Last year, a controversy broke loose as two different male pageants in the Philippines respectively chose a representative to the Guatemala-based pageant, Mr. Expo World. Ex-Man of Provoq, Michael Raymond Lim, was chosen by the Mister Philippines 2007 organizers while the Ginoong Filipinas organizers chose dermatologist Dr. Joseph Pallera. Ultimately, it was Dr. Pallera who became the Philippine delegate to the international pageant as it was revealed that the Mister Philippines  2007 organizers did not possess the Philippine franchise to Mr. Expo World, and to the other titles they gave out, Mr. International and International Man. On the other hand, the longest running male pageant in the Philippines, Ginoong Filipinas, has been sending the Philippine representative to the said international pageant for several years now.

However, starting this year, the search for the country’s representative to Mr. Expo World competition will be chosen via a newly organized pageant, Mr. and Ms. Expo World-Philippines. And in its initial salvo into the local pageant industry, it boasts of 14 handsome gentlemen who would vie for the title of Mr. Expo World-Philippines and the chance to represent the country in the Mr. Expo World 2008 to be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala in November. These 14 gentlemen are: Athan Collado, Anton Gomez, Dennis Resaldo, Patrick Joseph Perlas, Julian Jerry Binarao, Jerico Argana, Johnner Paulo Parales, Hiroshi Torobu, Athlas Gonzales, Joshua Pacquiao, Mark John Sellado, Cargean Racho, Carlito Rosadino, Jr., and Neil Bryan Bernardo.

The finals night of Mr. and Ms. Expo World-Philippines will be held at the Metro Bar in West Avenue, Quezon City on October 6, 2008 at 7:00pm. Tickets will be available at the gate. Mr. and Ms. Expo World-Philippines is organized by OJY Entertainment Productions.

Special Thanks to Mr. Jay Javier of Fotofabrik for the photos in this post taken in the picturesque Puerto Azul Resort in Maragondon, Cavite. Pics of the other contestants after the jump.