FROM LEFT: Mrs. Baguio City Susan Villanueva, Mrs. Quezon Province Jannith Lauce Romantico, and Mrs. Bulacan Province Rowena C. Almocera

Mrs. Bulacan Province Rowena C. Almocera, Mrs. Quezon Province Jannith Lauce Romantico, and Mrs. Baguio City Susan Villanueva are three official candidates in the Mrs. Face of Tourism 2023 pageant.

During a meet-and-greet event held in Quezon City recently, the three moms talked about joining a national pageant and answered the final question in the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 pageant.

"I have a supportive partner. Kahit saan kami pumunta parang adventure na rin ito sa amin," said Villanueva, when asked about the support she got from her family when she joined the contest.

Almocera, a former actress, said that she asked permission from her children before she joined the contest. "I'm a single mom so sa mga anak ko na lang ako nagpa-alam. They are proud of me."

Romantico said that her mom didn't initially approve of her decision to join the competition for financial reasons.

"At first ayaw ng mother ko kasi gastos na naman daw. You know how expensive it is to join pageants. Sabi ko 'mama, sasali ako to develop my confidence' and my clients in real estate will trust me because of my crown. Later on na-realize nila na okay naman pala," she said.

(At first my mother didn't want it because she said it would be expensive. You know how costly it is to join pageants. I said 'mom, I will join to develop my confidence' and my clients in real estate will trust me because of my crown. Later then they realized that it was okay.)

The three candidates were also asked about their thoughts on the recent Miss Universe Philippines 2023 finals where Michelle Dee emerged as the winner.  They also gave their best shot at answering the final question in MUPh: "Recently, the Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign: 'We give the world our best.' For you, what is the best that we could offer to the rest of the world? Why do you consider it so?"

"Kung ano ang kaya kong gawin na makatulong sa mga bata, for them to educate and mould them bilang mga pag-asa ng bayan. So yung passion ko to help ang ibibigay ko sa kanila," said Villanueva, a real estate broker.

(What I can do to help children, for them to educate and mold them as the hope of our country. So I will give them my passion to help.)

Almocera answered: "Self-improvement, self-motivation, a strong mind, and of course humanity."

"Sa akin first-hand experience. Ako kasi pag nag-offer, ibig sabihin, na experience ko siya. Yun ang ibibigay ko. Kaya yung mga tao kapag sinabi ko na maganda ito, naniniwala sila kasi nga first-hand experience 'yun. Kaya kami sa tourism, iniikot namin ang Pilipinas to experience kung ano ang meron sa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa. Madaling magsabi pero paano mo sasabihin kung hindi mo pa na-experience? Sana maging open din tayo sa improvement," said Romantico, a realtor.

(I have first-hand experience. When I make an offer, it means that I have experienced it. That is what I will give. So when people say that it is good, they believe that it is first-hand experience. So we are in tourism, we tour the Philippines to experience what is available in different parts of the country. It's easy to say but how can you say it if you haven't experienced it yet? I hope we will also be open to improvement.)

The three moms also shared their favorite candidates during the MUPh 2023 competition.

Villanueva, 52, said that they were rooting for Misses Baguio and Bohol. "Magaling talaga sila sa pagrampa."

"Sumisigaw talaga kami ng Bohol! I like the way she walks and the way she answered her question. Makikita mo sa kanya yung sincerity," said Almocera, 50.

Romantico, 36, added: "Gusto ko rin si Bohol pero hindi naman tayo judge so irespeto na lang natin ang decision nila. Bigyan natin ng chance na mapatunayan ni Michelle (Dee) na she deserves the crown. Magkakaiba tayo ng preference pero let's support Michelle."

(I also like Bohol but we are not judges so let's just respect their decision. Let's give Michelle (Dee) a chance to prove that she deserves the crown. We have different preferences but let's support Michelle.)

Almocera clarified that they were not bashing Michelle. "Maybe the judges saw something in Michelle na hindi natin nakita kaya ganun. Taga Bulacan ako pero nakulangan talaga ako kay Miss Bulacan. Sabi nga namin baka she's not feeling well. Pero ang galing rumampa ni Miss Zambales." She also admires Melanie Marquez, the mom of Michelle.

The three mothers said that they became friends when they joined the pageant. They vowed to remain friends even after the competition. The date for the grand coronation of Mrs. Face of Tourism 2023 will be announced soon.

Annie Refrea, the founder of the pageant, said that the Mrs. Face of Tourism is an annual beauty search that aims to bring the beauty, excitement, and wonder of the Philippines to either audience by putting the focus on the Philippine tourism industry and all its allied services and aspects.

"Its chief objective is to design beauty pageants that would instill a stronger awareness and a wider understanding of the Philippine tourism industry through the showcase of skills, talents, and love for culture by modern women of marital stature. It aims to provide a venue for married, separated, single moms and widowed to develop themselves to their fullest potential," Refrea also said.