CALAMBA, Laguna — Delegates from the overseas Filipino communities topped the 2018 Mutya ng Pilipinas talent competition held at the Sol y Viento Mountain Hot Spring and Resort in Pansol, Calamba, Laguna, on Wednesday night.
Mayuko Hanawa from Japan was proclaimed Best in Talent, with her operatic song number that capped the competition participated by 28 of the pageant’s 50 contestants this year.
Melbourne’s Ebony Bangit performed a contemporary dance number which propelled her to second place.
Homegrown bet Geri Franchesca Camargo from Meycauayan, Bulacan, settled for third place. She gave a powerful song number.
The pageant’s sponsors also handed out special awards during the program.
AR Travel and Tours chose five ambassadors – Sabrina Merlina Biner of Germany, Sharifa Akeel of Sultan Kudarat, Mae Kimberly de Luna of Caloocan City, Nina Ancheta from Los Angeles in California, and Ana Clarice Patrimonio of Cainta, Rizal, daughter of former basketball player Alvin Patrimonio.
The talent competition’s host venue also chose five ambassadors – Taguig’s Aya Fernandez, San Ildefonso’s Teemee Miguel, Bohol’s Pauline Amelinckx, Navotas’ Kristine Micah Malicsi, and Muntinlupa’s Mary Justine Teng.
The Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Four winners will be chosen this year to represent the Philippines in the Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Tourism International, Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International and Miss Global Beauty Queen pageants.
The coronation night will be staged at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sept. 16. It will be telecast on ABS-CBN on the same evening.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a media partner of the 2018 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant. /atm
