Photo grid above shows Reniel Villareal, Arcel Yambing and Willan Pagayon during the screenings and Rick during the birthday of Neil Perez
Four winners during their Urban Smiles appointment
During the first Sunday Casting Call, Arcel Yambing was one of a handful who made positive impressions to the panel. While he was both shy and uncertain then, it was clear that he had all the makings to become an Official Candidate. His sincerity as an individual was made more obvious during the four-on-one interview. And he got short-listed for the Final Callback after post-screening deliberations.
Arcel Yambing being interviewed during the first Sunday Casting Call for Misters 2015 The Pageant
Onwards to the Second Sunday Casting Call which drew the most number of applicants. It was here when Reniel Villareal and Willan Pagayon tried their luck. The former was first to register and he immediately got the attention of everyone. His good looks, proper get-up and tempered impact combined to quickly get the nod of the judges. He also handled his interview with just the right amount of confidence.
Willan Pagayon during his sashing as Official Candidate of Misters 2015 The Pageant
On the other hand, Willan Pagayon presented himself with a constant smile on his face. He knew then that the people around were buzzing about him being a former national winner. But he didn’t mind. He went through the motions of getting screened and didn’t expect any special treatment whatsoever. I can distinctly remember his time with the panel which grilled him about a lot of things, cheesiness included. And he acquitted himself with a lot of flair. It was just a matter of waiting for the Final Callback date so he can claim his spot among the Official Candidates.
Reniel (right) with Willan Pagayon (left) and Don Mcgyver Cochico during the Final Callback at Fisher Mall
Rick Kristoffer Palencia was a different story altogether. He was considered a wildcard entry from Tacloban City who still needed to prove his worth during the grand callback. He showed up at Fisher Mall filled with optimism, but never made any quick assumptions about his chances of getting in as already in the bag. True enough, he went through the process of elimination like a true pro. And it would have been foolish for the judges to ignore his qualifications. He was chosen alright, and deservedly so.
Rick (3rd from left) backstage during the Final Callback at Fisher Mall (Photo by Aski Pascual)
Winners all left-to-right: Rick, Willan, Reniel and Arcel
