The winners of national beauty pageants usually have modeling backgrounds like current Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and newly crowned Bb. Pilipinas Universe Maxine Medina. Model searches around the country are the jumping board to national beauty pageants for future beauty queens. The recent Quezon’s Top Model Quest 2016, held at the Quezon Convention Center, is no exception.
Twenty pairs of male and female aspiring models competed in the Province of Quezon’s annual grand and most prestigious modeling competition produced and organized by JOP Production and Galaxy Events Management headed by CEO Jaylo Pizarra and Production Head Domz Ramos, discoverers of most promising new faces in the local modeling profession and entertainment.
Crowd favorites Ian Anthony Tan and Charisse Gutierrez topped the field of 40 candidates while Jush Rosales and Yzabelle Gonzaga Urdaneta were named First Runners up and Ali Mohammad Imran and Aira Elloso as Second Runners up. Ramil Permigones and Melofe Gaa and Nhiel Borja and Vanessa Sumocol finished third and fourth runners-up respectively.
Urdaneta bagged the special award as Miss Model of Beauty while Imran took home the special title as Mister Model Gentleman. The 40 candidates rocked the stage in Edwin Uy creations and Pegarro swimwear of Julius Jaguio and Domz Ramos before a distinguished board of judges that included Miss Universe 2014 – Top Ten Finalist MJ Lastimosa, Miss International 2015-Best Dresser Janicel Lubina, Mister World 2012- First Runner-Up Andrew Wolff, top male model Kirst Viray, Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle -2nd Runner-Up Jodilly Pendre, FDAP President Digna Rosales, ABS-CBN’s Mario Dumaual, GMA-7’s Lhar Santiago and top designer Albert Andrada.
The exciting and well-attended competition was hosted by Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Angelee delos Reyes and ABS-CBN’s Robi Domingo with the guest performance of Asia’s Got Talent winner El Gamma Penumbra.
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Celebrities in #weaREFORMar tribute
It was a heartwarming reunion of the local showbiz industry’s movers and shakers, OPM icons, reigning teen stars and other big-name celebrities who braved the traffic and the scorching summer heat to show their support for Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas.
The gathering, dubbed “Artists for Mar,” was held at Mesa restaurant on T. Morato Ave. in Quezon City
Conceptualized as a fitting show of support from the stars, the thanksgiving press conference was also attended in full force by the various TV networks as well as editors, columnists and writers from the entertainment media.
Spearheading the tribute were talent managers Arnold Vegafria, Girlie Rodis and Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, along with their prized wards headed by OPM legends Gary Valenciano, Celeste Legaspi, Noel Cabangon, Jessa and Dingdong Avanzado with daughter Jayda, together with Jay-R, Karylle, Kris Lawrence, Karla Estrada, Daniel Padilla and loveteam partner Kathryn Bernardo, and artist managers Carlo Orosa and Sandra Chavez.
Actors and hosts Isabelle de Leon, Eagle Riggs, Martin del Rosario, Bernadette Allyson, Samantha Lopez, comedians Chokoleit, Kedebon and Donita Nose, Quezon City councilor Alfred Vargas, Jason Francisco, and ex-APO Hiking Society member/actor Boboy Garovillo also came.
OPM legends Leah Navarro and Jim Paredes emceed the program, where the stars took turns sharing their touching personal messages and anecdotes onstage. Gary also sang an appropriately themed OPM tune in time for the coming elections.
Special guest of honor Mother Lily (Monteverde), well regarded as the industry’s matriarch, also caught up with the festivities, thanked her colleagues and expressed her support for Mar.
The highlight of the affair was the arrival of ABS-CBN host Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the touching gesture given her by her dear showbiz colleagues.