PH wins in 2 pageants
Winwyn Marquez became Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 last Saturday night (Sunday morning in the Philippines) in Bolivia, while Karen Ibasco was crowned Miss Earth 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena last Saturday night.
Ibasco’s win was controversial especially since she faced off with Miss Colombia Juliana Franco in the last stretch of the contest. Colombia and the Philippines have had a hot pageant rivalry ever since Miss Colombia was mistakenly announced as the winner in the Miss Universe 2015 pageant when the crown rightfully belonged to the Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach.
Colombians were angry at the Miss Earth 2017 result, some ranting on social media that the contest was paid.
But Franco was gracious. She congratulated Ibasco on her Instagram account: “Congrats to my beautiful Queen @karenibasco. You are truly (a) queen. Thank you for everything and I really love you.”
Meanwhile, Marquez was the first Filipina to compete in the Reina Hispanoamericana pageant.
She stood out among 27 contestants. The contest is among countries with Hispanic heritage and culture.
“The Hispanic culture is not about language only. It’s about love for God, love for country, love for history and culture and love for family. As a Filipina with a unique heritage, I have instilled that. I am ready to promote the Hispanic culture not just in Asia but in the whole world. It is time to celebrate the Hispanic culture. It is meant to be celebrated,” Winwyn said during the pageant.
Winwyn is the daughter of Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez.
Moreno said she was supposed to go with her daughter to Bolivia but her doctor would not allow her. But she was in constant communication with son Yeoj Marquez, who accompanied Winwyn in Bolivia, through Viber.