IONA Violeta Abrera Gibbs, 20, representing the province of Bataan, was crowned as Mutya ng Pilipinas 2022 in glittering rites held at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City early Monday morning after a 5-hour live televised show that started at 8 p.m. Sunday, December 4.
A Filipino-Canadian student who was born in San Juan City, Iona bested the field of 38 contestants from all over the country as well as from several overseas Filipino communities, succeeding Klyza Castro who had the title since 2019.
Along with Gibbs, six others were crowned as winners, namely, Northern California’s Arianna Padrid, Mutya ng Pilipinas-World Top Model; Camarines Sur’s Jeanette Reyes, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism International; California’s Jesi Mae Cruz, Mutya ng Overseas Communities; Makati’s Shannon Robinson, Mutya ng Luzon; Lapu-lapu’s Megan Campbell, Mutya ng Visayas and Tarlac City’s Marcelyn Bautista, Mutya ng Mindanao.
Gibbs also won three special awards: Best in Evening Gown, Miss Ever Bilena and Miss Skeen.
During the Q&A, Gibbs was asked by host Marco Gumabao: “They say that beauty pageants today are irrelevant. How can a beauty pageant become more relevant?” She replied: “I think the perfect example of a beauty pageant that is relevant in our current day and age right now is the one I am standing on this stage for – for Mutya. I believe that Mutya, by representing the importance of sustainability, inclusivity – those are the things in our current world – (that) we need a lot more of. We need more inclusivity in terms of the people…”
No international pageant brand was attached yet to her title. “We are awaiting confirmation from the organization’s affiliated Miss Asia Pacific International Pageant which went into hiatus since the pandemic,” informed Mutya ng Pilipinas president Cory Quirino.
Iona was born in San Juan City and her family moved to Canada when she was 2. She grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, but her family moved around a lot growing up. “I think that has made me a very friendly and adaptable person!” she said.
Iona finished her elementary education in Canada and then moved back to the Philippines in 2015 where she finished high school at MIT International School in Alabang.
Her mom is Zoila Bereño Abrera who was born in Samar but whose whole family migrated to Limay, Bataan when she was 7 years old, and her kin, particularly her uncles and cousins still make their living fishing off the coasts of Limay.
Her dad Bernard Gibbs is a native French Canadian from Chateauguay, Quebec but is now based in Montreal. “He speaks fluent French and has been helping me learn ever since i was young although my French is not as fluent as my Tagalog!” Iona mused.
Iona has two brothers, the older one, 27, is residing and working in Montreal, while the younger, 19, is currently studying at De La Salle University in Manila like her. “We are all extremely close and value our family connection so much,” the new Mutya queen intimated. Iona’s parents and younger brother also attended the Mutya finals.
Iona is currently completing her degree at DLSU, specifically Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science, major in Organizational and Social Systems Development. “I was drawn to this course because I have always been fascinated with the human psyche, behavior, and the way that we exist together within society,” she shared. “My course has also given me the opportunity to learn more about and work with different social groups in the Philippines, as well as organizations and companies.”
Managed for her pageant journey by ProMedia headed by power couple Paul Izon Reyes and Jam Aquino, Iona is the fourth “ProMedia Beauty Athlete” this year to clinch a major title, after Miss World Philippines Gwen Fourniol, Bb. Pilipinas Globe Chelsea Fernandez and Miss Earth Air Sheridan Mortlock from Australia.
