Occidental Mindoro renews partnership with Miss Universe Philippines

Because of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization’s (MUPH) thrust of uplifting pageantry in the country as well as its commitment to children’s welfare, the local director for Occidental Mindoro has renewed his partnership with the national pageant.

Arjay Borbon has been fielding his province’s delegate to the Miss Universe Philippines pageant since 2022, and he has extended his tenure as local director for the 2027 edition of the national competition.

He has also already crowned social work student Goldah Nicole Samson Manzano, a veteran of local pageants in the province, as Miss Universe Philippines Occidental Mindoro for 2027.

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The coronation, as well as the signing of the contract renewing his partnership with the national pageant organization, was held in Pasig City on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 4, in the presence of MUPH Director for Local and Asia Pacific Search Arnold Mercado.

“I believe that the Miss Universe Philippines platform is really a great, great thing to help the community, to help the nation, that is why I renewed,” Borbon told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

“I really love one of their adocacies about the children, and about the communities, that is why I’m staying here. That’s one of the things I admire about Miss Universe Philippines, despite all the bashing,” he added.

His newly appointed queen is a graduating college student taking up social work, which is perfectly in line with the national pageant organization’s advocacies.

Manzano was crowned Miss DPWH Occidental Mindoro, and was a runner-up at the Miss DPWH MIMAROPA pageant. She was also a runner-up at the Binibining San Jose contest at her hometown. She was also proclaimed Bb. Pag-asa Turismo in 2023 and Bb. Argrikultura of San Jose in 2024.

Mercado said Manzano is already the fourth woman to join the 2027 roster of Miss Universe Philippines delegates. This early, Palawan, Cabadbaran and Manila have also already chosen their delegates to next year’s national competition. /ra