TACLOBAN, Philippines – Eastern Samar’s bet in the search for Miss Universe-Philippines 2023, Airissh Ramos, bagged the Best in National Costume award during the competition held at the Leyte Normal University in Tacloban City on Thursday evening, May 4.

Ramos, smiling, commanded the stage and gracefully swayed around. Kenneth Ganaba, who helped Ramos master her movements, said her interpretation of movements in her routine expressed the Waraynon character.

In line with this year’s theme of “Ani” or harvest, the 38 delegates took inspiration in the Philippines’ rich agriculture for their respective ensembles. The beauty queens were judged based on these criteria: Originality and Creativity (50%), Theme Interpretation (30%), and Visual Impact (20%). 

Ramos, who hails from Arteche town, topped the competition after garnering an average score of 95.2%, with Benguet’s Joemay Leo and Southern Leyte’s Kimberly Escartin finishing as second and third placers, respectively.

“These young women and their designers captured the essence of honoring Philippine Agriculture in such a creative and beautiful way,” MUPh organizers said.

Ramos also took home the Tingog ng Pilipinas Visayas special award, alongside co-winners Baguio’s Krishna Gravides and Agusan Del Norte’s Jannarie Zarzoso, who were named Tingog ng Pilipinas Luzon and Tingog ng Pilipinas Mindanao, respectively. 

Titled “An Bulawanon ng Katbari ha Sinirangan” or “The Golden Harvest Season in the East,” Ramos’ ensemble was designed by John Hubert Capito and was adorned by a group in Eastern Samar. It is defined by its constructed bodice, ruffled skirt and train, and embellished with pearls and wooden beads. 

During the show, Ramos described the costume as a “love letter to the farmers, a serenade to the gods.”

Prior to the national costume competition, the candidates participated in three online pre-pageant challenges: photoshoot, swimsuit, and runway. 

The MUPh said the pre-pageant competition winners were chosen by representatives of the Eastern Visayas and Tingog Party List.

“These amazing ladies were hailed as Tingog ng Filipina Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for exemplifying the beauty, values, and smarts that a modern and empowered Filipina must possess in order to inspire others,” the pageant organizers said.

The three national costume winners bagged P50,000 each, while the Tingog Pilipina awardees from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao won P100,000 each.

The National Costume competition in Tacloban City, Leyte was hosted by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party List representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, the Tacloban City government, Department of Tourism Region VIII, and the provincial governments of Leyte and Samar.

The 38 MUPh candidates were on a five-day tour in Eastern Visayas, to partake of the region’s cuisine, food, visit its vacation spots, and experience its culture.

The Miss Universe Philippines 2023 pageant night is scheduled for May 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena, with Celeste Cortesi crowning her successor. 

It is the first edition of the Miss Universe pageant to allow mothers and wives to be part of the competition. – Rappler.com