Pride of Mindanao

They are lot to say about Mindanao the land of Promise of the Philippines from the negative to the positive side of it. They talk about the Martial Law in Mindanao, about the bombing incidents, the best rafting place in Mindanao, the Adventure Capital of Mindanao, and many more. But let’s talk about Mindanao the land of Filipino champions. They bring the name of Mindanao as a Mindanaoans, they share their talents with everybody and to the whole world.

Mindanaons are talented people, from sports, entertainment, business, showbiz and even in the politics Mindanaoan is on the top. If they perform they really own the stage as if there is no tomorrow. We know that there are many talented Mindanaoans out there who really badass to their sports category and bring the name of Mindanao. Please let us know who they are so that we can include them in this list of Mindanao Pride. Check out The Pride Of Mindanao.

Politics

• President Rodrigo Roa Duterte – 16th President of the Philippines (Davao City)
• Senator Manny Pacquiao – Congressman from 2010 and he were elected as senator last 2016. (General Santos City)
• Emmanuel Pelaez – The 7^th Vice President of the Philippines. He comes from Misamis Oriental who almost became the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Pelaez served as congressman and senator before being tapped by Diosdado Macapagal as his running mate in 1961. (Medina, Misamis Oriental)

Sports

• Senator Manny Pacquiao – The only boxer in the world to win major titles in the 8^th different weight division. (General Santos City)
• Hidilyn Diaz – The first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal of any color. Weightlifting gold medalist in 2018 Asian Games in Women’s 53 KG. She was a bronze medalist also in the 2007 SEA Games that was held in Thailand. (Zamboanga City)
• Ian Lariba – She is from Cagayan de Oro and the 1st ever Filipino Olympian Table Tennis Player to qualify for 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. (Cagayan de Oro City)
• Alvin Teng – Teng carried the national colors that won the gold medal in the 1985 Southeast Asian Games held in Brunei and the fourth place in the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan. (Davao City)
• Annie Mana-ay And Josephine Malinao – Pinay power athlete in Basketball Category. Mana-ay and Malinao were teammates of the Region 11 team that won the gold in the 1984 Palarong Pambansa and later in the RP women’s national team that played in the 1984 Jones Cup in Taipei, 1985 SEA Games Thailand, 1986 Asian Games in China and 1986 Hong Kong Goodwill Games. (Davao City)

Mindanaoans Beauty And Brains

• Pia Wurtzbach – After 42 years Pia Wurtzbach return the crown and she crowned Miss Universe 2015. (Cagayan de Oro)
• Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa Ms. Universe-Philippines – MJ is the perfect example of perseverance. After she failed to get the Binibining Universe crown in two tries, her patience and hard work paid off when she won the crown in 2014. (Davao City)
• Lourenz Grace Salibay Remetillo – Ms. Supranational Philippines and Supranational. Born in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Lourenz Remetillo holds the distinction of being the first Ms. Supranational Philippines, then later on as Ms. Supranational. (Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte)
• Shamcey Gurrea Supsup – Binibining Pilipinas 2011 and 3rd runner-up Miss Universe. Shamcey hails from General Santos City. She topped the board examination for architects in June 2011 with a board rating of 86.60%. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman. (General Santos City)
• Nadia Lee Cien Shami – Binibining Pilipinas International 2007. Nadia hails from North Cotabato. After winning the crown in 2007, she went home to Mindanao and finished her studies at the Ateneo de Davao University. (North Cotabato)
• Lia Andrea Ramos – Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2006. No one could be more proud of Davao City’s Lia Ramos than the Davaoeños when she won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe title in 2006. She also won the Ms. Photogenic special award of the same pageant. (Davao City)
• Elizabeth Garcia Berroya – Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1992. Liza Berroya is also a pride of Kagay-anons, she worked as a newscaster with ANC Channel 21 after the fame she received and married to Dennis Salud in 2001. (Cagayan de Oro)
• Maria Isabel Pagunsan Lopez – Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1982. Maria Isabel Lopez is the pride of the Kagay-anons, she was born in Cagayan de Oro and she is also a multi-awarded television actress. (Cagayan de Oro)
• Maria Caroline “Maricar” de Vera Mendoza – Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1981. This lovely Filipina was born in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. (Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental)
• Maria Margarita Moran – Ms. Universe 1973. Universe 1973 Maria Margarita Moran married a businessman from Mindanao Tony Boy Floirendo. She’s not born in The Land of Promise but after her marriage she adopted the land and became an advocate for tourism, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and promoting peace throughout Mindanao. She is the president of Ballet Philippines.

Entertainment

• Aegis – the famous Pinoy rock band Aegis is from Cagayan de Oro and was formed way back in the 1990s. They were given the biggest break when they submitted a recorded demo of their hits “Luha” and “Halik”. After being presented to Alpha Records, the band was then named Aegis. (Cagayan de Oro)
• Mark Bautista – Born on August 10, 1983, in Cagayan de Oro, Filipino singer, actor and commercial model Mark Bautista received his career break when he became one of the grand finalists in the Philippine reality TV talent search “Star for a Night”, placing second behind Sarah Geronimo. (Cagayan de Oro).
• MayMay Entrata – Tagged as “Ms. Wacky Go Lucky ng Cagayan de Oro”, 19-year old Marydale “MayMay” Entrata is part of Pinoy Big Brother Season 7 Lucky Teen Edition. (Cagayan de Oro).
• KZ Tandingan – KZ won the first season of The X Factor Philippines in 2012, securing a 4 million peso recording contract with Star Records. She released her self-titled debut album on May 2, 2013. The album was produced by Jonathan Manalo and consists of mainly original songs with some covers. (Davao City)
• Erich Gonzales — One of today’s young faces in the showbiz industry was born and raised in Davao City until her early teenage years. Erich started her showbiz career at the age of 14, when she joined as a contestant of the reality talent search Star Circle Quest. (Davao City)
• Bangs Garcia — Valerie Garcia was in the reality show Campus Idol where she emerged as the female grand winner. She is popularly known by her stage name “Bangs Garcia” so she is usually credited to that name. Her first appearance on national TV was on the reality search Close-Up To Fame where she was one of the runners-up to female grand winner Carine Cabebe. (Davao City)

If you have something in mind that doesn’t have in this list please comment below so that we can add them to the Pride of Mindanao.

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