Philippine Pageant Ball fetes industry pillars

Rodgil Flores (center) accepts the award for his ‘Kagandahang Flores’ as the ‘Best Beauty Pageant Camp’ together with his male and female wards./ARMIN P. ADINA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Pageant Ball returned this year after a five-year hiatus since its first edition in 2017, and the event not only gathered different players in the colorful industry but also recognized some of the most notable names in the field that is now aggresively coming back from a slump brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kagandahang Flores” (KF) of esteemed queenmaker Rodgil Flores was proclaimed “Best Beauty Pageant Camp” at the event held at the Manila Hotel on Oct. 7, and the group’s founder and head personally accepted the recognition together with some of his female and male wards.

Flores is responsible for training all of the Filipino Miss Earth winners Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017), as well as foreign winners Nguyen Phuong Khanh from Vietnam in 2018 and Nelys Pimentel from Puerto Rico in 2019.

Filipino Miss International winners Precious Lara Quigaman-Alcaraz (2005) and Bea Rose Santiago (2013) also underwent training with Flores, as well as the first Filipino Miss Aura International Alexandra Faith Garcia and the first Indonesian Miss International winner Kevin Liliana.

Prime Event Productions Philippines (PEPPS) Foundation Inc., that mounted the ball, also noted how KF has evolved from training contestants in pageants for single ladies, now expanding its reach to cover contests for married women, men, gay men, and transgender women.

Reigning Miss International Queen Fuschia Anne Ravena and reigning Mister Gay World Joel Rey Carcasona, both from the Philippines, trained under KF.

The event also feted Jojo Bragais, the official shoe provider of the 69th Miss Universe pageant and now a household name in the national beauty contest circuit, as “Best Pageant Shoe Brand.” Julius Pegarro Jaguio’s Pegarro Swim, meanwhile, was recognized as the “Best Pageant Swimwear Brand.”

Jojo Bragais brings home the ‘Best Pageant Shoe Brand’ award./ARMIN P. ADINA

Bragais was also proclaimed as “Male Star of the Night,” while reigning Miss Philippines Earth Jenny Ramp was the “Female Star of the Night.”

Reigning Miss Philippines Earth Jenny Ramp is the ‘Female Star of the Night.’/ARMIN P. ADINA

PEPPS President Carlo Morris Galang said the ball aims to gather everybody involved in the pageant industry, from queens, kings, and contestants, to mentors, designers, stylists, and media.

He also rallied support for the annual event, citing other balls with huge followings such as the ABS-CBN Ball, Sparkle Gala, and the Mega Fashion Ball. “I hope we will all support this. This is a milestone in pageantry. We only have one goal, and that is to represent the Philippines,” Galang said.

The ball also recognized some members of local media, in both traditional and digital platforms, including this writer who received the “Best Newspaper Pageant Correspondent” award together with Eton Bonifacio Concepcion of the Manila Standard.

Another highlight of the event was the “red carpet presentation” of the 35 delegates to the 2022 Misters of Filipinas pageant organized by PEPPS. The candidates shared the stage with the reigning national kings, Nadim Elzein who finished third in the 2022 Man of the World pageant, and Junichi Yabushita who won the male division of the 2022 Runway Model Universe contest.

The 2022 Misters of Filipinas delegates share the stage with the reigning national kings./ARMIN P. ADINA

Reigning Runway Model Universe winner Junichi Yabushita/ARMIN P. ADINA

Reigning Misters of Filipinas-Man of the World Nadim Elzein/ARMIN P. ADINA

The 2022 Misters of Filipinas coronation night will be staged at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City on Oct. 16. EDV