"Natatangi..." search - The Winners

PRESS RELEASE

Natatanging Ginoo’t Binibini ng Overseas Filipinos 2006 Proclaimed

Marc Luther Dulatre, a 21 year-old Nursing student of the Philippine College of Health Sciences, and 17 year-old Hollee Ivy Luna of UP-Baguio were proclaimed Natatanging Ginoo’t Binibini ng Overseas Filipinos in glittering rites at the SM Megamall Cinema 4 on June 7, 2006 (Migrant Workers Day).

The pageant was exclusively for young men and women who have family members and close relatives abroad. Represented in the initial year of the pageant were kababayans in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, the USA, Canada, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia. Dulatre, for example, is the cousin of Austria-based student, Dyllfrance Florante; while Luna, daughter of a former seaman, is the niece of Florida-based government employee, Vivian Glass.

Adjudged first runners-up were 19 year-old aspiring actor, Ramses Mendoza, whose aunt, Tess Almacen, is based in Carson City, California; and 19 year-old Paula Junne Ruiz, a Tourism student of UP-Diliman whose aunt is in National City, also in California. Second runners-up were Lesther Navarro, an 18 year-old HRM student of Jose Rizal University and whose aunt, Juliet Arcinas, is an OFW in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and 19 year-old Charmaine Dinglasan of Sariaya, Quezon who has an aunt, Serafia Barbazon, in Australia. Others who made it to the final twelve were Katrina Maristanez (niece of Bahrain’s Nick Odejar), Joyce Acorda (niece of Denmark’s Constancia Cajida), Hazel Cayetano (daughter of Jeddah’s Henry Cayetano), Arvin Barazon (son of Italy’s Cherrylyn Barazon), Daniel Reyes (nephew of Riyadh’s Rolando Tribiana) and Rommel Reynoso (nephew of New Jersey’s Mildred Averion).

The three-hour pageant, organized and produced by former overseas Filipinos themselves, was a grand presentation that featured the twenty-eight official candidates strutting their stuff in three competition segments – casual wear, resort wear and formal wear. One of the evening’s high points was a very moving audio-visual presentation showing the candidates’ relatives abroad to the accompaniment of Gary Valenciano’s “I Will Be Here.”

But what moved the audience more was the video presentation about the event’s supposed beneficiary, Jennifer Perez, whose parents, Aling Lydia and Mang Herminio, were the special guests that night. 23 year-old Jen was an OFW in Jordan. She was allegedly thrown out of the second-floor balcony by her employer after grappling for her celfone which the latter wanted to confiscate. The fall rendered Jennifer paralyzed for life. She was repatriated to the Philippines on May 3, 2006 after being confined in a hospital in Amman for nine months. She would have needed medication and a breathing apparatus for life. Sadly, Jennifer passed away on May 17.

The show was directed by ace fashion director, Tom Po, who used to be an overseas Filipino himself, having lived and worked in New York for a number of years. Produced by Jhie Tinio (who was an OFW in Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the 90s) and line produced by Rhoel “Chino” Mendoza (who worked in Riyadh for almost two decades), the show was made more special and unique by its “overseas Filipino” element. Almost everyone else involved in the production was an ex-OFW, from the designers to the official photographer to the hosts.

Among the objectives of the pageant were to honor and pay tribute to overseas Filipinos by staging a unique and special event, focus attention on them through the participation of their family members, discover potential spokespersons for causes related to overseas Filipinos (thereby providing them with a proxy face and voice).

The event was covered by DZMM Radyo Patrol, ABS CBN’s “Nagmamahal, Kapamilya,” and The Filipino Channel’s “Kwentong Disyerto.”

Organized by RRM Models, Events & Publications, the pageant was presented by Postal Bank, Department of Tourism (DOT), DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Mendez Medical Group, Ministop, Moschino, Kabayan Hotel and the Province of Ilocos Sur. Sponsors included EDI Staffbuilders, Fax, Parcel ‘n Print, Ang OFW Ngayon, Tatlonghari Photography, Magical Placenta Complete Herbal Whitening Soap, Drezzee, Ritratto, Armhand Remojo, Piamonte Baliao Agri-Stock Farm Co., Lucky Mae Trading, Carolina’s Lace Shoppe, Crusoe Design, Tri-Isys Internet/ISP Bonanza, Sugbo Films International, Go Nuts Donuts, Teresa & Sons Printing, Bizaare, Gyozatei Japanese Restaurant and Styletrend Salon, Spa & Café. Media partners were Manila Bulletin, Star Blitz and Mr. & Ms. Magazine.