The national search for Miss World Philippines 2016 officially started with CQ Global Quest, Inc., the local franchise holder under director Cory Quirino, inking a partnership with Viva Live, Inc. for the exclusive right to hold this year’s competition.
Quirino believed that Viva’s proven years of experience in managing and staging big events will guarantee Miss World Philippines to continue to fulfill its promise of giving aspiring candidates better opportunities to attain fame and success. Viva Chairman and CEO Vic del Rosario assured Qurino of a better Miss World Philippines, with more glitz and content, and giving the girls training to become a beauty queen, commercial model or even a film and TV star.
Miss World Philippines has gained tremendous popularity after Megan Young succeeded in becoming the first Filipina to win the Miss World crown in 2013. Valerie Weigmann was not as successful, finishing just among the Top 25 in 2014, while last year’s Hillarie Parungao also failed to live up to high expectation even as she finished a respectable 6th place over-all among the record 100-plus delegates and winning the Multi-media challenge award.
This year, the big buzz is about the possible entry of Weigmann’s close friend, Filipino-Australian model Catriona Gray, who many predict may give the country a strong chance at a second Miss World victory if she wins Miss World Philippines 2016. Miss World owner and CEO Julia Morley has established a certain fondness for the Philippines after forging partnership in charity works under the Miss World ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ humanitarian advocacy.
Through ‘Beauty with a Purpose, ’Morley and the Miss World Organization have created a global network of charity and fundraising, empowering thousands of individuals to help their local and global communities, raising millions of dollars in support of the sick and disadvantaged. Early this year, Morley joined the ranks of the world’s most prolific benefactors when she was awarded with The Variety International Humanitarian Award, an honor given to individuals or organizations who/which have shown exceptional understanding, empathy, and devotion to mankind over a significant period of time.
During the awarding ceremony, Morley got a surprise guest in Baby Sunshine, the little girl from the Philippines afflicted with cancer who would not have been alive today without Morley’s help. Baby Sunshine was brought to the stage by Cory Quirino who spoke about the girl’s flight and their experiences on how Julia touched their lives, her contribution to the society and the inspiration she has provided through her initiatives.
Miss World Philippines 2016 aims to find Filipino women of substance who embody what Morley’s “Beauty with a Purpose’ represents.