Bb. Turismo Filipinas KSA Winner Represents Fil-Com Saudi Arabia in International Pageant

It does take a community to embark on a pageant, let alone, an international pageant.  This expat resident of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia who works as a Medical Executive for an  insurance company has gained a village out of friends and supporters since she started her journey in the pageant scene under the guiding influence of Jeddah’s foremost event and entertainment organization, FAME (Filipino Artiste Migrant Ensemble), in their yearly event – The Ginoo at Binibining Turismo Filipinas KSA  (Mr. & Miss Tourism Philippines KSA) personality competition. From her co-candidates, to designers, stylists, make-up artists and fellow pageant enthusiasts – they were there to support and cheer her on.

Vivacious, and who is as eloquent as she is stunning, Mari Angeli Sambajon Magbanua who last year won Binibining Turismo Filipinas KSA 2018 1st Runner-Up here in Jeddah has once again, recently made splashing rounds in social media when she sensationally completed her first ever foray into the international stage.  Angeli, who originally hails from the province of Cavite in the Philippines through the affiliations of The Maharlikans was handpicked from among local models and beauty queens to represent the Filipino Community of Saudi Arabia in the recently concluded Miss & Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2019 held in Myanmar where she came out as one of the Top 9 Finalists from among the 21 official female candidates from different countries.  This year’s Miss Tourism & Culture Universe 2019 was Miss Tourism & Culture Universe-Indonesia Olivia Gunawan.  The international competition was held from 22nd to 31st August in various locations around the beautiful country of Myanmar showcasing its major cities Mandalay, Yangon, and the ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Bagan, Myanmar.  The grand coronation night took place in Yangon.

Angeli was also declared as one of the Top 5 Best in National Costume in which she wore a ‘Salakot Festival’ (‘salakot‘ is a local Filipino straw hat, thus the name ‘Festival of Hats’) inspired costume created by Tony Marasigan, a designer based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  She also got into the Top 5 National Dance Competition where she displayed her grace through a medley of Philippine traditional dances.

All of her friends and loved ones have witnessed the hard work and dedication that this woman has invested in her preparation for this competition and we have seen throughout the course of the competition how she was confident and well prepared. According to Angeli, ‘I told myself I am not going into this competition with a half-baked version of me.  I poured my heart out into this.  So I can confidently say I came to Myanmar with big guns blazing.‘ And with the able help of course from her designer and stylist friends both in Jeddah and back home in Manila.