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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Back-to-back pageant king comes home to victorious celebration

Back-to-back pageant king comes home to victorious celebration

Published Dec 4, 2023 03:54 pm

At A Glance

  • During the new King's homecoming and victory party at the posh Kao Manila in Newport World Resorts, MOF Founder and Head Carlo Morris Galang said he foresaw de Vera's now historic win.
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RJ de Vera (3rd from left), the Philippines’ back-to-back Man Hot Star winner, comes home to a victorious celebration at Kao Manila with (from left) Drei Arias, Carlo Morris Galang, and Lloyd Figueras.

Gerona, Tarlac native RJ de Vera achieved what is seen as “nearly impossible” in pageantry when he scored a back-to-back win for the Philippines in the annual Man Hot Star International search in Thailand. 

 One of the proclaimed winners in the 10th edition of Misters of Filipinas (MOF) earlier this year, de Vera won over competitors from all across the globe to duplicate the feat of last year’s Philippine representative and Man Hot Star winner, Jovy Bequillo.

During the new King’s homecoming and victory party at the posh Kao Manila in Newport World Resorts, MOF Founder and Head Carlo Morris Galang said he foresaw de Vera’s now historic win.

“During the time na nasa Thailand kami, sobrang ganda ng performance niya because of those who trained him in Misters of Filipinas.  Handang-handa si Rj.  Kada segment alam kong talagang ginalingan niya.  Nung nandun kami, alam na alam ko nang siyang siya na talaga yung mananalo nung time na yun.”

De Vera is still in town to finish his commitments locally before flying back to Thailand to complete his reign as Man Hot Star.  “After his victory, tatapusin muna nya mga media guestings niya dito sa Philippines then after that, babalik sya sa Thailand for his duties and responsibilities as Man Hot Star International,” Galang disclosed.

Meanwhile, Kao Manila has recently become the hub for the biggest pageantry-related celebrations, from the launch of Miss CosmoWorld to the side-by-side after parties of The Miss Philippines and Mister Pilipinas Worldwide to this recent special event for de Vera.

“Ang Kao kasi nagiging icon super club na sya for victory parties, for launchings, for press conferences.  The best thing about Kao is the people na nandoon.  During the time na nandun kami sa Kao, sobrang well-treated kami ng maayos at saka sobrang happy kami kasi nag-enjoy talaga yung buong team during Rj’s victory party,” explained the MOF big boss. 

Kao Manila Marketing and Sales Manager Aj Lozano shared why the popular establishment is open to hosting celebrations related to pageant royalty: “They’re a good market.  They represent a segment of the market that we’d like to capture.  We want beautiful people to frequent Kao Manila; they’re a good sample of that demographic.”

Also present during de Vera’s victory party were MOF Tourism and Culture Universe, Drei Arias and MOF Teenager Universe, Lloyd Figueras, who, according to Galang, are already feeling the pinch of de Vera’s recent win: “Yung ibang Kings, syempre nape-pressure sila, especially si Lloyd saka si Drei.  Nakapanood sila dun sa Thailand.  Hopefully, lahat sila mag-crown. China-challenge ko na sila.”

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