Jody Baines “JB” Saliba was crowned Mr. World Philippines 2018 besting 15 other dashing contestants during the pageant’s coronation night held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Pasay City on Tuesday night.
JB, a 25-year-old Sports Science major of UP Diliman and a former member of the UP Maroons baseball team, earned the right to represent the country at the 10th Mr. World pageant which Manila will be hosting for the first time on Jan. 27 next year. He succeeded Mr. World Philippines 2016 John Spainhour.
An aspiring actor from Olongapo City, JB, in tandem with father Jody, was 5th placer in TV5’s Amazing Race Philippines Season 2 in 2014 and appeared in an episode of GMA 7 drama anthology Karelasyon in 2015. He has finished co-starring in an upcoming indie movie.
During the pageant night, JB walked away with the Best Skin, Mr. Bench Body, Mr. Blue Water Day Spa, and Mr. Techno Marine sponsor awards.
Right after winning the title, JB took to his Facebook page to share his being overwhelmed and feeling surreal. He also thanked his friends, family, and the City of Olongapo for the trust and the support.
“I couldn’t have done it without you all. I am grateful for all the trust, support, and love that you all have given to me. Thank you so much! To my family who has been always there for me, to my friends who believed in me since day 1, to the City of Olongapo, thank you for all the support,” he said.
Other winners were Marco Poli, a 25-year-old Filipino-Italian from Matabungkay, Batangas and a member of the U23 Philippine national football team, who was named Mr. Supranational Philippines; Robin Hanrath, a 20-year-old Filipino-Dutch from Laguna and a graduating student major in Agricultural Economics at UP Los Baños, took the title of Mr. Eco International Philippines; and Denver Hernandez, a 24-year-old native of Malvar, Batangas who was brought up in Italy, won as Mr. Multinational Philippines.
Poli also won Best in Formal Wear while Hanrath was named Mr. Photogenic. Hernandez bagged the Mr. Bench and Mr. Multimedia Challenge special awards.
Named first and second runners-up were former college basketball players Ameen Sardouk, a Half-Lebanese Export Management graduating student at College of St. Benilde and a finalist of Century Tuna Superbods 2016; and Wilfred Placencia, Jr., a Political Science graduate of Silliman University from Dumaguete City.