A 22-year-old woman from Cagayan de Oro City was crowned the first
Miss Global Philippines during a non-televised beauty contest held at
the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City last Saturday night.
But the same beauty contest was marred by a walkout from several
members of the media after they were barred from interviewing the
winners.
Crowned as the first Miss Global Philippines was crowd favorite
Catherine Almirante, 22, from Cagayan de Oro City, who beat 21 other
candidates who competed in the inaugural local pageant that was open to
single women and single moms.
Almirante, who has joined other beauty contests in the past, will
represent the Philippines in the Miss Global 2014 contest happening in
style aboard the Crown Princess cruise ship sailing from Los Angeles,
California to Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas on
December 12 to 20.
But Almirante’s moment was upstaged by a walkout of several print
reporters from major media organizations who were barred from
interviewing the winners. It is customary that media men are allowed to
go to the stage to interview the winners after they are crowned. Only
the GMA-7 was allowed to do an interview.
In local pageant history, this is the first time that print reporters
were not allowed to interview the winners, a move which was met by an
uproar from those who were invited to cover the event.
“In the first place, they should have not invited us if they will not allow us to talk to the winners,’’ a reporter commented.
Photographers, on the other hand, were allowed to take photos of the winners from a distance.
Runners-up, who hold equal ranking, were named Tourism Ambassadors. They are Athena Catriz, 24, from San Pedro, Laguna; Cindy Madduma, 26, from Puerto Princesa City; Sirene Sutton, 20, Las Pinas City; and Lorraine Erum, 27, Pangasinan. Ms. Erum is a single mom. This is also the first time that the Top 5 contestants came from the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp managed by Rodgil Flores. His camp has produced many winners in major competitions this year. Winners of special awards were: Almirante, Best in Evening Gown and Clean Air Ambassador; Sutton, Best In Swimsuit; Krista Marie Mendiola, Best In Cultural Attire; Xyrzsa Isidro, 23, Makati City; and Lournalyn Mora, People’s Choice Award. Members of the board of judges were: Rosella Camua, model Michael Seifert, former Miss Philippines Earth Angelee Claudette delos Reyes, Daniel Ongchoco, Aristeo Tengco, Noel Gonzales, and Dr. Almond Derla.
