Why these Supranational winners keep coming back to the Philippines

It seems certain global titleholders just can't get enough of the Philippines! Reigning Miss Supranational, Harashta Haifa Zahra, and Mister Supranational, Fezile Mkhize, recently made another trip to the country, and it turns out Filipino cuisine played a key role in their decision to return.

Both titleholders shared their delightful experiences with local dishes during previous stays. Mister Supranational Fezile Mkhize expressed his love for adobo, mentioning he's tried various versions like pork, beef, chicken, and even vegetable adobo, simply captivated by the flavors.

For Mkhize, this recent visit marked his third time in the Philippines. He was just in Manila last month for the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide 2025 finals. His first trip dates back to 2019 for the Mister World pageant, also held in Manila, where he even extended his stay.

Miss Supranational Harashta Haifa Zahra also had a notable culinary adventure. She recounted how Miss Supranational Asia and Oceania, Alethea Ambrosio, introduced her to Jollibee. Among the items she sampled, she particularly enjoyed the iconic Chickenjoy.

It's worth noting the strong bond between Zahra and Ambrosio, who were close friends during the 2024 Miss Supranational competition in Poland. Japan's Yuki Sonoda, another friend from the pageant, was also with them during Zahra's Manila trip in December last year.

The recent joint visit saw Mkhize travel to Indonesia to meet Zahra before they flew together to Manila on May 5. Mkhize mentioned making this trip directly from the Philippines and had not yet returned to his home country of South Africa.

The primary purpose of their return was to officially welcome the new Filipino delegates who will be competing in the upcoming international pageants. These titleholders were recently chosen at the Mister Pilipinas Worldwide 2025 and Miss Universe Philippines 2025 events.

Kenneth Cabungcal was named Mister Pilipinas-Supranational 2025 at the April 28 finals. On the women's side, while Katrina Llegado was crowned The Miss Philippines-Supranational 2026 at the May 2 Miss Universe Philippines finals, it is her predecessor, Tarah Valencia, who is slated to compete at the 2025 Miss Supranational pageant in Poland, with Llegado representing the country the following year.

Accompanying the reigning titleholders on their trip was Miss Supranational president Gerhard von Lipinski, who warmly welcomed Valencia, Llegado, and Cabungcal into the organization.

Sharing her advice, Zahra encouraged Valencia and Llegado to embrace their journey, emphasizing that the organization is like a new family. She highlighted the importance of authenticity, urging them to simply be themselves among participants from diverse backgrounds.

Mkhize extended his congratulations to the Philippines for selecting Cabungcal, praising him as a genuine individual with a compelling personal story. He also noted Cabungcal's confidence in engaging with media and discussing various topics.

Tarah Valencia will be competing with the goal of securing the Philippines' second Miss Supranational crown, following Mutya Datul's historic win in 2013. Kenneth Cabungcal aims to achieve the Philippines' first-ever Mister Supranational victory, seeking to surpass Brandon Espiritu's commendable second runner-up placement.

The anticipation builds for the upcoming competitions. The Miss Supranational 2025 finals are scheduled for June 27 in Malopolska, Poland, corresponding to June 28 in Philippine time. The Mister Supranational 2025 contest will conclude the following day, June 28, also in the same Polish province (June 29 in Philippine time).