Eastern Samar bags Miss Universe PH 2023 national costume award

Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, May 5) — Miss Universe Philippines Eastern Samar Airissh Ramos topped the national costume competition in Tacloban, Leyte on Thursday for her outfit that paid homage to Filipino farmers.

The special part of the competition highlighted the country’s rich agriculture sector.

Ramos tapped designer John Hubert Capito, who crafted the national costume from tikog (grass) and buri (palm). The embellishments were carefully handmade by students from Oras National High School, a municipality near Ramos' hometown, Arteche.

The Miss Universe aspirant described her costume called "The Golden Harvest Season in the East" (An Bulawanon nga Katbari ha Sinirangan) as a "love letter to our hardworking farmers; a serenade to the gods."

She brought home a ₱50,000 cash prize. Miss Benguet Joemay-an Leo and Miss Southern Leyte Kimberly Escartin were in second and third places.

Ramos also bagged the Tingog ng Kababaihan for Visayas, a special award given by pageant sponsor Tingog party-list.

While the national costume competition was a success, the national costume photo shoot was canceled as the rice field venue in Santa Fe town was flooded due to heavy rainfall in Leyte.

The 38 candidates visited some of the known tourist destinations in Leyte and Samar, such as the Sohoton cave and natural bridge, Sa-ob cave, Caluwayan beach resort, and Kalanggaman Island.

Eastern Visayas Tourism Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said their visit was a good marketing strategy to boost the tourism industry.

“Over 95% of the Miss Universe Philippines candidates, organizers and technical team are first-timers in Eastern Visayas," Tiopes said. "While some trace their roots to some towns in the region, they never had the chance to visit."

"So every place they visit, every dish and delicacy they taste, every craft they see, every local entertainment experience, every Eastern Visayan they engage with is a revelation of our natural bounty, our culture and heritage, artistry and abilities, character and values,” she added.

The Miss Universe Philippines coronation will be held on May 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The winner will succeed Celeste Cortesi in representing the Philippines in the prestigious international beauty pageant in El Salvador.