Mister United Continents Scandal and Issa Janda's Resignation

Yes, it broke my heart to see Issa Janda posting on facebook that he already resigned from being the Philippine representative to the Mister United Continents 2016, the Philippine-based male pageant owned by Mylene Miranda. According to their initial press statement, the pageant will cover the dates July 11-21, 2016 in Bacolod City and Manila. This is Issa Janda's lament:

Issa Janda represented Polangui, Albay during the national finals

“It’s really a sad story because I decided personally to resign with the permission of my handler, because I can no longer feel that I am the official representative of the Philippines. I was not even updated of what is going on wherein in the first place they know I’m from Bicol. Even though I visit the facebook page of MUC I don’t see any initiative of preparations and promotion coming from them that I am competing. And the most hurting part when I found out that I was blocked on facebook, I can’t contact the person that should give me an information about the competition. Honestly, it’s really so sad to say that we are really prepared for this competition from the National Costume up to several pairs of toxidos, we spent money coming from our own pockets out of our savings from my previous pageant in Bicol. From day 1 up to now I haven’t get even a single centavo being the Mister United Continents Philippines winner ( from the time of pres. Presentation and from going back and forth from the events and activities up to now) everything coming from our own personal money. For me money matters is not the issue, all i want is to feel that i am really their soul Philippine representative. Just this morning I posted my resignation to the FB page of MUC but then i was inform that it is not proper to put it there, sorry for that but instead i sent the letter to the email of bluecircle and then i forgot to put my signature so i sent another letter again with my signature. So i hope that they have received my resignation letter. My handler decided not to give comments anymore because even he himself was not informed of what to do or what to prepare for the said competition so I think the word “respect” should not be the issue here. Much to my desire to represent my country, I can no longer do that. Maybe God has another plan from me. Thank you God bless!”

Issa’s friends in the male pageant industry immediately gave their consoling words for him. Bob Royo, this year’s reigning Mister Culture Asia said:

“Oh my God. Issa. You still have our heart.”

Reynaldo Cataluna, last year’s Mister United Continent Philippines who competed in the international finals also said his piece:

“Hahahah I feel u brother. Being Mr. United Continents Phil. 2015.”

When somebody asked him if he was also in the same shoes, he shrugged off and commented:

“Haha but I dont give a damn anymore.”

Dodj Mallari, former Managing Director of the pageant, also confessed that he was also being deceived by the Blue Circle. He enumerated his points of view:

1.     Alam kong madumi ang male pageantry ng pinas, unang una pa lang, hindi ko alam na may corruption pala dito na mismong organizer eh ninanakaw pa ang pondo ng organization para tipirin ang mismong pageant.

2. Results pa lang ng pageant na yan ay hindi na makatotohanan. Papaano nakapasok sa semi-finals ang ma candidates na hindi man lang nag-comply sa criteria ng semi-finals? Saklap, nakasali pa sa mga title holders at naiwan ang masisipag na talunan.

3. Sinong siraulong winner ang peperma sa kontratang palugi? Gumastos ang candidates para makasali pagkatapos ang cash prize eh 35k divided by 12months? Tapos sila pa ang magbabayad ng franchise fee at pamasahe nila papuntang abroad? Pag nanalo pa, kahati pa ang organizer sa premyo? Eh di sana namudmod na lang ng pera ang mga candidates at puro milyonaryo na lang pinasali nila.

4. Sinong sponsors ang matitira sa pageant na yan kung uutangan pang at tatakbuhan? Magkakalaban na sponsors pagsasabay sabyin para lang dumami ang pasok ng pera? Ang mga items na bigay ng sponsors eh hindi ipapamigay at ibebenta sa OLX.ph? Sinong gaganahan sa ganyan?

5. Itigil na din natin ang ka-plastikan na nagiisang pageant lang ang MUCP na walang bugawan. Oh come on! Ilang managers ng bangko ba ang hinuthutan ng pera at pinadalhan ng winners nung huling pageant? At sa akin personal, ilan ang pinadala para hindi ako magpull out sa pageant? Tapos ako ang ia-accuse ng sexual harassment?

To Mylene Miranda, he said: “Gumising kang babae ka at baka kahit mental hospital hindi ka na tanggapin! Ang pera pinagtatrabahuhan at hindi lang yan pumapatak habang naglalaro ka ng candy crush!”

Issa Janda's Headshot

MY TAKE:

This is very unfortunate! When I saw the roster of candidates early this year for the Mister United Continents Philippines, I already saw that of them all, Issa Janda was the most promising! However, upon knowing that he resigned, it broke my heart. He could have been a very strong contestant in the international finals.

 

Cris Edwin Navarro

…which made me recall my ultimate bet last year, Cris Edwin Navarro who won the title Mister Universal Ambassador Philippines. There seems to be a pattern. Money. In his post, he revealed:

“Hello everyone. I heard that the organizers of Mr. United Continents has decided to dethrone me as Mr. Universal Ambassador Philippines to represent our country to the Mr. Universal Ambassador Pageant which will be held in Indonesia. They have accused me of having an attitude as a winner which is not the case. I am writing this letter to let everyone know some facts about what happened. First of all, I would like everyone to know that when we joined this pageant, the 4 winners would get P 100,000 each as cash prize and 25 percent should be given to us initially. From the time we won and up to now, not a single centavo was given to us. The same also happened to some of the other winners of our pageant. During that time since we won our titles,we were informed that they would give us schedules on when they would award us our cash prizes but they never did. They would schedule meetings for us with a threat that we would be dethroned if we don't go to their immediate meetings which so happen that those couple of times, I had a schedule modelling work which I badly need as they were not giving me any financial allowance or not even our deserved cash prizes. They even got mad at me when I was doing other modelling jobs as they were saying that they are the only one who have the right to give us such works. How do you think I would survive if they are not giving me any money at all and I would not accept other modelling projects? You know, I do not belong to a rich family and that is why I am trying my best to earn money for a living. Another thing, my mom is sick and needs to be hospitalized every once in a while and I really need to earn to help my family in these unavoidable expenses. I believe that she really has no plans to give us our cash prizes as my other fellow winners are also complaining about the same problem. The worst thing is that Mr. Lebanon, the winner of Mr. United Continents came back here because he is very mad and he also admitted that he has not received any single centavo as winner of Mr. United Continents. I also heard that they are also planning to dethrone him. Mr. Lebanon has given his word that he would back me up in letting the people know about what really happened as he himself did not get anything at all. I am writing all these because I believe that it is time for people to know about what is happening inside Mr. United Continents Pageant. If ever I still represent our country in the Mr Universal Ambassador or not, these facts need to come out to let people know what kind of organizers these people are. Actually, in spite of everything that has been happening, I have prepared very well to compete in this international pageant as I really wanted to compete and hopefully give an honor to our country. I just hope that my letter would be read by the people and I hope they would support me to still represent our country in the said competition. I ask everyone specially in the pageant industry for your support in this endeavor of mine as these would help other future candidates and winners not to become victims in the future pageants by these organizers.”

 

To which the Mister United Continents organization replied:

“For everyone to know also we were fair with Cris Edwin Navarro. It was not just once that he refused to see us. Those times when he said he was busy and he sad that his mother was sick we did not dethrone him yet. We gave him a lot of chances thus we understood him. We all have family issues too and we would understand his side.

 

But when you already need to see your winner and continuously he refuse because of his busy schedule I do not think it is right anymore. He is saying that he didn't get his prize yet how can he get it if he is not there to sign the contract explain to him what is duties and obligations are! If you are the organizers would you just give something without you letting him sign a contract? How can you give a person money if he himself doesn't show up?

 

Before we decided for his dethronement we gave him a formal letter to see us. We called him and texted him. The meeting was at 12 noon for lunch. He then messaged us that he wont be able to come at 12 he said can i come at 4-5pm then he said 5-6pm. So we said okay since he was the one who rescheduled it then we agreed.

 

Our lawyer flew to Manila just for this one to explain to him everything. But 6pm had passed no text nor call from Mr. Navarro that he would come. We were not happy about this I guess he was not taking it seriously. So the lawyer said he wasted his time and of course our time.

 

Then we got a message at 7:40pm from him saying he cannot go because he was still working. Now you tell us are we still unfair? He was the one who set the time and he still broke it. Thus he never sent any messages before the said time he asked and after an hour and forty minutes he go and say he cannot come? We will let you decide if our organization is not fair because as far as we know we were always fair with him. How can you explain to someone something if there's no one there?

 

We were suppose to keep quiet because we know the truth but since some people doesn't really know the whole story then we might as well air our side! Thank you for everyone who has read this.

 

For our supporters who continue to believe in us thank you. For our bashers thank you so much too because of you we are more stronger and we will make our organization better! Cheers to everyone!”

MY TAKE:

I looked at the page of Mister United Continents and found out that several candidates already arrived for the 2016 competition. Recently, the candidates had a courtesy call with the Mayor of Aguilar, Pangasinan. Issa Janda is already replaced by Joseph Franco. Not only that, the organization is also plugging already for the 2017 edition of MUC-Philippines. The organization seems not bothered about all these bad publicity. However, in the light of fairness and justice, this blog/page is very much welcome should MUCP wanted to air their side regarding the controversy with Issa Janda.

To Issa, my heart goes out to you. I highly appreciate you for standing up what you believe is right! Your journey doesn’t end, it only begins. I believe you will always have a very bright future ahead of you. Your title, Mister United Continents Philippines 2016, will always be with you. Nobody can take it away. Continue believing in your dreams. Should you join another male pageant in the future, rest assured of my constant support.

To Joseph Franco, who replaced Issa: you have a very heavy responsibility on your shoulders now. May you represent our country well.

To the organizers of Mr. United Continents, every organization undergoes birth pains. Remember that at the end of the day, your pageant is not judged by the number of your sponsors, it is judged through your relationships with people: your candidates, your winners, and your advocacy recipients. Should you air out your side, my blog/page is very much willing to accommodate you.

To us pageant fans, let us support the male pageant initiatives in the country, but let us also be critical of the many irregularities that are happening in the industry. We continue the things that are good, and we condemn anything that is bad.

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