We are now on pair #5 for the blog series introducing the Official Candidates of Mr & Miss Hannah’s World Tourism Philippines 2018. The girl will look familiar to some as she screened for Bb. Pilipinas 2018, while the guy is a returning contender who had to withdraw last year due to an unfortunate turn of events.

Meet John Paul Juanillo #TheComebackCandidate and Sophia Gabrielle Stefanoni Nunag #TheBeautifulChemist.

21 year-old John Paul Juanillo is hashtagged #TheComebackCandidate for a good reason. You see, he was already an Official Candidate during the 2017 edition of the pageant. But just when the group was about to head off to Pagudpud for the Preliminaries, he got hit by the varicella zoster virus (Chicken pox for you) and withdrew from the competition with a heavy heart. But he’s back this year, and how!

“What makes me unique is the set of life experiences that made me the person I am today. Looking back, I encountered a series of difficulties in my family life. As a young kid, I grew up separated from my parents and was taken cared of by my grandparents because of financial struggles. Sadly, my parents have already parted ways since then. I know it’s easy to give up under such dire circumstances – broken family and all. But these turning points have made me stronger and more resilient. I don’t easily give up on things.”

JP is one tough cookie. If returning to the go-sees and undergoing another callback all over again is any indication, he should be one formidable opponent to watch out for among the male candidates. He is definitely in the here and now.

First things first.

Happy Birthday, Sophia Gabrielle Stefanoni Nunag!

This dusky beauty is now a Bachelor of Science degree holder in the field of Chemistry from the Tarlac State University. She took up the course to hopefully pursue Medicine Proper in a year or two. In the mid-range, she plans to find herself specializing in Pediatrics – an interest spurred by her love for kids and a late brother with Down Syndrome.

“An interesting thing about me is that I always feel responsible for everyone to be positive when things are not going right anymore. I always motivate friends and fellow students with my enthusiasm just so I can contribute and instill beautiful memories in them. I think it’s really the unlimited energy I have that makes me unique.

And ooh, I am a certified cat lover!”

Stef might look familiar to some beauty contest fans who followed our favorite national pageant months back. But Mr & Miss Hannah’s World Tourism Philippines 2018 is where she is fated to be part of, and where the possibility of getting a crown is within arms’ reach.