The Philippine Online Chronicles

Following Maria Venus Raj’s trip to the top five of the Miss Universe pageant, three new Filipino beauty queens have been crowned by Mutya ng Pilipinas.

The coronation was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City on Saturday night, August 28, 2010.

Barbie Salvador of Pangasinan was crowned Miss Tourism-International, while Carla Lizardo of Bicol won as Miss Intercontinental, and Filipino-American Christi Lynn Ashley McGarry, representing the Pinoy communities in the American East Coast, won the Miss Asia-Pacific title.

Other contestants noted were Bogo City's Ma. Tanchelie Lobete who won the Mutya ng Pilipinas Maybelline New York award, Pampanga's Ayie Tanqueco who was recognized as Miss Congeniality, Vigan's Anna Gabriella "Gabby" Estimada  who won the People's Choice Award courtesy of opmb.com, and Manila's Carolyn Ty who won Best In Cultural Costume.

During the final question and answer round, the top five contestants were asked, “What do you think is the main obstacle that our country faces when it comes to tourism, and as a beauty ambassador for tourism, how do you think you can help to solve this problem?"

Salvador immediately pegged the question to the recent hostage crisis perpetrated by a former policeman and which resulted in the death of several tourists from Hong Kong. The incident has since raised security concerns that threaten tourism in the country.

“I would like to extend my condolences to the victims of the hostage crisis that we had earlier this week,” Salvador said.

“I think that the major problem that we have in the Philippines is the tainted image of the Philippine security in terms of tourism,” she added. “As a tourism ambassador, I would like to send out my message to all the world that the Philippines is still your home here in Asia. And we love you.”

Lizardo had a similar answer, saying that “that the biggest problem that Philippine tourism faces today is bad publicity."

"I think that with all the bad events that happened, are the things that were highly-publicized internationally. As a beauty ambassador of the Philippines, I believe that it would be my responsibility to uphold the image that we'd want to project to people in other countries. So, by being a positive role model, I believe that I can change [that] image,” she said.

McGarry also referred to the recent hostage crisis, saying, “The biggest obstacle I believe the Philippines has right now is the concern of one's personal safety, with the incident that just recently happened in Manila.”

“With my title, I plan to advocate an improvement on the police system. But not only that, but to remind everyone around the world that this could happen anywhere, within every race, within every country, and the Philippines still will always be a beautiful place to visit," she said.

In keeping with their new titles, the three winner will be representing the Philippines in the upcoming international Miss Asia-Pacific, Miss Intercontinental, and Miss Tourism-International pageants.

In addition to their crowns, each of the major title winners also won P100,000 cash, a Star Cruise Package for two worth P50,000, P100,000 worth of services from Marie France, P15,000 worth of services from Facial Care, teeth-whitening package and endorsement contract from Dental Town, a QV27 Duo cellphone with Swarovski Crystals, and a six-page editorial feature in Mega magazine. Runners-up also won P25,000 cash and Star Cruise Package for two worth P50,000.