PH wins its first crown for Man of the World

Philippine bet Oliver Eugen Kretz wins Man of the World 2026

Oliver Eugen Kretz becomes first Filipino to win Man of the World title.

Erwin Santiago
Philippine Entertainment Portal
07 June 2026

Philippine representative Oliver Eugen Kretz was crowned Man of the World 2026 at the grand coronation held at the Palacio de Manila in Manila, Philippines, on Saturday night, June 6, 2026.

The 25-year-old Filipino-German beat out 27 other contestants in the 8th edition of the male beauty pageant.

The first runner-up in Man of the World 2026 is Abel Adrian Diaz of Ecuador.

Second runner-up si Fidel Arellano ng Chile.

Third runner-up si Luis Arturo Jauregui ng Mexico.

Afiq Naufal of Malaysia was fourth runner-up.

OLIVER EUGEN KRETZ A FRONTRUNNER

Even before the grand coronation of Man of the World 2026, Kretz was considered the frontrunner.

He won three special awards throughout the pageant: Best in Swimwear, Best in Beachwear, and Media's Choice.

Crowning Kretz was 2025 Man of the World Juul Missiaen of Spain.

Pinoys are Asia's most sustainability-conscious travelers

Pinoy travelers most sustainability-minded

Aric John Sy Cua
Manila Times
20 March 2025

FILIPINO travelers believe that sustainability is important in their travel choices this year, according to a survey by the digital travel platform Agoda.

The country's travelers topped the list of Asia's most sustainability-conscious travelers, with 86 percent responding favorably to having sustainability in travel for 2025, higher than the average for all Asian travelers combined at 68 percent.

Agoda also revealed that Filipinos are also motivated by the opportunity to have a positive contribution to local communities (25 percent) and authentic experiences (22 percent) being their primary motivation for sustainable travel.

"This trend underscores a broader movement towards travel that is not only enjoyable but also meaningful and impactful," it said.

In addition, 18 percent of the country's travelers prefer to "mitigate their impact on the environment by traveling during off-peak seasons to alleviate overcrowding," 17 percent prefer accommodations with sustainability certifications, while 19 percent pack reusable items such as shopping bags to reduce waste.

"It's inspiring to see Filipino travelers actively making choices that leave a positive impact on the destinations they visit," Agoda Philippines Country Director Michael Hwang said.

Apart from the Philippines, Agoda's top 5 list also includes travelers from India (82 percent), Taiwan (80 percent), Malaysia (80 percent), and Vietnam (77 percent).

The survey engaged 6,000 travelers in 11 Asian markets, and highlighted the "evolving landscape of sustainable travel" in the continent.

Filipino graduates summa cum laude at Yale University with perfect GPA

Filipino graduates summa cum laude at Yale University with perfect GPA

Kristofer Purnell 
Philstar.com
May 24, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino student graduated from prestigious Ivy League school Yale University as summa cum laude with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

21-year-old Dion Stephan Ong joined 4,000 students graduating from Yale earlier this week, the school's 323rd commencement rites since its founding in 1701.

He finished combined degrees of Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Computer Science, received a Distinction in the Major and the Yale Science & Engineering Association Senior of Distinction award, and was inducted into the "honor society" of Phi Beta Kappa.

Ong is an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, graduating elementary in 2014, high school in 2018, and senior high school in 2020.

According to Ateneo, Ong was a top achiever during his time in basic education and was even the Valedictorian of his senior high school batch.

Finishing senior high school in 2020 meant Ong entered Yale just as the pandemic began, with all his first classes done online.

He is set to work as a core engineer in New York City trading firm Hudson River Trading.

Miss Universe 2023 warm welcome in the Philippines

Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios basks in Filipino hospitality

By Iza Iglesias
Manila Times
May 10, 2024

Since her arrival in the Philippines on May 1 as part of her Asia tour, reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua has been deeply touched by the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people. Throughout her nearly week-long stay, she found herself feeling truly at home.

On Sunday, May 5, Filipinos poured out their love for Palacios in a heartfelt motorcade at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, complete with a marching band. She was moved to tears by the cheers, fans, and the chants of her home country, Nicaragua.

A touching moment during the parade went viral on social media — a Nicaraguan who is based in the Philippines handed her their flag, moving her to tears once again.

The following day, Palacios graced the Miss Universe Philippines Sponsors Night at the Manila Hotel, where she met her fellow Miss Universe 2023 batchmate, Michelle Marquez Dee, for the first time since the competition in November last year.

In her speech, she expressed her gratitude, saying, "Ako si (I am) Sheynnis Palacios, your Miss Universe. It's a pleasure to be here and I want to say thank you, maraming salamat po, and muchas gracias. This visit is very special to me as part of my Asia tour because of you, the Filipino people. Thank you for the warm welcome, it felt like a homecoming, and it's very meaningful to me. I cried a lot because you made me feel like I was at home."

"Thank you in the name of the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Universe Philippines, and thank you in the name of more than six million Nicaraguans in my country. I always say that I'm your Miss Universe, and it's a pleasure for me to wear the sash and crown because it means more than that. It's about being responsible, it's about love, and patience. So thank you for making this journey the most amazing job for me and the most incredible experience I have had in my life. Gracias, I love you," she added.

Palacios also took the time to pose for pictures with guests and Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidates. Besides the Philippines, she also visited Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and continued her journey in India.

Meanwhile, the Miss Universe Philippines Sponsors Night, hosted by BingoPlus, was further elevated by a stunning fashion show. The first part showcased delegates in the feminine designs of MAGS, while the second half featured the ladies in their Filipiñana best.