A send-off party was held at lunchtime yesterday, December 12, for Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Puerto Princesa Jam Charish Libatog at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.
Jam also left that same day for the upcoming 12th Miss Tourism International 2008 World Final, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 31.
Also at the party were Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities winner Loren Andre Burgos, first runner-up Katrina Grace Rigets and second runner-up Queency Bernaldez. Not with them was Mutya ng Pilipinas-International Puerto Princesa Jonavi Raisa Quiray who was sick with flu and had to stay behind in Palawan to recuperate. The Mutya ng Pilipinas finals and coronation night was held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, last Sunday, December 7.
Jam, Loren, Katrina and Queency met with the press and PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) had the chance to talk to each one of them.
GOING FOR THE CROWN. Jam thinks it was her pleasant personality plus her height (she stands 5'9") that got her the crown. "With a height like mine, I can easily be noticed. There are other girls in the pageant in Palawan that has the same height as mine or taller than me, but I think it was really how I presented myself, how I talked and walked and how I treated everyone in the pageant that made the judges decide to name me as the winner of this crown," Jam beamed.
Jam had only two days to prepare for the international pageant in Kuala Lumpur, but she's very confident that, just like in the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant in Palawan, she will also shine in the Miss Tourism International pageant in Kuala Lumpur and show everyone there what true Pinay beauty is all about.
"I'll be happy if I get to be one of the top five in the pageant. But ultimately, my goal is the title and I will really do my best to win the crown," Jam said.
WANTS TO TRY SHOWBIZ. Loren Andre Burgos said she had the edge over the other candidates from abroad who joined the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant in Palawan. "For example, compared to the other girl who came from Norway, I can speak fluent Tagalog. She doesn't speak any Tagalog at all. Even though I grew up in the United States, Filipino pa rin ako, and I still have that Filipino culture in me," Loren proudly said of herself.
For now, Loren is just waiting for Mutya ng Pilipinas to prepare her for the international pageant she will be joining next year, since all the attention now is on Jam. But when the time comes for her to represent the Philippines in international pageants, Loren said she will do her best to promote the Philippines.
"I will promote everything about the Philippines, its beauty, its people, its products, everything. There is so much to be seen and so much to experience here in the Philippines. I will make it my advocacy to promote the Philippines internationally," Loren enthused.
Loren also expressed her desire to enter showbiz soon. She said she has been a fan of Ai Ai delas Alas and wanted to be in Wowowee. "Gusto kong mag-comedy. Masaya kasi akong tao, e," she said.
But what if she gets an offer from GMA-7?
"Okay lang. I just want to try showbiz. Parang masaya." Loren said flashing a grin.
LEAVING IT ALL TO GOD. First runner-up, Katrina Grace Rigets admitted she also wanted to wear one of the crowns in Mutya, but she said she doesn't wish for anything bad to happen to any of the winners or wish for one of them to give up the crown.
"I love these girls and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to any of them. But as far as I'm concerned, I am the first runner-up and if God will give me the chance to wear one of the crowns, then so be it," Katrina said.
SINGING IS HER PASSION. Second runner-up Queency Bernaldez related she did not expect to win and said she was just in the pageant to get noticed and cross over to the field she really wants to be in—recording. "Singing is my passion, and that's all I wanted to do," Queency said.
In fact during the press conference, she even sang an a capella of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" for the invited press people and other visitors of Mutya ng Pilipinas (click here to see video). She looks up to Whitney, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez.
She believes it was her personality and the color of her skin that made her stand out from the other girls and got her the second runner-up title. "I am really different from the other candidates and I feel that's what got the judges to be impressed, plus the fact that I can sing."
Mutya ng Pilipinas is headed by Roberto de Venecia with the help of fashion designer and beauty queen discoverer Renee Salud and businessman Alberto "Bert" Abesamis.