From heartbreak to triumph, he didn’t just return he reigned.
After a soul-crushing loss in last year’s December pageant, he stepped back on stage this 2025 with grace, grit, and greatness. The result? A crown earned, a story told, and a town uplifted.
Q\&A Highlight:
As an Asturiasnon, what is the one thing in our town that you believe will truly make visitors ‘Dumdumon ang Asturias’?
“Everyone wants to be right, but not everyone wants to be kind. I grew up used to city life, but every time I step foot in Asturias, I’m enchanted—not just by the landscapes, cold springs, and caves—but by the people. Their kindness is something I’ve felt deeply, especially when I battled dengue. The people of Asturias cared for me like family. That’s what will make visitors ‘Dumdumon ang Asturias’—our kindness. If I become your Mr. Asturias, I will carry this value with me not just to welcome guests but to show the world what it truly means to be Asturianon.”
Advocacy with Heart: SDDP – Saving Dengue Patient Project
Born from a near-death experience with severe dengue, SDDP is a mission rooted in survival and service. From an ICU bed to a graduation stage, he turned tragedy into triumph—missing out on being summa cum laude, but proudly graduating as magna cum laude.
“The pain you’re facing now is nothing compared to the joy that is coming.”
🎓 Academic & Pageant Journey
• MAGNA CUM LAUDE, UC – College of Hospitality Management
• Dean’s Lister (Top 10 to Top 1 from 2021–2025)
• Leadership Awardee, 1.0 Internship Grade
• Internship at Marco Polo & Team Lead at Shangri-La
• Mr. Face of HM 2023
• Mr. Humanities 2024
• Mr. Intramurals 2024 – CHM
• CNDAA Swimming Medalist, Mr. United Nations, Promenade King, and more
Gratitude that Runs Deep
To the LGU of Asturias, Mayor Dumdum, pageant director Yancy Arnibal Pahayahay, his handler Jha-jha Montenegro, designers, supporters, and the people of Sta. Rita—his victory is theirs, too.
“We didn’t compete as rivals, but as brothers. That made this journey unforgettable.”
Final Words:
“I dreamed. I aimed. I manifested. I earned.”
A dengue survivor. A magna cum laude. A king with a cause.
This is not just a story of winning a title. It’s the story of a young man who dared to rise again, to lead with kindness, and to carry the spirit of Asturias wherever he goes.
