AFTER taking on the virtual platform due to the pandemic, the search for Mister and Miss Chinatown Philippines (MMCP) is back as a live event. Twenty candidates — 10 male and 10 female — were presented to the media last weekend at the Premiere Theater of Shangri La Mall in Mandaluyong City.
The candidates represent the current generation of Chinese-Filipinos, breaking barriers and bridging the gap between the Chinese and Filipino communities, melding age-old traditions with modern ways, and in more ways than one, transcending the nature of the competition to become an effective platform to foray their roles as influencers and inspiring models for Chinoy youth in particular and for the community as a whole.
MMCP celebrates a new generation of Chinoys rising from all over the globe.
“The next titleholders will strive to be the embodiment of the #ModernChinoy who embraces the values and traditions passed down by the previous generations while being open-minded and adaptable to the changing modern times,” said Chinoy TV president Alvin Kingson Tan.
Tan also said they will produce the pageant’s docuseries, “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart,” to be aired on CNN Philippines. The documentaries will be directed by Michael Carandang, the Emmy award-winning Fil-Am who produced “The Tyra Banks Show” and “America’s Next Top Model.”
After the press presentation, the pilot episode of the docuseries was screened at the theater. The docu-series will also feature Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 Nicole Cordoves, Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco, TV host Janeena Chan, Miss Chinatown Foundation chairperson Wilson Agbayani, and MMCP 2020 winners Justin Yap and Cassandra Chan.
The event was capped by the presentation of special awards to several candidates.
Vince Aseron, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community from Parañaque City, and former Miss Philippines Water and Biology student Berjayneth Chee from Misamis Oriental were chosen as Darlings of the Press; content creator Ady Cotoco from Quezon City and Chee were Mister and Miss Blackwater; and Maxine Medina deadringer Lovely Lim from Baguio was Miss Ever Bilena.
The candidates are: (female) Berjayneth Chee, Karina Ching, Chenelle Go, Jersey Kwan, Nicole Lao, Lovely Lim, Christine Ong, Mercedes Pair, Trumaine Tia and Lomarie Wong; (male) Vince Aseron, Ady Cotoco, Cedric Gan, Kurt Go, Kevin Lao, Alvin Lim, Miguel Lim, Darwyn Mendoza, Adrian See and Dane Sy.
They will face off at the finals to be directed by Paolo Valenciano to be held at The Theater in Solaire on October 30.
