-based Miss Tourism International pageant, now in its 17th year.

Her victory has made the Philippines the most successful country in the global tilt.

Maria Esperanza Manzano was the first Filipino to win the title in 2000.

Four other Filipinos advanced to the Top 5—Sherilyne Reyes (1995), Mellany Montemayor (1998), Racquel Uy (1999) and Barbie Salvador (2010).—With Celest R. Flores, INQUIRER.net

Originally posted on Jan. 1, 2014 @ 11:22 a.m.