LAST week, Mutya ng Pilipinas held a triple event, welcoming the reigning Miss Intercontinental Líª Nguyíªn Báo Ngoc from Vietnam and sending off two of its queens: Iona Gibbs for Miss Intercontinental and Jeanette Reyes for Miss Tourism International.
Statuesque at over 6 feet tall, Bao, as the current Miss Intercontinental is fondly called, arrived at the event at CWC Interiors BGC in Taguig City straight from her arrival at NAIA where she was welcomed by no less than Mutya ng Pilipinas president Cory Quirino and the RV Group of which she is a product endorser.
She was here to fulfill her foremost wish to do a charity visit at Philippines General Hospital where she was scheduled to meet with neurosurgeon Dr. Gerarddo “Gap” Legaspi, director of UP Manila – PGH.
On the side, Bao did a quick tour of Intramuros and was hosted for lunch by Ilustrado Restaurant.
Now in the thick of competitions in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia is Mutya \ng Pilipinas Tourism International Jeanette Lopez Reyes, 25, from Pasacao, Camarines Sur. She left for Sabah the next day after her sendoff.
Jeanette is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She is also a Philippine Coast Guard volunteer where she holds the rank of auxilary lieutenant (addressed Aux Lt Jeanette L Reyes PCGA).
Jeanette has also worked as an AirAsia cabin crew and flight attendant.
Not new to pageantry, Reyes was also adjudged Miss Bicolandia 2022 2nd runner-up.
Jeanette is aiming to become the 6th Miss Tourism International from the Philippines after Peachy Manzano (2000), Rizzini Alexis Gomez (2012), Ange Gomez (2013), Janjannie Loudette Alipo-on (2017) and Cyrille Payumo (2019).
The 26th Miss Tourism International finale will be held in Kota Kinabalu on November 25.
Meanwhile, Filipino-Canadian beauty Iona Violeta Abrera Gibbs, 21, is set to leave next week for Miss Intercontinental’s 52nd edition which will be held in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt on December 15.
Born in San Juan City to Canadian Bernard Gibbs and the former Zoila Abrera from Limay, Bataan, Iona and her family moved to Canada where she grew up and finished grade school. She moved back to the Philippines in 2015 where she finished high school at MIT International School in Alabang.
Iona is currently completing her degree at De La Salle University, specifically Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science, major in Organizational and Social Systems Development.
Her multi-racial background has allowed her to speak three languages fluently: English, Filipino and French.
Iona is also into music, having recorded originals and covers that are available in national airwaves.
Coming from a family of fishermen in Limay, Iona has partnered with Oceana Philippines in her other passion to conserve and nourish back our waters.
Iona has prepared long and hard to achieve her goal to win the country’s third Miss Intercontinental title after Karen Gallman in 2018 and Cindy Obeñita in 2021.
