Mutya ng Pilipinas (MNP), in 2019 known as Mutya Pilipinas, is one of the two oldest annual national beauty pageants in the Philippines (est. 1968). The other being the Binibining Pilipinas pageant (est. 1964).[1][2][3] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition was not held in 2020 and 2021.
History
The Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant has produced:
Five Miss Asia Pacific titles: Maria del Carmen Ines Zaragoza in 1982,[4] Gloria Dimayacyac in 1983,[5] Lorna Legaspi in 1989,[6] Michelle Aldana in 1993,[7] and Sharifa Akeel in 2018.[8]
Five Miss Tourism International titles: Maria Esperanza Corazon Manzano in 2000–2001, Rizzini Alexis Gomez in 2012–2013, Angeli Dione Gomez in 2013–2014, Jannie Loudette Alipo-on in 2017–2018, and Cyrille Payumo in 2019-2020.[9]
Three Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International titles: Sherylle Lynne Santarin in 1996, Racquel Uy in 1999, and Leren Mae Bautista[10] in 2015.[11]
One Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International: Barbara Salvador in 2010.
One Miss Tourism Metropolitan International: Glennifer Perido in 2014.
One Beauty of the World title: April Love Jordan in 2009.
From 1977–1991 Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia and Mutya ng Pilipinas World competed in 2 international beauty pageants such as Miss Asia Pacific International and Miss World.[12] The runners-up compete in Miss Wonderland International, Miss Tourism International, Miss Intercontinental, Queen of Clubs International, Queen of the Year and Miss Expo International.
One of the titles of Mutya ng Pilipinas, which was first named Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia has undergone name changes starting from 1965 until 1983 for the Miss Asia Quest. Then it was renamed Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific for Miss Asia Pacific Quest from 1984 until 2004. In 2005, the title was renamed once again to Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International for Miss Asia Pacific International Quest. Then in 2006, the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant was completely & officially scrapped with the national titlist nowhere to compete internationally and was retained for 3 years. The winner in 2006 was sent to Miss Intercontinental and in 2007 to Miss Tourism Metropolitan International.
The Mutya organizers finally changed the title to Mutya ng Pilipinas International in 2008 as the top winner and the second winner as Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism. In 2010, the top prize received the title of Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International and the co-winners with the titles of Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental & Asia Pacific International.
In 2014, Miss Intercontinental Philippines delegates are no longer selected by Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization.
In 2018, the primary winners of the pageant namely Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International, Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International, Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism Queen of the Year International, and Mutya ng Pilipinas Global Beauty Queen.
In 2019 (on its 51st year), the franchise and leadership was handed over to Cory Quirino who is now the President of re-branded Mutya Pilipinas, Inc. and Fred Yuson as the Chairman of the Board of the Mutya Pilipinas, Inc. Organization.
On July 27, 2022, a press conference was held in BGC (Bonifacio Global City), Taguig with the organization reverting back to its former honored and dignified name of Mutya ng Pilipinas. In its 52nd year, with the collaboration of the dynamic-duo of Cory Quirino and Fred Yuson, a newly-conceptualized international pageant is to emerge later this year titled Miss Mutya International. This pageant will objectify the vast culture and heritage of the Philippines which will be conveyed to the rest of the world in its inauguration and in its ensuing years. Furthermore, the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization and its global pageant elaborated its core principles and mantra of inclusivity and sustainability.
(Mutya (n.) means or synomous to 1. jewel; 2. pearl; 3. charm; 4. darling; 5. amulet.)
In 2023, the organizers will be launching the newest international pageant christened as Miss Mutya International with its concept closely-analogous to the erstwhile Miss Maja International (held in Spain) which was later renamed to Miss Maja del Mundo (Miss Maja of the World) until its last episode in 1995. Maja (fem.) for nice girl in Spanish was distinguished in Madrid back in the 18th century were the Maja wore elaborate traditional Spanish dresses/outfits. The Maja was the frequent subject of painter Francisco Goya and became one of the popular and informal symbols of Spain. Miss Mutya International (translated as Miss Jewel International or Miss Pearl International) will showcase the Philippines' tourism, costumes, customs, culture, and traditions to the rest of the world.
The current national winner, Iona Violeta Abrera Gibbs, was crowned as Mutya ng Pilipinas on December 4, 2022. She will be the Philippines' flag-bearer at the first Miss Mutya International pageant to be held at undisclosed date. Later, she was announced to be the official delegate for the upcoming Miss Intercontinental 2023.
Mutya ng Pilipinas lost the Miss Asia Pacific International franchice to The Miss Philippines in September 2023.
^α Mutya Pilipinas 2019 — 1st Runner up, Cyrille Payumo was later promoted to take the Mutya Pilipinas Tourism International 2019 title.
^β The reigning Mutya ng Pilipinas 2019, Iona Violeta Gibbs was later appointed as Miss Intercontinental Philippines 2023 after the organization acquires the franchise of the international pageant.
^γ Mutya ng Pilipinas — Luzon 2022 (Runner Up), Shannon Robinson was later appointed as Miss Environment International Philippines 2023 after the organization acquires the franchise of the international pageant.
^Durre S. Ahmed Gendering the spirit: women, religión & the post-colonial response Page 110 2002 "In symbolic terms, the oyster shell refers to the body and the pearl refers to the evolving immortal spirit within the ...... Mother Country/Motherland) — the divine spirit who gave birth to the people of the place, or the animating, dynamic and creative spirit behind the nation – the folk spirit: the Mutya ng Pilipinas or the muse/genius/goddess of the Philippines."
^ed. Hany Hanna ICOM Committee for Conservation, Meeting. Icom-CC : Wood, Furniture and LacquerInternational Council of Museums 2006 Page 69 – "... values, models of quality, and ideals of excellence. In contemporary times, this concept is represented by the image of the beautiful woman. Hence, most beauty pageants in the Philippines are called 'Mutya ng Pilipinas' or 'Mutya' of a certain locality."
^Erlinda Enriquez Panlilio Teacher to tycoon: the life and times of Trinidad Diaz Enriquez 2000 Page 141 "... established a beauty contest in 1968 called Mutya ng Pilipinas (Pearl of the Philippines) intended to select a winner who would represent the country in the Miss Asia Quest beauty pageant, which was likewise organized by Biboy and his friend Dr. Bibit de Ocampo and promoted as the first international beauty pageant based in the Philippines."
^Filipinas Volume 10, Num.105–116 2001 Page 58 ""It's entertainment, pure and simple. Not unlike soap operas. In such a drab life you've got to have some form of diversion." For beauty queen and Mutya ng Pilipinas organizer Lorraine Schuck, it's the poverty: "Until the economy gets better and everybody will be busy making money, people will always be following these pageants... Schuck says for the last eight years she's been handling Mutya ng Pilipinas and Miss Asia-Pacific, she has never had problems finding sponsors. "They know we reach their target market and they've never left us all these years."."
