ILONGGA STUDENT IS MISS TRANS GLOBAL PHILIPPINES 2021
I believe that to be an authentic ally and to be an advocate in general means that you should be integrating yourself in the actual community you are advocating for. A real ally, a genuine ally, integrates themselves, knows our stories and has the courage and harmony to fight for our rights as well. — Albiean Revalde
Nineteen-year-old student Albiean Revalde from Iloilo City, Iloilo, was crowned winner of the inaugural Miss Trans Global Philippines 2021. She bested 24 other candidates during the virtual coronation event, which was streamed live on the Miss Trans Global PH Facebook page at 8 p.m. on 6 June. The Industrial Engineering student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila will receive a cash prize of P30,000, represent the country at the Miss Trans Global pageant and “also advocate for transgender rights on an international scale.”
Miss Trans Global is the first international online transgender pageant. According to the organizer, Miss Trans Global is “born out of the need to connect with and strengthen the trans community,” and “prides itself on being the future of trans pageantry — where anyone with intelligence, creativity and purpose can win.” Its first competition was held in September 2020, won by Filipino activist, actor and writer Mela Franco Habijan.
To find the country’s second representative to the pageant, the local franchise opened a national competition. Application was opened in the first week of January for contestants who must be Filipino citizens identifying as transgender women above 18 years old, willing to advocate for transgender rights and fluent in English and/or Filipino. About 100 aspirants applied and 25 finalists were announced on 30 May.
The coronation night was hosted by social media personality Macoy Dubs and comedienne KaladKaren and featured performances from Regine VelasquezAlcasid and Addlib Divas, as well as messages from Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Rep. Geraldine Roman and transgender model Geena Rocero. It was ushered in by the national costumes and introduction segment, after which the top 15 were selected, competed in the evening gown segment and presented their campaigns. The top five went through the question-and-answer portion.
Revalde responded to the question fielded by Miss World 2013 Megan Young: “With so many efforts dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month, what does it mean to be an authentic ally?”
She answered: “I believe that to be an authentic ally and to be an advocate in general means that you should be integrating yourself to the actual community that you are advocating for. A real ally, a genuine ally integrates themselves, knows our stories and has the courage and harmony to fight for our rights as well. They don’t need to be in the limelight for us to shine. They just support us. Just like love, we love without conditions. And that is what composes a true ally.”
Aside from Revalde, the other winners were first runner-up and Best in Transcending Campaign awardee Noriel Gatan of Taguig City; second runner-up Mickey Alonso of Parañaque City; Best in Evening Gown awardee and top five finalist Jade Casrodes of Cebu City, Cebu; Best in National Costume awardee and top five finalist Ern Babano of Zamboanga Del Sur; and Social Media Star awardee Sashi Esmeralda of General Trias City, Cavite.
The selection committee was composed of Young; Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza; Super Sireyna, first Queen of Cebu, and Society of Transsexual Women in the Philippines executive director Rain Villagonzalo; Ganda Filipinas co-founder and executive director Naomi Fontanos; and Love Yourself founder and executive director
Ronnievinn Garcia Pagtakhan.
The other contestants were Anj de la Cruz from Silang, Cavite; Barbs Remedio from Cebu; Christine Mendoza from Naga City; Coco Eje from Bulacan; Eda Catabas from Cebu; Elle Aspilla from Laguna; Jeffzel Rana from Nueva Vizcaya; Julia Andoque from Catbalogan, Samar; Kendra Pescos from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte; Linzy del Mar from Cebu City, Cebu; Llanie Lagarbe from Misamis Occidental; Macky Torechilla from Antique; Mile Lugo from Bukidnon; Ming Torayno from Misamis Oriental; Olivia Hernandez from Iloilo; Razen Delarmente from Bukidnon; Rica Salomon from Quezon City; Shine Bathan from Cebu City, Cebu; and Vince Caparas from Malolos, Bulacan.
Miss Trans Global Philippines was presented by LoveYourself Inc, TRANScend by LoveYourself and Spaces MNL .