Sunday Specials: Three for the Road in Miss Tourism International and more

Recency-wise, we can all remember the back-to-back win of the Philippines in Miss Tourism International courtesy of Rizzini Alexis Gomez and Angeli Dione Gomez. But in terms of primacy, there was another Filipina who captured our first. Maria Esperanza Manzano was elected Miss Tourism International back in 2000. Little may be known about her whereabouts nowadays, but the former Miss Quezon City (before becoming a Mutya ng Pilipinas winner) must be living a happily married life at the moment.

But even before the three aforementioned victories, the country has already notched two other crowns from the same organizers back when Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International was still being given away as an independent title and not a 1st runner-up equivalent of late. Sherylle Santarin (sister of the late Bb. Pilipinas International 1993 Sheila Mae Santarin) and Racquel Uy were the winners in 1996 and 1999, respectively.

So as you can see, the Malaysian officials of D’Touch International Sdn Bhd are really quite fond of our candidates in their competitions. And I doubt if that will change in the years to come. They know that we send them topnotch delegates. And being geographical neighbors also helps in facilitating a Filipina winner’s fulfillment of her responsibilities to the organization.

P.S. MTI2013/14 Angeli Dione Gomez will be back home this coming Tuesday. Hope she will be given a rousing welcome as well.