Pageant In Newark Celebrates ‘Empowered Filipino Women’

NEWARK, NJ — Newark Symphony Hall recently hosted the 16th annual Ms. Philippines Pageant, bringing together the Filipino college community and their families from across the Tri-State Area.

The Ms. Philippines Pageant is an intercollegiate event presented by Rutgers Newark’s Filipino Student Association, which celebrates “empowered Filipino women who are reaching new heights while defying stereotypical female social norms.”

Since its launch, the pageant has been hosted at Newark Symphony Hall in the Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall.

This year’s theme was Lumaban, or “to fight.” The theme invited contestants to showcase how they are “finding beauty in the battles they are fighting,” whether within or beyond themselves.

Featured contestants represented 22 student-led Filipino organizations from the tri-state area including Liga Filipina at Columbia University, FINEST at New Jersey Institute of Technology, FLASH at Seton Hall, BARKADA at The College of New Jersey, MUFASA at Montclair State University, and IFA at New York University, among others. Each contestant raised money for their respective charities with the winner being awarded more money for her charity.

The Ms. Philippines 2023 winner was Belle España, who represented Seton Hall University’s FLASH. España chose Talang Dalisay, a youth-led mental health nonprofit based in the Philippines, as her charity.

“Hosting the Ms. Philippines Pageant for almost two decades is just one example of how Newark Symphony Hall supports and encourages cultural expression and acts as the preeminent destination for creative works and bringing vibrant communities together,” CEO Talia Young said.

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