The SUN HK : Baguio bet wins Ms. Barkadahan ’23 pageant

Ms. Barkadahan 2023 Maricel "Icel" Minez Miranda, Candidate #4, (center) is flanked by 2nd runner up: Rexcel "Butterfly" Rolan De Jesus (#3) and 1st Runner Up: Melissa "Mels" Sabico Ablao (#11)

Maricel "Icel" Minez Miranda of Baguio City bested 11 other finalists to become the Ms. Barkadahan 2023 in the biggest beauty pageant for OFWs, held last Sunday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wanchai.

Miranda, 30, won prizes amounting to P500,000 in the return of the biggest pageant for OFWs in Hong Kong after a three-year break due the the Covid-19 pandemic.

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She took the top prize after going through three phases of the event: opening production number, talent (singing and dancing where the girls performed as two groups), and swimsuit competition, which included the question and answer portion.

Emerging as the pageant’s 1st runner up was Melissa "Mels" Sabico Ablao (Candidate #11) and 2nd runner up was Rexcel "Butterfly" Rolan De Jesus (Candidate #3).

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Barkadahan sa SmarTone, the sponsor of the pageant, also gave away P500,000 worth of load vouchers in a raffle that had 10 winners from the audience: five winners of P10,000 and one winner each of P25,000, P50,000, P75,000, P100,000, and the grand prize of P200,000.

The pageant capped a three-month search that began with an audition on Dec. 4, 2022 and was decided by the audience by voting for their favorite candidate with their tickets.

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“With all those who participated here, winners or not, they developed their self-confidence, communication skills, poise, character, overcoming shyness and many others. Total makeover is the result when you join this biggest and longest running pageant,” Barkadahan sa SmarTone said.

Featured in the program was the internet influencer DJ Loonyo, who sang and performed some of the dance moves that made him a TikTok star. He was supported by a host of local Filipino talents, cheered on by a crowd made up of Barkadahan subscribers.

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In keeping with with the pageant theme of flight, the contestants were in cabin crew outfit in their opening dance number. Alvin Dayrit of Smartone and his two co-hosts were also wearing pilot outfits, the ticket looked like a boarding pass, and the venue was designed to make the audience feel they were in an airplane with all the sound and visual effects.

The pageant began with the candidates, dressed as flight attendants, introducing themselves and explaining their choice of destination.

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Ms Barkadahan Icel’s dream destination is South Korea. “Since I was young I’ve loved watching Korean dramas. And I am a fan of Korean actors and actresses. That’s why I want to meet them in person and see how beautiful their place is,” she said.

Mels, 37 years old who hails from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, chose Canada. “Because it is a multicultural country with a rich diversity and because of the wildlife and no pollution,” she explained.

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Butterfly, 33, of Bacolod City chose Israel “because when it comes to photogenic destinations Israel is the place to go for its historical and natural sites. It is also known as the Holy Land for it is home for some of the world’s holy sites.”