The candidates of 2017 Miss Asia
Pacific International (MAPI), one of the oldest pageants in the world and
re-launched only last year in Puerto Princesa, Palawan after a decade of
hiatus, were presented recently to the media at the Edsa Shangri-la in
Mandaluyong City. Miss Sri Lanka’s Hasini Samuel was voted “Darling of the
Press” while Miss Mauritius Aylasha Ramrachia and Miss Vietnam Vuong Thanh
Tuyen placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Philippine bet Ilene Astrid De Vera, a
21-year-old, real estate marketing executive, is among the heavy favorites for
the crown currently held by Netherlands’ Tessa Helena Le Conge. The Cebuana model and Mass Communication
graduate from the University of the Philippines-Cebu hopes to win the crown
last won by Michelle Aldana in 1993.
Giving De Vera a run for her money are
Miss India Sonika Roy, a 23-year-old, Bollywood actress, dancer and model; Miss
Colombia Yhully Bell Gomez, a 23-year-old, lawyer and model; Miss Brazil
Francielly Ouriques, a 25-year-old, Human Resources Management graduate; Miss
Mauritius Aylasha Ramrachia, a 22-year-old. Charity worker and student in
Tourism Management; Miss Bangladesh Marjana Chowdhury, 23-year-old, member of a
Columbia University team helping empower young prisoners at Rikers Island
Correctional Facility in the USA; and Miss Myanmar Htwe Ei Kyaw, a 20-year-old,
English student at University of Dagon.
Other hot contenders are Miss Russia
Chanelle Soncini, Miss Costa Rica Kimberly Porras Boza, Miss Suriname Francisca
Wong Loi Sing, Miss France Laura Deflandre, Miss China Wen Dou, Miss Vietnam
Vuong Thanh Tuyen, Miss Nicaragua Katering Medina and Miss Indonesia Rita
Nurmaliza. The Grand Coronation of Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 will be
held at Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila on November 29,
2017 telecast over FoxLife (formerly StarWorld).
The Miss Asia Pacific International candidates
visited the Filipino soldiers who fought in Marawi to listen to their stories
of sacrifice and courage with the objective to initiate an immersive experience
to educate and create awareness for an issue that stems from lack of openness
and understanding of opposing views and opinions – an issue that affects not
only the Philippines but around the world.
“In a world where the term
“differences” is thought of as something negative, it is our dream to foster a
community that focuses on the beauty in all things different,” MAPI general
manager Essa Santos said in a message.
With the pageant’s big comeback this
year, the community as well as the candidates, can expect more initiatives
that will reinforce the organization’s goal to bring mutual respect,
acceptance, and celebration of diversity in every facet. Words
by Eton Concepcion / Photos by Edmund Chua
Comments
Post a Comment