Heritage & Culture

Fast track challenge: Miss World-Philippines 2021 National Costume finalists

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The Miss World Philippines organization presented its 45 official candidates wearing inspirations from their places of origin, as well as our heritage and culture. The costumes, while depicting some historical, religious, or folkloric detail, still managed to be wearable and made the girls look like stunning portraits coming to life.

With a few creations inspired from historical events or cuisine from a certain locality, it was good to see a majority of the candidates wearing varying versions of the terno or mestiza dress. It gave the impression that the designers who created the aforementioned costumes knew their history, and acknowledged the terno's undying imprint.

While we should welcome creativity, it should at times bow down to decorum and propriety. Leave the fantastical creations to other nations, let's stick to what's distinctly ours.

At the culmination of the National Costume presentation, ten candidates were picked out as standouts of the  challenge. These were:

Emmanuelle Vera of Taguig City looked regal in a modern terno executed by Geronie Labora;

Natasha Jung of Tacloban City is the maiden of the reef in a Nick Guarino creation depicting Leyte's mariculture industry;

Taguig City's other entrant, Asha Gutierrez, in an ensemble mirroring the sustenance fishing sector in a banca and oar ensemble designed by Don Cristobal;

Shannon Manzano of Quezon City sizzled in a caped terno ensemble that camouflaged the warrior within by designer Edwin Uy;

Andrea Sulangi of Morong, Bataan carried Edwin Uy's architecturally structured mosque-like ensemble to perfection;

Julie Tarrayo of Northern Samar wore her province's fresh catch livelihood in a fishing banca-inspired creation by Eric Alvarado, complete with fish nets and oars;

Cebu City's Tracy Maureen Perez paid homage to 500 years of 'Christianity in the Philippines. Her bolero and bustle ensemble by Axel Que approximated the garb of the "conquistadores" when they first set foot on the island of Mactan in 1521;

Ganiel Krishnan of Kawit, Cavite looked like a fairytale princess in a beautifully executed terno by Louis Pangilinan. Her fan shaped headdress and hand props made her look like a character from a fantaserye on primetime television.

But it was Anne Palmares who stole the show with a food-laden ensemble portraying the well loved batchoy of her hometown, Iloilo City, created by Tata Blas Pinuela.

Since the announcement of the ten finalists was made before Dindi Pajares' crowning as Miss Supranational Philippines, the Bataan beauty also made it to the list. She looked resplendent in a stylized terno created by Rau Actaza.

The National Costume competition finalists were selected by a panel of judges that included actor Teejay Marquez, former Miss Eco Teen International winner Roberta Tamondong, and actress Kris Bernal.

The Miss World-Philippines 2021 coronation night will unfold on August 8th at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila, the biggest integrated resort facility in the country. The final show will be beamed to a nationwide audience through GMA-7's rainbow network at 10:30 pm.