MUPh 2023 court

 After Makati's crowning as MUPh 2023, two other titles were bestowed

By Earl D C. Bracamonte

After Michelle Marquez Dee of Makati City bested 37 other hopefuls to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023 at the close of glitzy rites at the MoA Arena, two other finalists were crowned as co-winners in an after-event ceremony at the Cove Manila in Okada Hotel.

Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol was crowned by MUPh national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee as Miss Supranational Philippines 2023, while Krishna Gravidez was crowned by Miss Charm International 2023 1st runner-up Annabelle McDonnell as Miss Charm Philippines 2024. Both queens will compete in their respective international pageants. Pauline will compete this August in Poland, while Krishna will compete in the first quarter of 2024.

At the MoA Arena, Michelle also won as Best in Evening Gown. She was crowned by her predecessor and outgoing queen Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi, who represented Pasay in the national pageant last year, together with reigning Miss Universe R'bonney Gabriel.

Michelle's co-winners, Pauline Amelinckx of Bohol and Best in Swimsuit winner Krishna Gravidez of Baguio were crowned separately due to contractual restrictions with the Miss Universe Organization.

Her royal court is comprised of Zambales' Christine Juliane Opiaza (1st runner-up) and Angelique Manto of Pampanga. (2nd runner-up).

As announced, the other lucky ladies who made it to the Top 18 were Eastern Samar, Parañaque, Tiaong (Quezon), Sorsogon, Mandaluyong, Bacolod, Cavite, and Isabela, including challenge winners Bulacan (Smilee) and Agusan del Norte (Glam Shot), completing the placement list in the semifinal round.

Ten candidates were announced to have qualified as the Top 10 - Makati, Bohol, Davao Oriental, Baguio, Zambales, Bacolod, Agusan del Norte, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, and Cavite. However, the host said, after a few minutes, that due to technical issues, the tabulation of results will be done manually and that all 18 semi-finalists will compete anew in the evening gown and will all qualify for the Top 5.

Thus, Pampanga's Angelique Manto who wasn't originally in the announced Top 10, surprised everyone by getting a spot in the Top 5; to the glee of fans and supporters. Almost like a Steve Harvey moment, Pampanga's bet resuscitated her chances in the competition by bouncing back to life. While technology can be a great help in the tabulation of results, a glitch throws off everything tupsy turvy. So manual tabulation should be preferred as double checking is more accurate.

Be that as it may, spectators still agree that the Top 5 finalists this year were one of the best, even eclipsing last year's batch of finalists.

This year's selection committee members were Lyn Lee, Toni Sharmaine Go, Anna Garces, Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdez, Cong. Sam Versoza, reigning Miss Universe R'bonney Gabriel, Lloyd Lee, Nelda Eusebio, Dyan Castillejo, Marion de Guzman, Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran, and Tingog party list representative Hon. Yedda Romualdez as chairman. This year marks the 50th year that the Philippines won the Miss Universe 1973 title in Athens, Greece.

Hosted by actors Xian Lim and Alden Richards, together with anchors Maureen Montagne, Tim Yap, and Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, and entertainment numbers from Jessica Sanchez and Nam Woo Hyun, the 2023 Miss Universe Philippines coronation night was beamed live to a global audience from the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

To date, the Philippines has won pageantry's most sought-after title four times. These were in the years 1969 (Gloria Diaz), 1973 (Margarita Moran), 2015 (Pia Wurtzbach), and 2018 (Catriona Gray).