Returning Ginoong Pilipinas pageant to be staged in Cebu this May

CEBU, Philippines —  The Ginoong Pilipinas pageant, which has aspirations of becoming the premier male beauty tilt in the Philippines and a worthy counterpart of Binibining Pilipinas, is returning this May after a three-year pandemic-induced hiatus – and the grand comeback will all take place in Cebu.

In a media launch held January 16 at the Cebu Quincentennial Hotel, Ginoong Pilipinas and Borgen Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Manuel ‘Manix’ L. Genabe III, along with Ginoong Pilipinas 2023 Head Dexter Alazas, discussed initial plans for the pageant’s 2023 edition.

Also in attendance were the organization’s VP for Aesthetics Antonio ‘Mamu’ Chua, Corporate Secretary Simone Nadine Bornilla, and reigning title-holder, Ginoong Pilipinas Universe Tourism 2019 Erik Lennart Visser, who represented Cebu in the competition. Bornilla, the 19-year-old stepdaughter of Genabe, should be known to pageant followers as Miss Marinduque in Miss Universe Philippines 2021 and Miss World Philippines 2022.

Ginoong Pilipinas 2023 will take on the theme “Sustainable Tourism in the New Normal”, and Genabe gave four points on why they decided on the slogan and on the province as host venue.

Firstly, they hope to contribute in restoring travel confidence, and so holding the pre-pageant activities and coronation in Cebu was “perfect” since it is the hotspot in the Visayas. Secondly, they want to support tourism-related businesses that are striving to adapt and survive in the new normal.

They would also like to promote domestic tourism by showing “the world that Filipinos are now travelling to other provinces within the country, and in return, influence them to also travel to the Philippines.” Lastly, they hope to show travelers and businesses that the new normal should not be a hindrance “for us to move further and forward.”

“Not to mention that the Tourism secretary right now is from here, so how can we go wrong in choosing Cebu?,” added Genabe, referring to Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

Foremost male pageant

For now, Ginoong Pilipinas is aiming to have 10 candidates each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. They will leave it to franchise holders whether to hold provincial or regional pageants to determine their representatives, or opt to appoint their delegates.

“We want Ginoong Pilipinas to be the foremost male pageant in the Philippines. And the only way to do that, I believe, is to make it reachable to all provinces. Financially, it’s draining [to compete in Manila]. If someone from Mindanao will fly all the way to Cebu…Cebu being the heart of the Visayas and in the middle of the Philippines, its geographical location is a perfect choice,” said Genabe.

“And I think with the history of Cebu in all the pageants, with the help of Mr. Alazas, and with Erik, I’m sure he’ll be able to promote this among his peers…ganyan na ganyan ang mga kailangan nating contestants eh, mala Erik.”

There are two confirmed titles at stake come finals: Ginoong Pilipinas Universe Tourism and Ginoong Pilipinas Man of the Year.

For Visser’s successor, Ginoong Pilipinas is looking for someone capable of sustaining his tourism advocacy, as well as one who can best promote his locality, and eventually, the Philippines, internationally.

“Mister Universe Tourism is a pageant that really promotes sustainable tourism and making tourism a catalyst for economic growth. So we’re basically looking for someone with something between his ears so he can actually execute strategies on his own capacity to be able to bring his country to the world. For the national pageant, we want to see someone who can promote his province/city to the Philippines,” said Genabe.

As for Ginoong Pilipinas Man of the Year, a title currently held by Romart Lagura of Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, one needs to have “very good body structure” and be knowledgeable on the preservation of endangered species, which is Man of the Year’s advocacy.

“In general, Ginoong Pilipinas 2023 is going for quality more than quantity. I was telling Dexter, okay lang kahit sampu lang yan, basta sampung Erik,” said Genabe. “Because I’d rather have someone who can speak, who can think, who has the face and the body, compared to having 50 candidates that would have none of those. That’s how we want to position Ginoong Pilipinas.”

Total package

“Quality over quantity” was the same answer Genabe gave when asked by The FREEMAN how Ginoong Pilipinas sets itself apart from all the burgeoning male pageants in the country.

“We have Erik as testament of how we differ from other male pageants. Someone who is a total package,” he pointed out. “Our brand, you are sure that there’s no issue of exploitation, of super skimpy swimwear…and of course, the foremost female pageant in the Philippines is Binibining Pilipinas. So what is the counterpart of Binibini? Ginoo. And incidentally, Bb. Pilipinas will also happen in May.”

“But humbly speaking, we are not competing with anyone because the more, the merrier.”

For Genabe, a candidate’s physicality should still be paramount in a beauty contest. “Because at the end of the day, this is still a beauty pageant. So for me, beauty will always be the foremost consideration for a winner. Secondary na lang yung capacity to speak and to think, and the advocacy. As Mamu said, dapat maganda or gwapo ka para lapitan ka. Kapag lapitan ka na, doon na lalabas ang salita. The inner beauty, lalabas at labas yan, kung meron,” he explained.

Visser, who will finally compete abroad this March 12-21 for Mister Universe Tourism in Bali, Indonesia, said joining Ginoong Pilipinas was life-changing.

“Although the pandemic did delay my international pageant, I very much look forward to it. I’m just thankful to where it got me today. All over the Philippines, I’m able to get projects thanks to the Ginoong Pilipinas organization,” the Fil-Dutch model said.

Powerhouse province

Alazas, one of Cebu’s prominent fashion designers and modeling/talent agency owner, feels honored to be given the opportunity to organize the tilt in Cebu.

“We are a powerhouse, not only in pageants, but also in creatives, designers – world-class at that. It’s going to be a big challenge for me and my team, but with all your support, I know that we’ll make it with flying colors,” he said.

Alazas – who for years now has advocated for sustainable livelihood community development by utilizing the hablon, Argao, Cebu’s handloom weaving industry – plans to make candidates highlight the weaves and designers from their own localities.

He shared, “One of my thrusts is product development. That’s the first project I want the candidates to do: promote the products of their localities as part of tourism. So we will go to a certain community/locality…it won’t be just the sights, but something tangible, something one can bring as a souvenir.”

Ginoong Pilipinas 2023 will have more or less the same format as previous years, with competition segments for the national/regional costume, swimwear, and barong. But this time, there will be more pocket events, activities, and interactions with locals.

“There might be resorts, we’re going to the south and north of Cebu. We are open to collaborations with different LGUs,” said Alazas. “Nearby provinces of Cebu will also be key factors that we will be looking into so that we can make it more inclusive for those in the Visayas.”

Added Genabe, “The tourism spots of Cebu will be highlighted because we want to bridge Cebu not only to the Philippines, but also to the world.”