Stephen Harold Lilley Jr. of Sablan, Benguet proudly waved the Cordilleran flag as one of the finalists in the coronation of the first Great Man of the Universe Philippines pageant at Novotel Manila in Quezon City on Nov. 13.
Lilley was crowned the Great Man Culture and Tourism, besting 40 contestants from all over the country and overseas.
“Thanks a lot to my kapamilya, kail-yan, my fellow Igorots who supported me in my journey. This is our victory, I hope I made you proud,” Lilley said.
Six other Cordillerans made it to the various parts of the competition with top 20 finishers Lucas Empiso of Benguet, Irvin Tan of Baguio City, and John Rowel Recile of Mountain Province.
Making it to top 30 is Ifugao’s Endell Bona Guway and Itogon, Benguet’s Deleper Comising while Miguel Jarrel Bas-ilen of La Trinidad, Benguet made it to top 40.
Lilley also bagged the best model award and great man of Nanostix while Em-piso was awarded the sports and wellness challenge winner and Tan bagged the Great Man Kumu award.
The seven Cordilleran participants made the cut for the face-to-face round of the competition.
Joshua Lillehagen of Bohol was crowned the inaugural Great Man of the Universe Philippines title and also received the darling of the press award during their exposure trip in Benguet and Baguio City.
Jupheter Franco of South Cotabato was named Great Man Education and Sports while the Great Man Top Model title went to Rizmel Cabigao of Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The Great Man Pro Earth title went to Justin Carl Felas Ong of Tacloban City while pageant veteran EJ Malik of Lanao del Norte was proclaimed Great Man Ambassador.
Aaron Jo Reyes from the Filipino community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was hailed Great Man-Filipino community.
The other awardees are Renzo Austria of Paete, Laguna as Great Man-Luzon, Apple Pentocan Lao of Leyte as Great Man-Visayas, and Dan Kemuel Erok Mabano of Lugait, Misamis Orientalas Great Man-Mindanao.
GMU PH regional director Ephraim Paul Paran of Wangal, La Trinidad, said the success of the Cordilleran contenders in the national pageant is attributed to the support of the local government units they represented and individuals and groups from the region. – Ofelia C. Empian
