Filipinos have developed a strong appreciation for South Korean culture in recent years. Propelled in part by the large and still growing presence of Korean expatriates (now numbering by the hundreds of thousands), Korean entertainment, in particular as represented by the K-Pop music phenomenon, the top-rated Koreanovelas on television dubbed in Filipino and even Korean films like the runaway hit “Train to Busan” have changed the way we look at our East Asian neighbors.
It was therefore just a matter of time until the Philippines becomes the venue of choice for a beauty pageant specifically for Korean women who are currently residing in the country.
Sponsored by The Korean Times, the very first Miss Korea Philippines as presented by City of Dreams and BDO-SM and organized by ShowBT Philippines was launched at the Grand Ballroom of the posh casino hotel and resort.
Organized in part “to foster the relationship between South Korea and the Philippines and serving as a medium of cultural exchange between the two countries,” It was also meant “to encourage the change of prejudices and perceptions about Philippines safety, and promoting the country’s beautiful environment and heart-warming people.”
During the presentation of the 12 candidates of the pageant’s maiden edition, it was revealed that five of them are still in their late teens (18 to 19 years old), most of them are still in college and studying in universities like University of Asia and the Pacific, University of the Philippines, De La Salle University and the Lyceum of the Philippines.
At least three are now currently employed, including one who works as a translator for Samsung Electronics, a customer service representative for Solaire Resort & Casino, and a practicing interior designer.
Over the course of the pageant, these ladies will undergo beauty and personality trainings, including stage performances coached by a professional Korean trainer.
Since Miss Korea Philippines will serve as one of the preliminary pageants that will also include similar stagings in China, Japan and the USA, the winner of the pageant will represent City of Dreams as its brand ambassador and more importantly, will go on to compete in the coming Miss Korea 2017 pageant that will take place in South Korea.
In turn, the winners of the Miss Korea 2017 will compete in the Miss International and Miss Earth pageants.
The grand coronation night for Miss Korea Philippines is scheduled on May 30 at Chaos Manila night club at City Of Dreams Manila.
