My Timeline on the “Gentleman of Maguindanao and his Handler” issue

Posted by Norman on September 13, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Gentleman of Maguindanao Reggie Dimalanas


Timeline on the issue about Al-Reggie Dimalanas of Maguindanao and his handler Mobi

Timeline:
September 7, 2017:

During the talent competition of Gentlemen of the Philippines 2017 at SM Cherry Antipolo, more than twenty of the candidates performed their respective talents to be judged for the fast-track segment that will automatically give the top placer a spot in the semifinals. Three (3) of them were considered shoo-ins because of topnotch vocal quality – Jamil Permigones of Alabat (who was eventually named Best in Talent during the finals), Keny Ong of Ilocos Sur and Karlo Babiera of Dumaguete City. There was a tie for 3rd place, though, and Aaron Sangcap of Concepcion was also named a finalist who will perform 90-second live numbers each during finals night.

Mobi (or Bansai Saba-Samurai on FB) – who is the handler of Al-Reggie Dimalanas of Maguindanao – complained about the presence of one judge who is perceived to be the handler of Aaron Sangcap (who also happens to represent one of the Sponsors, David’s Salon). That was a lapse in judgment on the part of GCI’s Marketing Head Herald Domine who chose the individuals who will form part of the panel.

But in fairness to Aaron Sangcap, he delivered high on stage presence and audience impact. His singing voice may be no match to the aforementioned trio, but he was the most well-received by the audience.

Mobi messaged me about the whole thing. He was really hoping that his ward – Al-Reggie Dimalanas – would secure a talent finalist spot to be considered as possible fast-track winner. And the inclusion of the perceived handler of Aaron Sangcap angered him. The thing is, even if the scores were to be reviewed once more, there were at least three (3) more dance performances that earned higher scores in the final tally.

Thereafter, our constant exchange on Messenger led him to pull Reggie out of the competition. I asked him to reconsider. He wanted an assurance of fairness in judging. I promised him that I will scrutinize everything, and will do everything in my powers to get his ward a semifinal spot (but eventually outpowered by the Back to Zero decision in the finals) where the advocacy speech round will take place. I never guaranteed a title or anything far up the ladder of placement. He was still unconvinced. Below is the part of the chat that may not have been included in the maliciously posted screenshots of the PRIVATE conversation between Mobi and I:

Mobi: “Gusto ko lang assurance tito norman.. I will reconsider my decision but Lemme know give me 1 slot. And tell me what or how much (reasonable sponsorship) para masabi ko rin naging fair ang org sa Maguindanao. Tito norman don’t get me wrong pero thats my statement.”

Me: “Mobi, what do you mean how much? Nalilito ako sa part na yon because I have never been part of any negotiations na ganoon ☹️ My assurance kasi has no corresponding amount or anything”

I no longer replied after that.

September 8, 2017:

Rehearsal for the Finals was in full swing at the KF Camp and everyone (production team and candidates) in the group already found out that Reggie was pulled out of the competition. Another candidate – Mark Sy of Tarlac City – backed out due to personal concerns in his home town that we could no longer do anything about. So it was clear that we are down to 29 candidates.

The rehearsals lasted till late. Thereafter, I invited some of the candidates to grab a quick meal at nearby McDonald’s. At right about the same time that we were ordering, Reggie and his handler Mobi also arrived in the branch to buy food. I wasn’t in the mood for long discussions due to sheer tiredness.

Mobi simply stated that he was still firm in his decision not to allow Reggie to return. I answered him that the competition is back to zero (as earlier agreed upon by everyone during the rehearsals) to be fair. He neither reacted nor responded to that new development.

September 9, 2017:

7:30am Reggie Dimalanas spoke to me over the phone crying that he wanted so much to continue with the competition.

At that time, Mobi was no longer around and instructed his ward to talk to his elders. Reggie was staying with his parents and sister who flew in from Mindanao – and who did not have any knowledge about the pull-out and all. He was at a loss on what to do.

At that point, I never wanted to meddle with any decision to compete or not to compete anymore. But Reggie was still inconsolable. I asked him then to just open up the concern to his parents, and that whatever their decision is about rejoining or not should be the next step to take.

After an hour or so, Reggie messaged me that he already talked to his mother and sister who advised him to rejoin the competition. He attended the final and technical rehearsals afterwards.

Now Mobi posted another status on FB saying that I spoke to his parents about getting back in the competition. I never intruded in any way. Reggie opened up to his mother/sister and returned to the competition on his own volition. It was a risk Reggie wanted to take and I respected that.

End of story

37 comments on “My Timeline on the “Gentleman of Maguindanao and his Handler” issue”

  1. FULL LIST: Winners of Gentlemen of the Philippines 2017
    SOURCE: Pageanthology 101 posted on Sunday, September 10, 2017

    Thirty-one gentlemen competed for different titles at the grand finale of the second edition of Gentlemen of the Philippines held on September 9, 2017 at the Hotel Rembrandt Grand Ballroom, Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

    Paul Guarnes from Iloilo was declared as the grand winner at the end of the event. He holds the title of Gentlemen of the Philippines-Mister Universal Ambassador 2017. He succeeds last year’s winner Andrea Biondo and will now represent the Philippines at the Mister Universal Ambassador 2017 competition.

    FULL RESULTS:
    Mister Universal Ambassador-Philippines 2017 – Paul Guarnes – Iloilo
    Mister Model International-Philippines 2017 – Kevin Hernandez – North Italy
    Mister National Universe-Philippines 2017 – Rivendell Gandalf Lao – Tawi-Tawi (revoked?)
    Best Global Model-Philippines 2017 – John Alfred Bendana – England
    Mister Grand International-Philippines 2018 – Manny Quintos – Tarlac (revoked?)
    Mister Teen International-Philippines 2017 – Prince Argel Saycon – Bais City
    Mister Tourism World-Philippines 2017 – Richard Angelo Adarlo (Mister Hannah’s Ecotourism 2017 and not an official candidate of Gentlemen of the Philippines 2017)
    1st Runner-up- Keny Ong – Ilocos Sur
    2nd Runner-up – Wilfred Carlo Aquino – Leyte

    TOP 10:
    Iloilo – Paul Guarnes
    Bais City – Prince Argel Saycon
    Tarlac – Manny Quintos
    England – John Alfred Bendana
    Tawi-Tawi – Rivendell Gandalf Lao
    Leyte – Wilfred Carlo Aquino
    Ilocos Sur – Keny Ong
    North Italy – Kevin Hernandez
    Lucban – Kristian Sarmiento
    Wales – John David Berganio

    TOP 16 WITH FAST TRACK WINNERS:
    North Italy – Kevin Hernandez
    Bais City – Prince Argel Saycon
    England – John Alfred Bendana
    Wales – John David Berganio
    Tawi-Tawi – Rivendell Gandalf Lao
    Laguna – Miguel Castro
    South Italy – Jayjay Olano
    Lucena City – Ian Anthony Tan
    Tarlac – Manny Quintos
    Floridablanca – Christian Pot Castillo
    Leyte – Carlo Aquino
    Lucban – Kristian Sarmiento

    Mister Hannah’s Resort – Paul Guarnes – Iloilo
    Sash Factor’s People’s Choice Award – Aaron Sancap – Concepcion, Tarlac
    Best Talent – Jamil Permigones – Alabat, Quezon
    Gentlemen Charity – Keny Ong – Ilocos Sur

    SPECIAL AWARDS:
    Mr. Friendship – Christian Castillo
    Mr. Relumins – Aaron Sancap
    Hannah’s Choice Ethnic Wear – Keny Ong
    Hannah’s Best in Swimwear – Kevin Hernandez
    Hannah’s Best in Formal Wear – Prince Argel Saycon
    Mister Photogenic – Dan-Riel Cabigan
    Best in Ethnic Wear – Prince Argel Saycon
    Best in Swimwear – Prince Argel Saycon
    Best in Formal Wear – Paul Guarnes

  2. ITIGIL NA NGA KASI ANG MGA KABAKLAANG ITO!

    aNG BEAUTY CONTEST AY PARA SA MGA BABAE LAMANG AT BINABABAE, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS MALE BEAUTY PAGEANT (OH ENGLISH YON HA? NIRESEARCH KO PA!) AMBOT KUNG BAKIT KASI PINAGPIPIITAN PANG MAGKAROON NG MGA GANYAN GANYAN E PURO MGA PAMINTA RIN LANG NAMAN ANG MGA SUMASALI KUNDI MAN E MGA DESPERATE NA KUMAKAPIT SA MGA BAYOT IN THE HOPE NA MAGIGING TAARTITS KAYA KYEBER NA MAGPAKUPANG NG MAGPAKUPANG SA MGA BALYENANG MGA BAKLA MAKILALA LAMANG. AT ITO NAMANG MGA TALENT SCOUT, SUSMARYOSEP WAG NGANG BIGYAN NG MGA FALSE HOPE YANG MGA ANAK ANAKAN NYO BAKA IN THE END MADYUMBAG PA KAYO. AT SA MGA ORGANIZERS NAMAN, PAGTARONG MONG MGA BAYOTA MO HA? WALA NAMAN KAYONG RESOURCES AT SAPAT NA MARKETING SKILLS PARA MAGPAPAGEANT PAGEANT PA, ANO BANG IBANG BUSINESS NA LANG PAGTUONAN NYO NG PANSIN, BAT DI NYO I-TRY MORTUARY SERVICES WITH MASSAGE UPSTAIRS, AT DI YAN PAGEANT PAGEANT NA YAN NA WALA NAMAN KAYONG BUDGET, AT DI NYO NAMAN KAYANG IORGANIZE. AYAN TULOY KANDA UTANG UTANG KAYO NGAYON, ABONADO PA, SAKIT PA SA ULO, STRESS AT KAHIHIYAN NAPALA NYO!

    AND LASTY TO THE BLOGGER, MAGCONCENTRATE KA NA LANG SA PAGBLOBLOG HANE? GAYA NG DATI, YONG TIPONG BEAUTY PAGEANT LAMANG ANG PAKSA AT WALANG KINIKILINGAN AT WALANG PERSONALAN. MAGKABANGAYAN MAGKABILANG KAMPO IN THE END PROVES ONE THING, THAT WE ARE ALL PAGEANT FANS NO MATTER WHAT. WAG KA NA KASI SUMASAW PA SA MGA GANYAN GANYAN AT ME PAPOWERS POWERS A PANG NALALAMAN DYAN, KAYABANGAN NA YAN ATENG!

    ANYWAY, LET THAT BE A LESSON LEARNED (O ENGLISH ULI YON HA?)!

  3. so did anybody win? hahaha its been a week na ba norman at wala ka pa blog about the winner? LOL

  4. Saan na ang credibility ng male pagentas sa Pinas? Kaloka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Sa mga male contestants naman kung wala naman kasi ibubuga hwag na pagpilitan

  5. “I promised him that I will scrutinize everything, and will do everything in my powers to get his ward a semifinal spot….”

    This part of the statement bothered me.

    • me too. cringe cringe. I hope this is not what Tito Norman really meant and that he just simply ran out of (appropriate) words because of what he was feeling

      • Simple lang. Kung may hokus pokus si norman hindi niya dadaanin sa text dahil ibidinsya yan.

    • And I thought mali lang ako ng pagkaintindi nung nabasa ko…good thing you pointed it out. It doesn’t make any difference kung may involved mang amount or wala, the fact na may ganyang kalakaran “secure a whatever spot,” is just not fair. At si Norman ang gagawa? Medyo napangiwi ako dun ng very light. Norman naman.

  6. Lahat ng pageants may mga issue na anik anik depende lang kung gagawan ng kulay o istorya ng mga taong feeling na inapi. Call it bitterness or whatever pero no one wins sa ganitong chismisan.

    Lessons learned sa lahat.

    Norman please refrain from entertaining your bashers.

    • I beg to differ. Not all who are trying to ferret out the truth are bashers. Some questions simply deserve to be addressed in the interest of fair play.

  8. Hindi po ako nanglalait but more than this petty controversy, mas naalarma ako sa guts ni Reggie to join with high hopes na sya ang mananalo sa isang male beauty pageant. Anong klaseng pangako ba ang inialok ng mga ‘handlers’ at ‘organizers’ sa mga contestants para makalimutan nilang beauty pageant ang kanilang sasalihan? Hindi ba uso ang screening sa patimpalak na ito? Opo, hindi sya pangit ngunit hindi rin naman exceptional ang kanyang physique, hitsura at tindig para umasang sya ang mananalo. I don’t blame Reggie though. I blame the handlers and organizers for giving contestants like Reggie false hopes. Lesson learned: Tumingin sa salamin at huwag magpapauto sa mga handlers na may masasamang balakin.

    • What are you trying to ejaculate Eustaquia? Anong gusto mong palabasin? Lol. May masamang balak ang organizers? I hope you are just joking and your statement is just a sperm-of-the-moment thing. Lol.

      World Peace.

  9. Just like some of the readers I also don’t follow this pageant so forgive my questions of ignorance:

    1) What is the role of the blogger (Mr. Norman) in this pageant? Owner? Organizer? Invited blogger/Promoter?

    2) What organization is GCI and to whom does its erring Marketing Manager report to?

    3) In what capacity or role in the organization does the blogger have to “scrutinize everything and promise with all his powers to make the contestant land as semi-finalist”?

    4) The manager seems to believe that there is such a thing as “paid sponsorship”. Is there?

    While there is nothing wrong with any organization making money, or any owner having a say or influence over the results, the blogger seems less forthright in his narrative.

    World Peace.

    • JawsKuh, sila ba ang susunod sa yapak ni kian de los Santos 😄
      Eepal na naman cila alam nyo na lalo na c santasantita😋hihihi
      NO, yan lng masasabi ko sa mga yan😗
      Dios ko, bakit dumadami na ang mga galamay ng demonyo sa Pinas na pinamumunuhan ni acheng angelo reyes hijihi cherettte sabi ni ibong charerette 🤗

  11. anu ba yan…ang daming controversy ng GOTPH !!! hindi maayos sistema, considering na maliit na pageant lang to – candidates na nagpull out at mga nanalong di kuntento kaya nag back out, titles na hindi valid (grand international at national universe),issue ng credibility, at mga guests na nagcocomplain…good luck kung pano nyo aayusin yang image nyo…magsara na kayo

  12. That is why there is No credible male pageants in the Philippines, lahat may “pangako sa iyo…” Moments. #AllTeaAllShade

  13. Para namang kagwapuhan si candidate to cause a commotion!

    Yan ang importance ng “contract”. Karamihan sa mga “handler wanna be” laway Lang and puhunan! Basta male pageant asahan na Ang controversy! Diba Ginoong Pilipinas at Face of the year?

  14. Enebeyen!

    May point si handler ni Maguindanao.

    Hindi dapat nangyayari ang ganito sa pageant.

    Di ba ganyan din nangyari sa Mess World 2016 ang ND umupong judge.

    “Mahirap ibalik ang buong tiwala kapag ito ay nasira.”

    Sana lang makarecover ang male pageant na ito.

  15. Sa dinamidami nang kaganapan na hindi kanaisnais sa patimpalak ng Gentlemen of the Philippines. Sa tingin ko mararapat lang na ayusin ng mga organizers lahat ng mga problema bago sila magbigay ng paliwanag at habang may natitirang pagtitiwala ang mga kalahok sa mga organizers. Kawawang mga kalahok na dumanas ng hirap at puyat, pero ano ang kabayaran ng pagod nila. May mga nanalo nga pero binawi naman nila ang kanilang pinalunan na karangalan. May inimbita na bisita hindi pa nila sinunod ang kasunduan. Mayroon naman hindi sumali nanalo pa. Dapat pa bang pagkatiwalaan ang mga ganitong organizers, sorry Norman mahirap nang ibalik ang tiwala ng mga tao sa patimpalak na ito.

  17. From maguindanao, and the pictorial in traditional costume was taken in mati city davao oriental😄
    I miss Dahican and the pomelo in menzi farm which I guess owned by apo marcos 😋
    Hello davao, see u soon😗

  18. I am not following this pageant or any male pageants. Nevertheless, whatever the issue surrounding this pageant, I hope that everything will be water under the bridge now.

  19. Jusko bakla yan handler no???? Maliit na bagay seneseryoso!!! Buti pa ung ibang handler, maka chupa lang sa talent nila orayt na!!!!

  20. Much ado about nothing really.. I guess candidates should possess that level of maturity to handle their own affairs i.e. joining a pageant.

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