Cory Quirino, owner of the Miss World Philippines franchise, revealed they are working on having the Miss World pageant in the country by 2015.
“Miss World Philippines, together with TV5, is formally announcing through me that we are going to pursue the hosting of Miss World in 2015 here in the Philippines,” she said at the press presentation of the 25 candidates for Miss World-Philippines at Manila Hotel on Thursday, June 7.
She added that the Tourism Department is supporting her company, GQ Global Quest Inc. in this endeavor.
“Sabi nga ni (Department of Tourism) Secretary Ramin Jimenez sa akin two months ago when we made the presentation, ‘I am interested, I want to support Miss World, and we are hoping (to win)’,” Quirino said.
She hopes, of course, that “hindi tayo maunahan ng ibang bansa.”
“So I am very happy and I am very excited about the Philippines hosting the Miss World in 2015. I hope hindi tayo maunahan ng ibang bansa. Basta andun na tayo. That is the vision and that is the dream.”
The last time the Philippines became the venue of an international beauty pageant besides Miss Earth (owned by Carousel Productions, a Philippine-based company) was in 1994, when it hosted Miss Universe.
Miss World 2012 will be held in Innerland Mongolia, China on August 14.
‘Heart and mind’
Of course, Quirino’s more urgent goal is finding a candidate who can match or even surpass reigning Miss World Philippines and Miss World 2011 first runner-up Gwendoline Ruais.
The 25 candidates in this year’s pageant are Kaye Wigand (Puerto Galera, Mindoro), Vanessa Claudine Ammann (Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City), Roshiela Tungol (Angeles City, Pampanga), Mariz Ong (Echague, Isabela), Carla Jenina Lizardo (Bagong Ilog, Pasig City), Paula Rich Bartolome (Sta. Cruz, Laguna), Maria Teresita Baccay (Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija), Maham Ahmed (San Carlos City, Pangasinan), Rizzini Alexis Gomez (Cordova City, Cebu), Larah Grace Lacap (Batasan Hills, Quezon City), Vania Valiry Vispo (Pasig City), Paulina Eliseeff (Quezon City), Mary Anne Ross Misa (Paranaque City), Mariver Ocampo (Paombong, Bulacan), and Daphne Tania Molinaar (Bacolod City).
Brenna Cassandra Gamboa (22), April Love Jordan (Tondo, Manila), Rufaida Babudin (Palawan), Marie Loraine Dione de Guzman (Sta. Mesa, Manila), Kaye Michelle Agnes (Sorsogon, Bicol), Fer Mary Baliquig (Tagbilaran, Bohol), Queeneerich Rehman (Las Pinas City), Lara Lee Sarino (Negros Occidental) and Natacha Kristel Peugniez (Muntinlupa City) complete the list.
Miss World Philippines will be held June 24, giving the eventual winner less than a month to prepare for the international pageant. But Quirino and Ruais believe this is enough prep time for the winner.
“Actually last year, we would have thought of it as a disadvantage because Gwen also had two weeks to prepare before she to fly to London,”Quirino said. “We are under pressure to really prepare our candidate for the Miss World candidate.”
Ruais said “determination talaga and hard work” will make a winner.
“It has to be in your mind and your heart. You have to be really passionate about it and really want it. It’s a lifestyle. You have to be focused and trained,” she added.
“The candidate who believes she will win will win that crown.,” Quirino shared.
The grand coronation night, hosted by Edu Manzano and Ruffa Gutierrez, will be held at the Manila Hotel Tent on June 24, 8:30 p.m. It will be aired live on TV5.