TACLOBAN CITY– A send-off celebration was hosted on Thursday (Feb.15) for Miss Universe Philippines April Rose Tambal by the organizers of MUPh Leyte and her sponsors as she embarks on her journey to capture the most coveted crown, which will allow the winner to represent the country in the biggest beauty pageant in the universe.
Tambal, the first Leyteña crowned as MUPh Leyte, received a warm farewell before her flight to Metro Manila.
A press conference, sponsored by the Tacloban Asia Star Hotel, was held with local media allowing Tambal to practice her question-and-answer skills before meeting pageant enthusiasts for another press conference in the country’s capital.
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 will officially present the candidates for this year’s search on Sunday (Feb.18), during the official sashing event at the Manila Hotel.
When asked which candidate she is most excited to meet, Tambal named Alexie Brooks of Iloilo among those she looks forward to seeing and talking to in person, along with her fellow candidates from Eastern Visayas, Tamara Ocier of Tacloban, and Natasha Jung of Kananga.
To focus on her goal of winning the crown, Tambal shared that her strategy would be to concentrate on herself and her advocacy, aiming to showcase to fellow candidates and a wider audience the beauty that Leyte province has to offer.
Tambal’s advocacy focuses on access to safe and potable water and sanitation, an issue she personally experienced during her childhood and teenage years.
She added that for her gown, they have enlisted the expertise of Leo Almodal, one of the country’s top fashion designers, who will create two gowns for her—one for the preliminary competition and another for the finals night, sponsored by Diamond Star owner Wilson Ching.
Tambal’s team shared that the gown Almodal will create for her will represent her as a Leyteña and will be inspired by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that ravaged the region 10 years ago.
The MUPh pageant and coronation are tentatively scheduled for May.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
