Naririto sa Pilipinas ang reigning Mister International at ang Thai actor na si Kim Thitisan Goodburn.
Read: Thailand, itinanghal na Mister International 2023; Philippines, pasok sa Top 10
Kabilang si Kim sa mga panauhing pandangal sa inaugural coronation ng The Miss Philippine at ng Mister Pilipinas Worldwide na magaganap sa Mall of Asia Arena ngayong Martes ng gabi, Oktubre 24, 2023
Ang back-to-back grand coronation ang pagtatapos ng isang buwang pagdiriwang ng The Filipino Festival na proyekto ng Empire Philippines ni Jonas Gaffud at ng national director ng Miss Universe Philippines na si Samcey Supsup-Lee.
“It’s a culmination of month-long festival. It’s got fashion, food, music, film.
"It’s a huge celebration of Philippine culture so being able to be part of it and be one of the honorable guests for The Miss Philippines ang Mister Pilipinas Worldwide, it’s an incredible honor.
"And I’m really looking forward to the show tomorrow because I do know that the Philippines is one of the powerhouses of pageantry all around the world,” pahayag ni Kim nang makausap siya ng Cabinet Files sa Dusit Hotel nitong Lunes ng hapon, Oktubre 23, 2023.
NOT A HOMETOWN DECISION
Si Kim ang kauna-unahang Thai na nanalong Mister International. Tanggap niyang nabahiran ng mga pagdududa ang kanyang panalo dahil idinaos ang patimpalak sa kanilang bansa.
Si Kim ang unang nagbanggit ng “cooking show” pero itinanggi niyang hometown decision ang kanyang tagumpay.
“I understand that ‘coz I was even a little bit worried in the beginning. I was, like, 'If I do my best and I had the chance to win, would they even give it to me because it was held in Thailand?'
“I was also thinking about that, but I was, like, 'If I do my best, if I really do my best and there was no doubt on all the things that I’ve done so far and I deserve to be the winner, I am pretty sure, they will give it to me anyway.'
"So that was my mindset. If I win, I win. If I don’t win, that’s fine,”
Inamin ni Kim na hindi siya nagulat nang ideklara siyang nanalong Mister International 2023.
Paliwanag niya, “I wouldn’t say I was surprised because I had the confidence on the day. I was, like, 'I’m going to win, I’m going to win.'
“And also, I was super confident after giving my Top 3 answer because I just felt like something inside of me just said, ‘I think you’ve got it.’
"So during the Top 2, I was very confident."
Dagdag pa ni Kim, “[Being Mister International 2023] it’s just opened up so many more doors.
"It’s taken me to a level that I never really imagined I would have achieved within this year and it propelled me to another level.”
FAMILIAR WITH FILIPINO FOODS
Ang pagbisita ni Kim sa Pilipinas ang unang pagkakataong narating niya ang ating bansa. Pero pamilyar siya sa mga pagkaing Pilipino dahil Pinay ang isa sa kanyang pinakamatalik na kaibigan.
Lahad niya, “One of my childhood friends, she is Filipino. She lives in Bangkok and we’ve known each other since two years old.
“She also sends me a list of foods and snacks to try in the Philippines, like sinigang, sisig, balut, kare-kare, pansit, and halo-halo.
“I can actually introduce myself [in Filipino], 'Mabuhay Philippines. Ako po si Kim Goodburn, Mister International 2023. Mahal ko kayo. Salamat po.’”
BL ACTOR IN THAILAND
Hindi lamang pageant winner si Kim dahil artista rin siya sa Thailand.
Lahad ni Kim, “I am an actor in Thailand.
"I took part in a modelling competition called Face Man Thailand, and that basically propelled me into the entertainment industry and basically gave me the opportunity to work as a model, actor, and emcee well.
“That was around five years ago but I’ve only been getting prominent jobs in Thai TV series around two to three years ago.
“I was in the movie called Love U Khok-E-Kueng, it’s actually on Netflix before. And I was part of Stranded, first Netflix original in Thailand, and three Thai television series.”
May anekdota rin si Kim tungkol sa kanyang paglabas sa popular Boy Love series na Bad Buddy.
“It was quite an experience. I only appeared in Bad Buddy for one episode and literally, after the episode aired, I got tons of messages from Filipino fans saying, ‘ Isupport you. You’re acting is great.’
“I was incredibly overwhelmed with the support I’ve got and especially during the pageant as well so I’m incredibly grateful.”
Alam niyang sikat sa ating bansa ang kanyang kapwa Thai actor na si Mario Maurer.
Read: Five things to try in Thailand according to Mario Maurer
“I hope so,” reaksiyon ni Kim sa posibilidad na magkaroon siya ng acting career sa Pilipinas.
Samantala, sinabi ng general manager ng Empire.Ph na si Arnold Mercado na ang Mister International 2023 na si Kim ang titleholder ang lehitimong patimpalak.
Kontrobersiyal ang Mister International dahil noong nakaraang Biyernes, Oktubre 20, 2023, naganap sa Baguio City ang Mister International 2023 grand finale.
Si Jose Antonio Campos Calle ng Spain ang idineklarang panalo sa male international pageant na kapangalan ng patimpalak na napagtagumpayan ni Kim noong nakaraang buwan.
Read: A case of two Mister International pageants: which one is legit?