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If there's one thing reigning Miss Asia Pacific International Sharifa Akeel is most proud of, it's the land property she bought for her poor family in Mindanao. "I'm so happy because at an early age,  I've already paid in full the land property I bought for my family, " said Akeel during an exclusive interview after the Miss Asia Pacific International 2019 press presentation held at a posh hotel in Pasay City Tuesday. After buying a piece of land, the 22-year-old beauty queen is now focused on building a small home. "Bahay naman po ngayon ang ipapatayo ko." It is common knowledge that Akeel, former teacher, grew up in a shanty in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. Come Oct. 9, Akeel will turn over her crown to one of the 55 contestants in this year's Miss Asia Pacific International which will be held at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. Asked about the lessons learned in her pageant journey, Akeel said: "I learned about re...

Hemilyn Escudero-Tamayo announced last Jan. 4 that she has resigned as president of the Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant, one of the most enduring and prestigious national beauty contests in the country. In a statement sent to media friends, Hemilyn said: "Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tulong at pagmamahal na binigay nyo sa Mutya Ng Pilipinas at sa akin especially during our 50th anniversary celebration; "It is with a heavy heart though that I have recently tendered my resignation as President. Sana po ay manatili ang malalim nating pagkakaibigan. Salamat sa pag turing ninyong kapamilya sa akin. Salamat po ulit and God Bless," she said. Hemilyn did not give any reason for her resignation. On July 20, 2017, Hemilyn was appointed as the newest president of the Mutya ng PIlipinas beauty contest. She replaced Jacqueline Tan, who is now the president of the Miss Asia-Pacific International contest. Tan held the "Mutya" post for five year. Sour...

Mutya ng Pilipinas president Hemilyn Escudero-Tamayo says peace of mind and having a baby girl are some of her birthday wishes as she turns a year older today, Nov. 27. “My birthday wishes are good health for myself and for my family, more blessings and peace of mind, and a baby girl,” says Hemilyn during an exclusive interview on her advance birthday celebration held at the Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City last Sunday, Nov. 25. She adds: “Also, I want to keep all the friends that I have now. Wala na akong mahihiling pa. Peace of mind na lang talaga. Ayoko ma-stress.” The former beauty queen-turned-philanthropist is the daughter of former Casiguran, Sorsogon City Mayor Dr. Oscar Escudero. She is married to Philippine Air Force Major Richard Antonio Tamayo, whose family owns the University of Perpetual Help DALTA Medical Center. They have two sons. Hemilyn also prays for the success of her “Mutya’’ queens in international pageants. “All m...

Residents of Lebak in Sultan Kudarat cheered as the motorcade of newly crowned Miss Asia Pacific International Sharifa Akeel made its way along the roads of this coastal municipality in Mindanao on October 21. This was the first time that the new Filipino beauty queen came to her hometown after winning an international crown last Oct. 5. Prior to that, Sharifa earned the right to represent the Philippines in the international competition when she won Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific 2018 last Sept. 16. After the motorcade, it was home sweet home for the 21-year-old beauty queen. But pageant fans were surprised when they saw Sharifa's home in these emotional and heartwarming photos provided by Jan Kristoffer Felarca. There were no balloons, buffet tables with delicious food, invited guests or fun fare when the Muslim teacher-turned-beauty queen arrived at her humble home. Only her small family was there to give her a tight embrace and a big kiss to congratulate her on he...

Newly crowned Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akee has offered her victory in the international competition to the Filipinos, especially to the Muslims Sharifa, 21, who won the title for the country after 25 years, dedicated her victory to the Filipinos in a post on Instagram. Her full post reads: "Joining Mutya ng Pilipinas this year was never a part of my plan because all I want was to take the Board Exams, but God wanted me to learn one thing, that is to never give up on your dreams. One day I realized, why not give it a try; "Everything seems like yesterday, should I say the dream I had yesterday is now a reality. After all the challenges I've been through on this journey were all finally paid off. It is indeed true that there are things that sometimes our mortal heart and mind failed to conceive; "I still can't believe that I was able to handle all the things that confronted me. Since the first day of my journe...

The Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 pre-pageant activities wrapped up as Miss Philippines Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel won the Best In Evening Gown Competition during a special show held at Alta D' Tagaytay Hotel in Tagaytay City on Friday, Sept. 28. First-runner-up honors in the same competition went to Miss Brazil, Gabriela Palma; and Miss Uruguay, Natalia Gurgel, 2nd runner-up. Other winners of special awards were: University of Perpetual Help Systems Ambassadors -  India - Abhilasha Agrawal; Japan - Momoe Yada; Philippines - Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel; El Salvador - Olga Maria Flores Ortiz; and Myanmar - Yee Yee San; Philippines - Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel, Miss ISkin; and Myanmar - Yee Yee San, Miss Zanea. From left: Miss Brazil, Miss Philippines, Miss Uruguay and reigning Miss Asia Pacific Francielly Ouriques. Miss Congeniality: Australia - Sapir Turkenitz Miss Photogenic: Kazakhstan - Didar Atmaja Fifty girls are ...

Miss Brazil Gabriela Palma topped the swimsuit competition of the Miss Asia Pacific International (MAPI) 2018 pre-pageant held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur Sunday. Palma was also proclaimed Miss Safari Hotel and Villas special award. Miss Philippines Sharifa Akeel finished first runner-up in the MAPI pre-pageant competition. Miss Uruguay Natalia Gurgel was 2nd runner-up. Fifty girls from around the world are competing in the 50th edition of the contest. The grand finals will be held on October 4.                                               Miss Philippines, 1st runner up (swimsuit)                                                 Miss Uruguay, 2nd runner-up (swimsuit)

Fifty candidates from around the world are competing in this year's Miss Asia Pacific International beauty pageant. This year's official candidates: Armenia Sona Danielyan; Australia Sapir Turkenitz, Bangladesh Marjana Chowdhury, Belgium Danique van Holsten, Bolivia Gianna Ruth Ardaya Ramirez, Brazil Gabriela Palma, Cambodia Annchhany Kha, Canada Ariel Jingjing Cao, China Liang Xiang Ying, Colombia Melissa Lopez Rios, Cook Islands Teuira Raechel Shanti Napa, Costa Rica Jessica Melania Gonzalez Monge, Ecuador Natalia Andrade, El Salvador Olga Maria Flores Ortiz, France Pauline Dubedat, Germany Madeline Andrea Ferrara, Greece Christina Alicia Lazaros, Guatemala Alejandra Castro, Hong kong Ching Yee Chong, India Abhilasha Agrawal, Indonesia Yohanna Gabriela, Italy Kim Ashly Vito, Japan Momoe Yada, Kazahkstan Didar Atmaja, Korea Songhwa Kang; Macau Yang Jing, Malaysia Crystal Tung Lu Yie, Mauritius Manjusha Faugoo, Mexico Lisset Perez, Mongolia Misheelt Narmandakh, Morocco ...

A Muslim woman was among the five major winners of the 50th Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant held at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City September 16. Filipino-Qatari Sharifa Akeel, 21, of Sultan Kudarat, was named Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia-Pacific International title in the pageant that promotes "beauty tourism." Fifty contestants took part in this year's edition of the contest, the most number of girls in the history of Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.                              With Mutya ng Pilipinas President Hemilyn Escudero-Tamayo But Akeel will have no time to prepare anymore for the Miss Asia-Pacific International 2018 pageant as she will immediately check-in at a hotel with more than 50 foreign candidates of the international pageant and get ready for the press presentation at the MOA grounds starting Tuesday, Sept. 18. Akeel has been the favorite candidate to win the coveted title sinc...