Mt. Province, Philippines – Kirk Bondad, who traces his roots to Mt. Province courtesy of his mother’s side, carved his name as the second Filipino and the first Cordilleran to be crowned Mister International.
The 28-year-old model and fitness enthusiast, standing at 6’3” tall, edged out 40 candidates from across the globe during the finals held at MCC Hall in Bangkok, Thailand on September 25.
Aside from winning the title, Kirk also made it to the Top 5 of National Costume challenge and in the Top 3 of People’s Choice contest.
Paying homage to his Igorot roots
Kirk’s mother hails from Bontoc and Tadian, Mt. Province, while his father is from Germany. He is the younger brother of model-actor Clint Bondad, who was in a relationship with 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray.
Before his recent feat, Kirk represented the Philippines at the Mister World 2024 in Vietnam. He showcased his bahag attire called “Warrior” created by designer Andrew Visaya Jr., also a Cordilleran.
“He holds an armor crafted from water buffalo materials, ready to hunt with bravery and determination to protect his ancestry. His headpiece, adorned with the figure of the rice god, honors the agricultural livelihood of his people, with feathers that stand for the native delicacy of his community called 'pinikpikan.' He represents the modern Igorot—a proud Filipino who is gracefully navigating the changes of progress while remaining steadfast amidst the challenges of time,” wrote the Miss World Philippines Organization, describing his attire.
He secured a spot in the Top 20 of National Costume category of said international pageant.
Armed with his experience, Kirk returned to the global spectacle this year for the 17th edition of Mister International.
During the Question and Answer portion, he was asked what social or political issue he would choose to highlight if he won the pageant and was invited to speak at the United Nations.
He took the chance to champion his advocacy for the welfare of children.
“If I were given the honor, I would focus on the children. We need to protect them. We need to give them a chance, provide more protection, and cultivate education because today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders,” he responded.
“Ultimately, I believe that if we collectively make the right decisions, even small steps can have a big impact internationally,” he added.
His winning answer sealed his victory, which was shortly announced.
As Mister International 2025, Kirk is expected to embark on a year of international advocacy and appearances, where his platform focusing on giving a ‘thriving chance’ to children, especially to the orphans and those battling cancer, will take center stage.
“I hope I made the Philippines proud. This crown is not just mine; it’s ours… Here’s to the journey, the people who built it with me, and to every Filipino who dares to dream,” he said in a post-win social media post.
As Kirk returned to the Philippines, the country’s first delegate to win Mister International back in 2014, Mariano Flormata Jr. more popularly known as Neil Perez, expressed gratitude to him for bringing the title back.
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