CEBU, Philippines — Following Cebu’s back-to-back victories in two of the country’s most prestigious pageants was the recent launch of the very first Cebu-based national pageant to grand fanfare at the Golden Peak Hotel & Suites Cebu.
The Hiyas ng Pilipinas pageant is backed by the experience of a competent team of experts led by Miss Grand International Philippines 2018 Eva Psychee Patalinjug as National Director. A multi-titled beauty queen, Patalinjug brings her near-decade experience in the pageant industry for the Hiyas ng Turismo Pilipinas Foundation, Inc. to make its mark in what seems like an already saturated field.
“We should take pride in having many pageants because we are giving many Filipinas a chance to reach their dreams and goals,” Patalinjug began during the October 6 media launch that was also attended both physically and virtually by pageant writers outside Cebu.
Envisioned to be an organization that will be a force to be reckoned with nationally and internationally, Hiyas ng Pilipinas aims to “celebrate women of all cultures and backgrounds, and empowers them to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success.”
Patalinjug, who just a few months back resigned as National Director of the newly founded Magandang Filipinas pageant after “irreconcilable differences” with its founder, said she was convinced to take on this new role because of the people behind Hiyas ng Pilipinas.
“It really took me a long time to ponder on if I should take a risk again because it is ironic that I came from a bad happening back in August. But what made me take the risk again are the people behind me who have been very encouraging,” she said.
“I’d also like to dedicate this to the candidates who made efforts to join the prior pageant because I want them to know and learn that they should be bigger than their failings.”
Apart from Eva, making up Hiyas ng Pilipinas’ Board of Directors are Director for Charity Karla Tandoy, Finance Director Sugar Borja Sagarino, Communications Director Auguste Izhar Pepito, Public Relations Director Alma Maria, Operations Director Roy Erwin Tizon, Vice President Jesselle Saniel, and Chairman of the Board Ronald Yap Elpa.
Working on three core values (Beauty, Culture and Humanity), Hiyas ng Pilipinas hopes to empower its candidates and winners through leadership and community service. Its participants are expected to effect positive change through volunteering, fundraising and advocacies. During their reign, winners will be given the tools to “enrich others by dedicating themselves to raising awareness and much needed funds for philanthropic endeavors.”
Of their title-holders, Pepito shared, “She should be somebody who would embody our core values. She should be beautiful, have compassion, the heart to serve the people, and she should also represent the rich culture and heritage of the Philippines.”
Their winners will compete in the following international pageants: Miss Elite World, Miss Tourism World, Miss Tourism Queen International. The organization is also on the lookout for at least two more international titles to franchise.
“We’re having Hiyas ng Pilipinas because other pageants right now are not holding the titles that we have, and we are just so proud that we have legally franchised these international pageants,” said Tandoy. “Yes we are neophytes in the industry but we are very eager to establish ourselves and give a very good show that the Filipinos deserve.”
Hiyas initially planned to have 30 candidates (10 each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) for its maiden edition, but Tizon revealed that five Filipinas from abroad have expressed their intent to join, so they are looking at 35 finalists for 2022. Their 2022 coronation is targeted for February at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.
Saniel said that while the initial agreement was for their winner to receive P300,000, their generous sponsors have upped the ante and raised the main cash prize to P500,000. The Board of Directors likewise invoked these same generous sponsors when asked how they plan to operate long-term, seeing as previous newly established pageants failed to sustain itself in the long run.
Interested applicants may send their applications by logging on to www.hiyasngpilipinas.com. The deadline for submission of entries is on November 15.
Qualifications for Hiyas ng Pilipinas aspirants are: must be 18 to 27 years of age, minimum height of 5’3”, Filipino citizen or with Filipino descent and a passport holder, must be single, never been married and never borne children, at least high school graduate, and must not be an applicant of any major pageant during the duration of the pageant.
As few in the Board of Directors are mainly associated with the KF-Cebu camp, Patalinjug assured participants that camp affiliations will have no bearing in their search.
“That’s what also makes us fresh and unique because we will really aim to be fair and just to all the candidates. We want them to know that we do not tolerate camp wars,” she promised.
“If you are deserving, then you will win the crown because our aim is to produce a beautiful, talented and empowered Filipina who can compete abroad and take the crown for the Philippines.”