When you hear the word “pageant,” chances are you picture evening gowns, tiaras, and sparkling national costumes. You think of contestants strutting in swimsuits or flawlessly styled dresses. 

In short—you think of women.

But over the past few years, male pageants have slowly but surely stepped into the spotlight—and Mister Pilipinas Worldwide is leading the charge.

In this republicasia exclusive, we sat down with the reigning kings of Mister Pilipinas Worldwide to get real about what it’s like to represent the modern Filipino man. 

We are joined by Jether Palomo (Mister Pilipinas Global), Kitt Cortez (Mister Pilipinas Eco International), Kenneth Cabungcal (Mister Pilipinas Supranational 2025), Raven Lansangan (Manhunt International), and Kenneth Marcelino (Mister Cosmopolitan). 

From the stigma around men joining pageants to how they deal with anxiety and self-doubt, nothing was off-limits. Spoiler alert: these guys aren’t just eye candy—they’re using their platforms to start important conversations, and they’re doing it with heart.

Male Pageantry

Male pageants have existed for years, but they’ve often flown under the radar—seen as side acts or less “serious” compared to their female counterparts. 

So we asked the reigning kings of Mister Pilipinas Worldwide: What does it mean to be a man in pageantry today? 

Mister Pilipinas Global 2025, Jether Palomo, agrees that male pageantry is still unexplored. 

“For me, it means true masculine essence. I feel like being able to express yourself on stage has always been shunned upon for men. However, this platform allows us [not only] to thrive in that nature, but also, push the boundaries of what male pageantry standards are,” he said. 

Jether Palomo at Republicasia

For Mister Pilipinas Eco International Kitt Cortez, pageantry is a form of self-expression. 

Kitt Cortez at Republicasia

“Well, I think whatever gender it is, pageant or pageantry in general offers a significant space for self-expression and that’s why you know no matter gender it is,” he said. 

“I think pageantry suits all genders. It’s a space where we can freely do whatever we do and we can showcase whatever it is that we have to the world.”

For Raven Lansangan, Mister Manhunt International, the pageant stage isn’t just about self-growth—it’s about creating impact to the community. 

Raven Lansangan at Republicasia

“My advocacy is all about helping the youth,” said Raven. 

He shared a heartfelt memory of celebrating his birthday in the last four years with the less fortunate kids.  

“I celebrated my birthday for the last four years in the charity with the less fortunate and abandoned children. I always find the time to give something back especially for my community,” he said. 

“And this [pageantry] is a safe space for us to basically [let people]  know our ideas, especially our advocacy. This is a platform for us where we can speak and share our thoughts and ideas.”

Meanwhile, for Kenneth Cabungcal, male pageantry must also be seen.

Kenneth Cabungcal at Republicasia

“We, pageant kings, have a purpose, just like women,” he said. 

“I hope the world will also allow us to be [their] voice and to [represent] their platforms. Like me, I also have a personal advocacy.”

Cabungcal’s advocacy is about youth empowerment through sports education. 

“As someone who grew up in a less privileged community, as someone who grew up in the market, I am a product of sports education. Sports helped me to finish my education. And education helped me to become a better person today,” he shared. 

Kenneth Marcelino, Mister Cosmopolitan Philippines, also shared the same sentiments. 

Kenneth Marcelino at Republicasia

“Men can also do pageantry, hindi lang basta babae— lalaki din. Katulad namin mga Mister Pilipinas Wordwide and other pageantry na pang-male sa buong Pilipinas and Worldwide. So, we also have our own advocacy and we can influence a lot of people,” he said. 

“Their story is also important to share not just for ourselves or our family, but also [for] others. Kaya ayun yung bagay na nakakainspire sa mga tao,” he added. 

On Male Mental Health

Let’s be real—men aren’t always given the space to talk about their feelings.

Mental health is still a taboo topic for a lot of guys, especially in a culture where masculinity is often tied to toughness and silence.

But for the kings of Mister Pilipinas Worldwide, opening up is part of the job.

“We need to communicate,” said Jether.

“I feel like, if we bridge that gap of not understanding one another, or we are able to communicate towards one another—it will all truly help men’s mental health.”

For him, many men silently struggle with self-doubt, which can lead to deeper mental health issues.

“There’s this one thing that really hinders you, and it’s self-doubt. Expelling that self-doubt through communication and through love really shows how we can heal each other.”

Kitt Cortez shares a similar sentiment. While he believes it’s important to acknowledge and feel your emotions, he also stresses the need to stay in control of them.

For Kitt, it’s about finding that healthy balance—embracing how you feel without letting it consume you, especially when facing life’s challenges.

“That’s the message that I want to say, that I want to relay to all the young men out there. It’s okay to have your emotions but don’t let your emotions get the best of you,” he said.

For Raven Lansangan, Mister Manhunt International, the conversation around mental health hits even closer to home.

In a moment of vulnerability during the interview, he opened up about his personal struggles.

“I also [experienced] mental breakdowns where I find myself feeling alone when I [encounter] problems,” he said.

“But the brave thing that I did is to ask for help. That’s the best thing that I did,” he added, emphasizing that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness.

“Eventually, I [overcame] all challenges.”

Kenneth Cabungcal echoed this call for emotional openness.

“In order for us to break the stigma,” he said, “we have to recognize that men have emotions too.”

“It’s also the time to speak what we feel, say to the world what we feel. I hope that the world will accept us and know that we have [also] vulnerabilities,” he added.

Finally, Mister Pilipinas Worldwide winner Kenneth Marcelino reminded us that struggling with your mental health doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.

“For me, ang masasabi ko lang is it’s okay na ma-feel natin na malungkot tayo o nag-iisa tayo, kasi ito yung mga bagay na nakakatulong sa’tin para mas maging matibay tayo,” he said.

More than a Crown

Mister Pilipinas Worldwide isn’t just about looks—it’s about purpose.

These kings are challenging outdated ideas of masculinity by opening up about mental health, pushing for community change, and showing that men belong in pageantry too.

By using their platforms to speak up and stand out, they’re not just representing the modern Filipino man—they’re helping to redefine him.