LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Joe Marzon Dulunuan, a native of Hungduan, Ifugao, was recently crowned as the first Mr. Grand Philippines – Cordillera during the Coronation Night held at the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) gymnasium.
He bested 18 candidates from the different parts of the region who joined the prestigious beauty contest that was first held in the municipality.
During the coronation night, candidates showed elegance in categories such as National Costume, Swimwear, Formal Wear segments, and Advocacy Pitch. For the pre-pageant, the contestants showcased their national outfits. This is followed by their showcase of swimsuits.
Dunuan captured the attention of both the judges and the audience with his confidence, charm, and cultural pride, winning the Best in Formal Wear and being one of the Smile Ambassadors. As the competition advanced, Dunuan’s grace under pressure helped secure his place in the Top 5 alongside the four candidates: Candidate no. 5 – Jaren K. Atopen from Buguias, Benguet; Candidate no.11- Delefher D. Comising from Itogon, Benguet; Candidate no. 19 – Granville Michael Louie M. Raymundo from La Trinidad and lastly, Candidate no.8 – Jareed Lou W. Tido from Buguias, Benguet.
In a tightly contested final, Dunuan’s composure and advocacy sealed his win, while Jaren K. Atopen was named 1st Runner-Up, and Delefher D. Comising took home the 2nd Runner-Up title. Meanwhile, the Mr. Tourism Globe Philippines 2024 is Granville Michael Louie M. Raymundo, and Jareed Lou W. Tido earned the title of Man Hot Star Philippines-Cordillera.
In an emotional interview, Dunuan admitted he did not expect to win.”Unexpected na lang talaga ‘tong ano ang pagkanalo ko kasi hindi ko alam na mananalo ako so, ang iniinsist ko talaga kahit hindi ako mag top 5, mag top 11 man lng ako tapos uwi na ako after this, pero worth it guys sa pagpupuyat,” Dunuan said. He also shared his motivations, thanking his supporters for their unwavering belief in him, “Yong mga taong naniniwala sa akin, maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo and I hope ipagpatuloy n’yo lang and mawalan ng support sa akin. Thank you so much guys.”
As he will soon face the national stage, he remains optimistic and determined. When asked about what made him stand out in the competition, Dunuan shared, “Well, siguro nag-eenjoy lang ako and pinakita ko yung totoong ako.” He also advised aspiring candidates to pursue their dreams with passion. “If you have a dream just work hard for it, and take a risk, like me.”
The competition also included an Advocacy Pitch segment, where the Top 11 candidates presented their causes, including helping students with their educational needs, youth advocacy in culture and identity, use of social media to influence, and promoting physical and mental health wellbeing. Candidate no. 2 – Eddiemar Pacis, Candidate no.19 – Granville Michael Louie Raymundo, and Candidate no. 4 – Kelley Kurt Pli-ingen were recognized for their Best HIV Advocacy Pitch, impressing the judges with their dedication to raising awareness.
Hon. Belmer Elis, the regional director of this event, expressed his pride in the success of the Mr. Grand Philippines Cordillera pageant. “Actually we are really looking for not only for the beauty, it’s not only for the poise but we are looking for a representative for Cordillera and to represent it in national that it can bring really the pride of Cordillera, it can really bring all the best of Cordillera region,” Elis said. He further emphasized the importance of advocacy and culture in the selection process, noting that “Bibitbitin’ yan ni Mr. Grand Philippines Cordillera kung gaano kayaman ang ating kultura -kultura dito sa ating Administrative Region -Cordillera.” He also looked forward to Dunuan’s representation of Cordillera in the upcoming Mr. Grand Philippines national competition, which will take place in Manila on October 20.
In the pre pageant, the staff and the judges were also given the recognition for their contribution to the production of the programs.
As the pageant ended, Dunuan and the other winners were celebrated for their success, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Cordillera’s representative as he prepares for the national stage. By Angeline Kafuyao and Joan Dalacan
