2016 Mr. and Miss Chinatown Philippines winners crowned

MANILA, Philippines – Jan Louie Ngo, 22, and Shirley Mae Vy, 24, were crowned 2016 Mr. and Miss Chinatown Philippines by outgoing winners Kurt Joshua Ong (left) and Nicole Cordoves (right, 2016 Bb. Pilipinas Grand International) in glittering finals at the New Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila, Sunday evening, July 31. They will serve as the ambassadors of the Filipino-Chinese Community. They each got P200,000 cash and loads of sponsors’ gifts.

Shirley Mae of Tacloban City is a Universal Records artist. She recently waxed an album, Simply Bossa, a 16-track bossa nova favorites including You Are The Sunshine of My Life, Alone At Last, Somewhere Down The Road, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and You’ve Got A Friend. Last May, she was the front act of Ogie Alcasid in his live concert in General Santos City.  

Sabihin Mo, composed by Arnie Mendaros, was Shirley Mae’s first single released in 2014. A Typhoon Yolanda survivor, she along with Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Lani Misalucha, among others, lent their voices to the album, The Prayer, proceeds of which were channeled to the victims of Yolanda and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the Visayas.

Jan Louie is a graduate of Management of Financial Institutions from De La Salle University. He’s a career-driven person who loves to take advantage of all the opportunities that come his way and never shies away from the limelight, especially when it comes to public speaking. Being a strong advocate of financial literacy, he has a passion and experience to educate the youth about personal finance. 

Shirley Mae also bagged the Best in Swimsuit and Miss Oriental awards while Jan Louie was named Mr. Photogenic and Best in Swimwear.

The runners-up were Lin Zeng and Sherwin Yao (first, with P100,000 cash prize each) and Pichie Lim and Wryan Chua (second, with P200,000 cash prize each). Yao and Lim were declared Mr. and Miss Philippine Airlines while Chua was Mr. Shimmian. 

The board of judges was composed of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, film producer Roselle Monteverde, fashion designer Ditta Sandico and Arlene Cheng Tobias (the first Miss Chinatown in 1974). Kapamilya stars Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho emceed the event with Janeena Chan and Willord Chua as anchors. Live performances were provided by Richard Poon, KZ Tandingan, tenor Dondi Ong and The Voice of China finalist Rhapsody Li.  

Now on its third year, the pageant under the Miss Chinatown Foundation headed by Wilson Agbayani and Alexis Go, is created with an advocacy to aid those in need through activities promoting education, health and wellness, and to share the Chinese culture with Filipinos.

The coronation night will be aired as TV special by ABS-CBN Sunday’s Best on Sunday, Aug. 7.