27 single moms, married women compete in Mrs. Tourism Pageant 2019

Twenty-seven empowered single mothers and married women will compete for five titles in the Mrs. Tourism International 2019 pageant which will be held at the Tanghalang Pasigueno in Pasig City on Oct. 28.

Pageant organizer Ovette Ricalde, also of Megastar Productions, said that the winners will become the faces and voices of the pageant's advocacy to stop racial discrimination and promote her own social platform.

Titles up for grabs are Mrs. Tourism Earth, Mrs. Globe, Mrs Tourism International, Mrs. Tourism World, and Mrs. Tourism Universe.

Ricalde said that pre-pageant activities on national costume, talent, and fun shoot were held in Tagaytay, Batangas, and Pangasinan.

During kick-off ceremonies, the candidates paid a courtesy call to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and to the city's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.

Mrs. Tourism International 2017 Dr. Risa Caldoza joined the candidates in the courtesy call.

Sought to comment on issue of domestic violence, Caldoza said that battered wives should be empowered by keeping themselves busy.

"As a doctor, I had patients who are battered especially the younger ones. Kasi s'yempre wala pang voice iyan eh. They are under the thumbs of their husbands. So I would tell them that they have to empower themselves. The No. 1 thing that they can do is work because if they are not working, lahat hihingiin sa asawa;

"But if they have money of their own, they can stand for their rights. And they have earning of their own. They will have the power to buy their own things, and gain that much needed self-confidence;

"For battered women, the confidence is very low. So I advise them to get work  earn money and try to stand up for themselves. It's hard but at the end of the day, they can do it," said Caldoza. - (Robert Requintina)