ISANG Pinoy businessman ang magiging kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Mr. Gay World 2019 pageant na gaganapin sa Cape Town, South Africa mula April 28-May 5.

Janjep

N a b i g y a n n g p a g k a k a t a o n g lumahok sa naturang prestihoyosong gay pageant at maging kinatawan ng bansa si Janjep Carlos, 41, nang magwagi siya sa 2019 Mr. Fahrenheit contest sa Quezon City nitong Linggo.

Nasungkit naman ang first runners-up honors nina Kevin Garcia at Macky David Belen.

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Sa ika-17 taon nito, ang taunang search ay inorganisa ng negosyante at dating Mr. Gay World Philippines titleholder na si Wilbert Tolentino. Ang mga nagwagi ay pinili verbally ng mga hurado na binubuo ng mga beauty queen at journalist, batay sa kanilang tikas at pagsagot sa question-and-answer portion.

Hindi ito ang unang beses na sumali si Janjep sa national search. Noong 2017, lumahok din sa timpalak si Jancep ngunit natalo ni John Raspado na kalaunan ay nakasungkit ng Mr. Gay World title sa Spain.

“I joined the national search because I really wanted to represent the Philippines in the international contest,” sabi ni Carlos.

Sinabi rin ng hunk na gusto niyang dalhin ang kanyang adbokasiya sa ibang bansa.

“I always work hard with the task that I am involved with. I always put my best foot forward. With the prestige of carrying the Filipino flag abroad, I also carry the hopes of people with depression. As what I have said, depression is real. Young lives have been destroyed because of depression. If you give me the chance, I will carry my advocacy into the international level. I hope that the international community will support my advocacy illness to wellness.”

Kahit nasa kanya nang 40s, sinabi ni Janjep na istrikto niyang ginagawa ang pagkakaroon ng healthy lifestyle para manatiling malakas at young-looking. “I always work out and I practice healthy lifestyle all the time. I always sleep eight hours a day.”

Si Janjep ay may karelasyong lalaki at limang taon na sila. He even documented his gay love story on Youtube entitled A Couple’s Story (Janjep), na mayroon nang mahigit 67,000 views.

Nang tanungin tungkol sa kung ano ang ipinagmamalaki bilang isang Filipino gay, aniya: “I have been travelling for quite a while now and I always tell them that I am a proud Filipino gay. It’s because I carry with me the values many foreigners admire. Filipino gays are family-oriented, respectful, and we love our elders.”

-ROBERT REQUINTINA