If there’s one thing that Filipinos are most proud of, it is the Philippines’ rich, diverse, and storied culture, and this has never been more evident during the Filipino Festival.
On October 24, 2023, Filipinos across the country and the world came together to witness and celebrate the vibrant cultural heritage of the Philippines during the Finals Night of the Filipino Festival held at the Mall of Asia Arena.
In this inaugural competition and awards night ceremony, the Finals Night has truly been one for the books as the event showcased Filipino culture through pageants, films, music, and fashion.
Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights from the Finals Night of the Filipino Festival and revisit the Filipino celebration like no other.
A celebration filled with star-studded celebrities
The Finals Night was nothing short of extraordinary as the event was graced by star-studded celebrities, including Miss Supranational 2023 Andrea Aguilar, Miss Supranational 2023 first runner-up Pauline Amelinckx, Mister Supranational Philippines Johannes Rissler, Mr. International 2023 Kim Goodburn, and Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 Chaiyenne Huisman.
The inaugural event also featured Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Miss Charm 2023 first runner-up Annabelle McDonnell, and former Pinoy Big Brother 8 housemate and model Andre Brouillette, who all served as the event’s hosts.
Even the selection committee was nothing short of dazzling stars as pageant veteran Venus Raj, pageant organization director and former titleholder Shamcey Supsup-Lee, media personality Tim Yap, and Mister International 2014 Neil Perez, among others, determined who would be crowned Mister Philippines Worldwide 2023, and The Miss Philippines.
Mister Philippines Worldwide 2023 kicks off the Filipino Festival, crowns its new king
The Finals Night began with the coronation night of the Mister Philippines Worldwide 2023, where 16 delegates showed off their charm and unique style in streetwear, sexy and casual attire, and formal wear categories.
Out of the 16 candidates who were vying for the crown, model, actor, and entrepreneur Brandon Espiritu of Guam emerged as the winner and was hailed as Mister Philippines Worldwide 2023, succeeding Mister Supranational Philippines Johannes Rissler.
The remaining five finalists—Anthony Cunningham of the United Kingdom, Jordan San Juan of Bulacan, Justine Carl Ong of Tacloban, Emerson Gomez of Tarlac, and Daumier Corilla of California—were all automatic title holders.
Their titles are set to be announced in a separate awarding ceremony in February 2024 to determine who will represent the country in the Mister Supranational, Mister Global, and Manhunt Supermodel pageants.
The Miss Philippines hails its winner
Shying away from the traditional format of the local beauty pageants, The Miss Philippines proved to be a unique way to gather Filipinas around the world.
In the inaugural edition of The Miss Philippines, 21 delegates walked the runway as they showed off their beauty and charm to the audience wearing modern Filipina dresses and red dresses.
Out of 21 delegates, 10 Filipinas advanced to the next round where they showcased their custom-made evening gowns. Among the ten delegates, four Filipinas—Alethea Ambrosio from Bulacan, Chantal Elise Schmidt from Cebu City, Isabelle de los Santos from Mandaluyong, and Blessa Ericha Figueroa from Northern California—were selected to proceed to the finals and engaged in a TED Talk-style of speech.
Bulacan’s Alethea Ambrosio emerged as the winner of The Miss Philippines 2023, where she will be taking over the reign of Miss Supranational first runner-up and the appointed inaugural The Miss Philippines Pauline Amelinckx.
Much like Mister Pilipinas Worldwide 2023, the other final candidates of The Miss Philippines are set to be crowned in a separate awarding ceremony in February 2024 to determine the Philippines’ representatives for other international pageants.
Homegrown artists showcase their world-class talents
What makes the Filipino Festival a celebration like no other is the amazing lineup of homegrown artists who performed on the center stage.
The Finals Night kicked off with a performance by Sam Concepcion of his latest single, “Otomatika.”
Gigi de Lana and the Gigi Vibes graced the Philippine stage and performed a cover of songs by Michael Jackson, including “Beat It,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Rock With You,” and “You Are Not Alone,” among others.
Gigi also showed off her soul-stirring vocal with a performance of Ariel Rivera’s “Sana Ngayong Pasko” and Troye Sivan’s “Angel Baby.”
The hype continued as SB19’s Josh Cullen joined the Filipino Festival with an electrifying performance of his single “Wild Tonight.”
Fourth Nattawat returns to the Philippine stage
Perhaps one of the highly-anticipated acts for the inaugural Filipino Festival was no other than Thai actor Fourth Nattawat, who is best known for his lead role in F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers and My School President.
The 19-year-old Thai idol captivated the audience with performances of “Sweet But Naughty,” “Please Be Mine,” and Zack Tabudlo’s “Give Me Your Forever.”
Filipino talents shine bright through film, music, and fashion
The historic Filipino Festival showcased the rich cultural heritage of Filipinos by celebrating the talents of musicians, filmmakers, and fashion designers.
On the Finals Night, the event also named the winners of the Filipino Fashion Fest, where Lyndon Dalida clinched the Best Fashion Designer.
Meanwhile, Alfonso Adrian Cerna’s “Taymsa (One Moment)” was hailed as the winner of the Filipino Film Fest.
“Higit Pa Sa Ganda” by Marie Angelica Dayao, on the other hand, bagged the grand prize for the Filipino Music Fest.
Still on the high from the Filipino Festival and want to recount what happened? Check out its live stream!
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