SINIMULAN ang 13th Mister International pageant sa pagpiprisinta sa 40 opisyal na kandidato sa welcome dinner sa Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle sa Malate, Manila, nitong Sabado ng gabi.

Ang mga kalahok ngayong taon ay sina: Harrison Luna, Australia; Mohamed Mahouk, Belgium; Lucio Prado, Bolivia; Danilson Furtado, Brazil; Ruitao Li, China; Jiri Kmonicek, Czech Republic; Arturo Paredes, Dominican Republic; Christian Layao, Guam; Ghael Jean-Louis, Haiti; Waikin Kwan, Hong Kong; Balaji Murugadoss, India; Rezza Praditya, Indonesia; Tsuyoshi Takimura, Japan; Dae Woong Hwang, Korea; Mohamad Taha, Lebanon; Sylevistian Jon, Malysia; Piero Renero, Mexico; Naing Naing, Myanmar; Prashant Jung Shah, Nepal; Claudio Schoorstra, Netherlands; Naykel Nino, Nicaragua;

Contestants din sina Mathias Duma, Norway; Juan Angel Gaviria, Panama; Duilio Vallebuona, Peru; Mark Kevin Baloala, Philippines; Tomek Zarzycki, Poland; Julian Rivera, Puerto Rico; Igor Buyantuev, Russia; Famy Ashary, Singapore; Matjaz MavriI-Boncelj, Slovenia; Lebogang Rameets, Russia; Jesús Collado, Spain; Amandha Amarasekara, Sri Lanka; Kevin Graf, Sweden; Maikel Ferreira, Switzerland; Kevin Chang, Taiwan; Nick Norte; Nicolas Szantos, USA; Francesco Piscielli, Venezuela; at Trinh Bao, Vietnam.

Sinalubong sila nina Carlo Morris Galang, presidente ng Prime Events Productions Philippines Foundation Inc. (PEPPS), ang organizer ng Misters of Filipinas pageant; at Allan Sim, may-ari ng Mister International Organization.

AC Bonifacio, cool na sinagot basher na nagsabing mamatay na siya

Sa kalagitnaan ng press presentation, si Harrison Luna ng Australia ang nagwagi ng Hotel Benilde’s Choice special award.

“We took a poll from our employees and students who are here. We based it on charm, wit, and personality,” sabi ni Juan Paolo Sumera, resident manager ng Hotel Benilde, na naggawad ng parangal.

Nag-uwi ang Australian fashion model ng gift certificate for two sa isang suite sa Hotel Benilde.

Pinasalamatan naman ni Allan ang Hotel Benilde para sa mainit na pagtanggap nito. “It’s just excellent. You are the true leaders of hospitality.”

Bilang tugon naman, sinabi ni Juan Paolo na isang karangalan para sa Hotel Benilde na maging official residence ng 13th Mister International pageant.

“It is truly an honor to accommodate this partnership with PEPPS and Mister International. Hotel Benilde is part of a college - De La Salle College of St. Benilde. This is a perfect partnership because Mister International, known for promoting health and wellness, has the same environment as our company and school. We provide a learning environment four our students to develop their interests and passions, and to become competent in their fields of specialization. These fields include tourism and fashion,” sabi ni Juan Paolo sa kanyang welcome remarks.

Dagdag pa niya: “With Mister International, we give a different perspective to our hotel employees, and to the staff alike. Our hotel has been standing since 1999 and I can barely say that this is one of the major partnerships that we’ve been with.”

Itinatag noong 2006, unang ginanap ang Mister International pageant sa Maynila noong 2015. Ang nagwagi sa kumpetisyon ay si Pedro Mendes ng Switzerland. Noong 2014, nasungkit naman ni Neil Perez ang unang Mister International title para sa Pilipinas.

Ang 26-anyos na si Mark Kevin Baloaloa, ng Catanauan, Quezon, ang kinatawan ng Pilipinas ngayon sa prestihiyosong male competition. Siya ay isang freelance liaison officer.

Samantala, binanggit naman ni Aski Pascual, ng PEPPS, na sa Ilocos Norte idaraos ang preliminary competition sa Feb. 18. Dadalo rin si reigning Mister International na si Seung Hwan Lee ng Korea sa mga opisyal na aktibidad ng timpalak.

Ang finals ng 13th Mister International pageant ay gaganapin sa One Esplanade sa Mall of Asia Complex sa Pasay City sa Linggo, February 24.