“Tulungan dak koma nga mangitakder iti ili tayo… iti kinapintas ken kinabaknang iti kultura tayo…” - MR. KALINGA on joining Ginoong Cordillera 2025

“If there are more chances or opportunities for me to have impact on or influence more people, I would probably join more pageants.”

This was the answer of a young lad who was just crowned Mr. Kalinga 2024 in an interview last year with GURU Press Cordillera when he was asked whether he had plans joining other pageants. Now that he got the chance, he is now among the 16 candidates of the prestigious Ginoong Cordillera 2025 pageant.

Justine Capito, now 22 years old, want to continue what he had been fighting for since he dived in the pageantry world – promoting cultural sustainability through community-based education.

While he did not often post it online, the first Mr. Kalinga titleholder shared that he had been immersing himself into different communities in the province, talking to elders, youth and even women’s group and sharing with them the importance of culture and its preservation.

“Idi nag Mr. Kalinga, I often spoke in front of elders, adults ken students about the importance of culture ket diyay, nagmamayat ti feedback da isu na-inspire nak agjoin regional pageant tapnu lumawlawak pay iti reach ko. Kasi every community nga napnapanak idi, adda iti maadal ko ken uray bassit adda metlang maishashare ko kanyada,” Capito relayed.

Aside from this advocacy, Capito said it was also his dream to see himself joining bigger platforms, representing not only the province of Kalinga, but also the Cordillera Region.

The 2025 edition of the pageant already had its launching last October 1, 2025. Capito joined the 15 candidates in the BAHAG Fashion show – an event spotlighting cultural attire of Cordilleran men. During the said event, he was among the top 3 chosen by the judges both in the Runway Icon Award and in the Darling of the Press Award.

Capito asks for support

As he embarks on this pageant journey, Capito is soliciting the support of fellow iKalingas – moral, emotional, or financial support.

“Tulungan dak koma nga mangitakder iti ili tayo nga Kalinga kasta met nga mangipakita iti kinapintas ken kinabaknang iti kultura tayo babaen iti support yu. Gamin ket kayat ko pay nga ituloy diay narugyak nga pannakisasao ken panang reach out iti nagduduma nga il-ili through my advocacy.”

iKalingas can also help the young man to automatically take a spot in the top 10 through online voting. To do this, one may visit this link – https://ginoongcordillera.sqors.com/.

The Ginoong Cordillera pageant

Ginoong Cordillera, formerly known as Mr. Grand Cordillera, is a platform seeking to foster a deeper understanding of the region’s culture and to promote the region’s booming tourism industry through the young men who dream of becoming national and international pageant title holders.

Five crowns await the winning candidates – The Ginoong Pilipinas, Mister Grand International Philippines, Mister Tourism World Philippines, Mister Friendship International and Mr. Philippines Youth.

The coronation night shall be held on October 19, 2025 at the Benguet Sports Complex, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.