Reigning Miss Tourism International Liana Barrido (right) with (from left) Mutya ng Pilipinas officials Cory Quirino and Fred Yuson, and Miss Tourism International owner Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi/ARMIN P. ADINA
Mutya ng Pilipinas Chair Fred Yuson said his national pageant, one of the longest-running national beauty contests in the country, is “aiming to topple Miss Universe down in a few years.” The international competition is still inarguably the most popular global tilt in the Philippines and in many parts of the world.
He made this bold declaration on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22, in a press conference held at the CWC Design Center in Makati City, where it was announced that the Philippines will be hosting the 28th Miss Tourism International pageant, the global tilt that he hopes will be the vehicle for his ambitious plan.
hacksaw gaming Article continues after this advertisement“We are progressing. We are a 57-year-old pageant, one of the oldest in the Philippines. And I think that we are ready now to bring Philippine pageantry to the next level,” Yuson said.
FEATURED STORIES ENTERTAINMENT Chie Filomeno calls out Dawn Chang over past feud: ‘Your mouth is full of lies’ ENTERTAINMENT Miss Grand Uzbekistan 2023 Amaliya Shakirova weds Filipino beau in Makati ENTERTAINMENT Mutya ng Pilipinas chair plans to 'topple Miss Universe down'He had earlier mentioned that Mutya ng Pilipinas plans to bring back the international pageants that the organization used to partner with, such as Miss World. “We already took Miss Intercontinental back. Now we’re going to take a few brands back. If not, if my partner allows me to be part of Miss Tourism International, we will run Miss Tourism International globally,” he said.
Miss Tourism International owner Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi flew to Manila from Kuala Lumpur to announce that his pageant will be held outside Malaysia for the first time since its inception in 1994.
Article continues after this advertisement“My good friend Fred here said, ‘How about bringing the pageant [to the Philippines]?’ With Fred, there’s no second thought; we shook hands already. He is a very convincing guy,” Ooi said.
Article continues after this advertisementHe also expressed his optimism that his pageant “will turn to gold” with Yuson’s Midas touch. “I guess it’s a good venture because I’ve been working with the organizer for almost 10 years, with Fred, and they send good girls,” Ooi added.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Philippines is the most successful country in the Miss Tourism International pageant, with six winners in 27 editions: Peachy Manzano (2000), the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez (2012), Angeli Dione Gomez (2013), Jannie Alipo-on (2017), Cyrille Payumo (2019) and reigning queen Liana Barrido.
Reigning Miss Tourism International Liana Barrido (right) with (from left) Mutya ng Pilipinas officials Cory Quirino and Fred Yuson, and Miss Tourism International owner Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi/ARMIN P. ADINA
Ooi said he is confident that the ladies will feel comfortable in the Philippines because of the English proficiency in the country compared to its neighbors. “And I think you have a lot to offer,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementThe 2025 Miss Tourism International pageant will commence in November in Manila and culminate at the “World Finale” to be held at a new township project in Davao City that is being developed by Yuson’s team.
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Ooi said between 45 and 50 ladies are expected to take part in this year’s pageant. He also shared his plan to visit the Philippines every month to oversee the “builing up” of his pageant. “The countdown, just like the Olympic countdown, will be great. So the whole of the Philippines will know there’s a Miss Tourism International and join the countdown together,” he said.
Yuson said “exciting times” are ahead. “This is a test this year for us to prove to our partner that we can do something together. Tan Sri will always be there for us. The brand of Miss Tourism International is very powerful because it helps us to promote our country internally and externally,” he said.
If his plan pulls through, Yuson foresees the Miss Tourism International pageant to be partly owned by Filipinos “if my ‘uncle’ allows a Filipino to run his legacy and to run his heritage, to continue the journey.”
Yuson likened his vision to how Manila-based Carousel Productions owns and organizes the international Miss Earth pageant and its counterpart national competition, Miss Philippines Earth.
Ooi said he is planning to increase his number of participants by five ladies every year. “Miss Tourism International is not only a beauty pageant. It’s more of promoting tourism, culture, and friendship. And that was our theme since 1994,” he said.
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Yuson said the 2025 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant will also culminate in Davao City on Nov. 13ssbet77, just over two weeks before the Miss Tourism International World Final scheduled on Nov. 29.
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