Sixteen-year-old Robert Douglas Walcher IV, the son of former actress Patricia Javier-Walcher, was crowned Mister Teen International 2023 during the recent finals held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Guess who had the honor of crowning Walcher? It was his mother, Patricia herself, who was watching the event and was invited on stage by the organizers to place the crown and sash on her son.
Mister Teen International is perhaps the only pageant in the world that allows parents to crown their own sons if they emerge as winners.
“I couldn’t be prouder as a mother when I crowned my son Rob as Mister Teen International 2023. He truly gave his best to represent the country,” Javier said of her son, who also received special awards for Best Smile, Mister Charming, Mister Teen Sash Factor, and People’s Choice.
Walcher, a 5-foot-11 ramp and commercial model, initially hesitated when he was invited to represent the country in the teen pageant by the Mister International Philippines Organization, headed by national director and president Manuel Deldio. Persuaded by his mother to accept the title, Walcher chose to promote mental health awareness, emphasize the importance of education, and support the less privileged as his advocacies in the competition.
Marikina City’s pride competes in Mister International Philippines 2023
Young, articulate, purpose-driven, and civic-conscious are just a few of the qualities that set apart Mathew So, the representative from Marikina City, from the other candidates in the Mister International Philippines 2023 pageant.
At 19 years old and currently pursuing a Management Engineering degree at the Ateneo de Manila University, So considers himself one of the standout candidates in Mister International Philippines 2023. He advocates for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and youth empowerment. This pleasant and unassuming Filipino-Chinese individual aspires to become a business consultant and entrepreneur after completing his studies.
“To prepare myself for this, I have taken an active role in the Management Engineering Association (MEA), serving as the project manager of the Ateneo Challenge for Transformational Sustainability (ACTS) and as a Junior Associate for Externals in the previous year. I have also joined the AIESEC organization, which aims to empower young people through leadership development, cross-cultural internships, and global volunteer exchange experiences,” So explained.
“My parents encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and audition for this pageant. Participating in this pageant allows me to develop myself and be exposed not only to the entertainment industry but also to other sectors,” added So, who is new to male pageants.