Filipina beauty queen wins another title in Vietnam

A Filipina brought honor to the Philippines after winning the first Miss Asean TV Charm contest held in Vietnam last March. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Mutya ng Pilipinas-International 2008 Jonavi Raisa Quiray bested contestants from other Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries to bag the title in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi, the DFA said the contest was held March 17 to 22. "She is the first ever winner of the pageant," the DFA said of Quiray. It added Quiray also won the Best in Ao Dai Costume competition. The contest was organized to usher Vietnam's Asean chairmanship in 2010 and other Asean major events to be held in the country this year. It was also aimed at tightening the solidarity and promoting mutual understanding and friendship among ASEAN nations. Each country was asked to send two contestants who are singers, dancers, models, broadcasters, or news editors. The contestants competed in four categories: a traditional costume show, a talent contest, an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) show, and a formal evening wear show on the last day of the pageant. Aside from the contestants' performances, a video clip was presented, featuring the beautiful landscapes, architecture, handicrafts and cultural folk art of the different Asean countries. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV