Today’s perception of beauty has to be inclusive. Women’s rights advocates are constantly in a protest because beauty, especially when on a pageant stage, is associated with the male ogle of what the female body is.
Now this one-sided perception had to change as the view towards the human body is now more inclusive. Beauty concepts are now more welcoming. It’s no longer just men on women. In a gender-free world, anyone can be uniquely beautiful. And there is now must respect for beauty in individualism. If there is a wart or a scar, if you are straight or gay, tall or short, a dark-skinned bronze prince or with Snowwhite glory — all these can be beautiful, in a sense, when you paint it or view it on stage.
The Philippines as today’s beauty pageant capital of the world is fielding beauty contestants who are experienced and have been well-trained. More than just being goodwill ambassadors, they are to represent the country like athletes in an international arena.
In the male beauty arena, the Philippines is now ready with a platoon of handsome gentlemen: MJ Ordillano who is from Buena Park, California and originally from Parañaque City, is now predicted to be the country’s 2nd Mister International winner.
Top model Kirk Bondad, born and raised in Germany to a German father and an Igorot mother, will represent the Philippines in Miss World 2022.
This year’s Manhunt International will have Joshua De Sequera, the volleyball player from Manila who stands 6’4”, as the official candidate of the Philippines.
Pinoy Big Brother sensation Michael Ver Comaling of Leyte will be for Mister National Universe, Andre Cue of Cagayan de Oro will represent the Philippines in a Latino-dominated pageant called Caballero Universal in Venezuela.
Then, Negros Oriental will be represented in the global stage of male pageantry with our very own Joshua Duran, a senior Political Science student of Silliman University.
Joshua was Mister Dumaguete in the Hari ng Pilipinas national finals where he won the Datu Makatao title. 
This young bachelor from Bantayan, Dumaguete City is a member of the BNB Modelling Agency of Cebu City. As Mister Philippines, he will represent the country in the Mister Glam International 2022 pageant to be held in Manila on Nov. 21.
This Sillimanian is ready to make the Philippines proud. He has now been welcoming exposures and other invitations for him to cover the three aims of this global pageant: to provide a platform for men who aim to speak out in behalf of the underprivileged people, to gather men from different countries to raise awareness of the ecological results of man-made harms in the environment, and to promote eco-tourism around the world.
He will be competing with top models and pageant kings from other countries like Emmanuel Marira of Zimbabwe, Deriel Realdy of Indonesia, Oroyo Felix Benson of Nigeria, Nguyen Quoc Thai of Vietnam, Santiago de Gracia of Panama, Dillon Anda of Ecuador, Javier Maggi of Paraguay, Rali Am of Cambodia, Bruce Matheka of Kenya, Jojo Sebastian of Australia, Rishi Kshatriya of India, Alex Delgado of Venezuela, Jayden Tian of Malaysia, Satoshi Yamamoto of Japan, Rubem Soto of Mexico, Luyolo Rasmeni of South Africa, Alessandro Masseti of Italy.
Joshua dreams of becoming a lawyer someday, and said he hopes to make use of this opportunity to widen his network of friends beyond his beloved City of Gentle People, and invite them to see the beauty of my own city.
“In every man’s heart, there is a secret chamber that beats to blend with the vibrations of beauty from other cultural backgrounds. As representative of the host country, I welcome my fellow Glam representatives with much respect to each one’s distinctive presence and country representation.” Well-said, Joshua.
_______________________________
Author’s email: karlmike@yahoo.com
