For its maiden Philippine search, Mrs. Philippines-Globe explored several parts of the country to come up with its pioneering batch of hopeful entrants. This year’s pageant roster is comprised of aspirants from Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon: Ruby Liboon (Las Piñas), Ma. Olivia David (Pasig), Pinky Siva (San Juan), Rochele Angeles (Bulacan), Beth Cruz (Rizal), Stephanie Malibiran (Batangas), Angel Co (Cavite), Joycelyn Agsaway (Bataan), Kimberly Grace de la Cruz (Olongapo), Jinky Baldoza, Patricia Cardel, Ma. Michaela Malupa, Lailani Llanto, Fe Garchitorena and Margie Atienza.
“This is a worldwide campaign platform supported by Hilary Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s about women empowerment through charitable acts. We’re very happy and excited because this is the first time that this prestigious pageant is coming to the Philippines and we’re lucky to have gathered an impressive lineup of very gorgeous and talented candidates. This is truly a great opportunity for these ladies to share their achievements and stories. Like the international pageant, we hope that this year’s winner will be an inspiration to other married woman on how they can use their beauty and talents to contribute to society,” related national pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo, a pageant titlist herself. She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Queen of the Year in 1995.
The 15 finalists will compete for the most coveted crown during the pageant night today, July 7, at 8 p.m., at the Harbour Garden Tent at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
“We were looking for particular profiles and backgrounds because they had to be women of substance first and foremost. Our initial worry was if we could attract the best crop as the pioneering batch. But when they showed up, all our fears were allayed. We screened for three sessions to come up with our 15 finalists. We have one candidate, Ma. Michaela Malupa, who has a lupus condition, but is carrying herself so well despite this. We hope to become the premier pageant of married women. The July 7 coronation night will roll out like a fashion show with an around-the-world themed production,” added Carla.
Some of the candidates will get the chance to win special awards like Mrs. Friendship, People’s Choice Award, Most Beautiful Face (Mrs. Photogenic), Mrs. Body Beautiful (best in swimsuit), Most Elegant Woman (best in evening gown) and Woman of Substance (Personality Award). To help determine the winners are Mrs. Malaysia-Globe 2011 Melinda Yap and Mrs. Singapore-Globe Melinda Chong, who win join the panel of judges for the evening.
The fairest finalist will be crowned as the first-ever country winner of the title. Not only will she win up to P700,000 worth of prizes, she will also represent the Philippines in the Mrs. Globe World finals on Aug 11 to 19 at the Rancho Mirage in California, USA.
“This search is more about pageant aesthetics, while doing legislative work for my district is service to the people,” said 40-year-old aspirant Fe Garchitorena, who actually served as councilwoman prior to joining the search.
More than just a celebration of beauty, Mrs. Globe in the US is a fund-raising project of The Women in Need Foundation to advocate women empowerment. Its cause is to help abused women and children recover their self-esteem. The search emphasizes that women, especially married ones, have the right to be heard, loved and respected and not to be treated as mere chattels by their spouses and society at large.
“To prepare themselves for the pageant finals, the girls will undergo Visual Poise classes from Patti Bettita, as well as yoga and belly dancing lessons. Then they’ll have to do outreach at the Samaritana in Rizal province. It’s a rehabilitation center for commercial sex workers that prepares them to re-enter society no longer as women of ill repute. Next year, our screening sessions goes to the rest of the islands. Our stories never end; women of substance never fade; we are meant to shine,” quipped Carla.
Mrs. Philippines-Globe will be presented annually henceforth by Event Visions Inc., the country’s franchise holder to stage the local search.

For more information, you may log on to their Web site www.mrsphilippinesglobe.com and/or the pageants official fan page at facebook.com/MrsPhilippinesGlobe2012.