The list of candidates for the Mutya ng Taguig 2024 has been revealed and one bet has stood out because of her age.
Rhonda Felizmeña, a grandmother from Barangay Pitogo, one of the EMBO (enlisted men’s barrio) barangays in Taguig, will be competing in the pageant slated on May 25.
Her candidacy garnered various reactions from netizens on social media.
Rhonda Felizmeña, 70, is the candidate of Barangay Pitogo in the Mutya ng Taguig 2024 beauty pageant (Photo from the Taguig City government)
Barangay Pitogo candidate Rhonda Felizmeña during the Mutya ng Taguig 2024 photoshoot (Photo from Kagawad Jay Montallana's Facebook account)
Mutya ng Taguig 2024 candidate Rhonda Felizmeña with Barangay Pitogo Chairman Ives Ebrada (Photo from Barangay Pitogo's Facebook page) 
Barangay Pitogo candidate Rhonda Felizmeña (front, center) with the other candidates of the Mutya ng Taguig 2024 pageant (Photo from Kagawad Jay Montallana's Facebook account)
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Felizmeña revealed that she is 70 years old, has two children and nine grandchildren.
She is the only senior citizen among the 35 candidates for this year’s Mutya ng Taguig 2024. Felizmeña said she is working hard, ready and confident to vie for the beauty pageant title.
This year, the Taguig City government removed the maximum age limit for candidates and marital or parental status, allowing Felizmeña to qualify in the screening.
“Nagpost po sila niyan. Ang nakalagay po doon ay walang restriction. In-open po nila sa lahat 18 pataas. Binuksan nila yung pintuan para sa dun sa mga married o may anak na, dun sa may edad na kaya pa naman sumali sa ganung kanilang patimpalak (They posted about it. It was stated that there was no restriction. They opened it to 18 and above. They opened the door for those who are married or with children, those who are old who are able to join such contest),” said Felizmeña.
She said it was Barangay Pitogo Kagawad Jay Montallana who approached her and urged her to enter the Mutya ng Taguig 2024 as the representative of the barangay.
“Hindi na po ako nagdalawang isip dahil sa barangay naman po, representative ng Barangay Pitogo (I did not think twice because it is our barangay, representative of Barangay Pitogo),” she said.
Felizmeña once worked as a staff for a party list at the House of Representatives. She is now a volunteer in the barangay lupon.
She has experience in competing in a pageant. She was declared the winner in the Bonggang Lola pageant in 2017.
Rhonda Felizmeña as the winner of the Bonggang Lola pageant in 2017 (Photo from Rhonda Felizmeña's Facebook account)
Seeing other candidates for the Mutya ng Taguig who are younger than her, Felizmeña said she initially felt hesitant to join. She belonged to the second batch of candidates that underwent screening.
“Nung nasa second batch po ako, talagang kabataan ang nakita ko. Sabi ko parang hindi ako angkop. Pero nandito na e. Kinausap naman ako ng organizer ng Mutya na ‘ok lang as long as kaya mo (When I was in the second batch, I saw younger candidates. I told myself that it seemed that I didn’t belong there. But it's here. The Mutya organizer talked to me and told me, ‘It’s ok as long as you can do it),’” she said.
She learned that she was the only senior citizen among the candidates on the first day of their meeting.
“Doon ko nakita na ako lang pala ang naging senior. Karangalan ko lang din na mapasama ako sa kanila (There I saw that I was the only senior. It is my honor to be included among them),” she said.
Felizmeña has been attending practice and rehearsals for the pageant. She is particularly giving attention on how to wear shoes with five-inch heels.
Some netizens have posted negative comments against her candidacy and questioning why Barangay Pitogo decided to send her as candidate. But Felizmeña said she passed the screening set by the organizer of the pageant.
“Kung hindi naman ako nakapasa sa screening...It means na qualified naman ako kaya siguro napasama po ako dun sa mga kandidata (If I didn’t pass the screening...It meant that I am qualified, that is why I was included among the candidates),” she said.
Felizmana praised her fellow candidates.
“Sa mga kalaban ko siyempre, talagang hangang-hanga ako sa mga kabataan po ngayon. Talagang ‘wow,’ wala po akong masasabi sa kanila (To my competitors, I really admire the young today. Wow, I don’t have anything to say about them),” she said.
To all those who are bashing her, Felizmeña has this message: “Ito lang po ang masasabi ko sa kanila. Naging popular ako. Ako ang talk of the town. Sa mga nag-ba-bash, salamat po sa inyo. Ngayon kung kaya po ninyo yung ginagawa ko, sa paghihirap ko sa rehearsal (This is my message to them. I became popular [because of you]. I have become the talk of the town. To those who are bashing me, thank you. Now if you can do what I do, including the hardship during rehearsal).”
She added, “Kaya niyo, palitan niyo ako. Nandito lang ako, sabihin lang ninyo. Anytime, bababa ako at kayo po ang ipapalit ko (If you can, you can replace me. I am just here. Just tell me. I will step down anytime and I will let you replace me).”