How Joey Marquez, Alma Moreno reacted to daughter Winwyn’s pageant return
Actress Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez said she had already decided to accept the offer to become Muntinlupa City’s official delegate to the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines pageant before she told parents Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno of her return to pageantry 10 years since her first competition.
Her pageant debut was at the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas contest at the age of 22. Now a decade older and a mother to a 2-year-old daughter, Marquez is strapping her heels anew to tell another story about her newfound fulfillment as a parent.
“Actually, my dad hasn’t really wanted me to join ever since,” Marquez told INQUIRER.net after her proclamation as Miss Universe Philippines-Muntinlupa in Mandaluyong City on Saturday, Feb. 8.
After placing in the semifinals of the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, she moved to the Miss World Philippines contest two years later. There, she was crowned as the first Asian delegate to the Latin-dominated Reina Hispanoamericana competition.
She had a triumphant trip to Bolivia, and dominated the competitive lot of South American contenders by clinching the crown, a first not only for the Philippines but also for Asia.
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“But this time when I told [my dad that I was joining], he told me that, ‘if you’re joining because you want to win lang (only) and you want fame, huwag ka nang sumali (do not join). But if you’re joining because you have conviction and you want to inspire others, you want to share your story, sumali ka (join),’” Marquez shared.
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She said that was the first time her father approved of her participation in a pageant. “It’s not about winning. It’s about trying and using the platform,” she quoted her father as reminding her.
“And tumama sa akin iyon (that struck me), for someone who doesn’t really want me to join. Sinabi niya, kahit anong mangyari nandiyan siya para sa akin (He said, whatever happens he will be there for me),” Marquez continued.
As for her mother, Marquez said she had always enjoyed Moreno’s support in her pageant quest. “My mom is a stage mom forever,” she said with a hearty laugh.
“So when I told her, she was very, very excited. She’s more of, ‘are you ready? Do you need anything? What do you want?’ Lahat, bilang isang mommy, ‘di ba? (Everything, as a mother, right?) She’s waiting for me to update her lagi (all the time),” Marquez shared.
For her return to pageantry eight years since her last competition, Marquez said she had to study how the industry has evolved. “Social media is very heavy right now. Back in 2015, hindi pa kasi masyado (not so much), 2017 nag-i-start pa lang (it was just starting). And that is the difference,” she said.
She said that now she has to update her followers on social media about what is happening to her. She also found it necessary to release “pasabog” posts, or sneak peeks and bonus glamour photos or videos.
“Actually, I’m still learning. And that is the most important thing in this journey, to never stop learning and to know more about pageantry. And I’m enjoying it so far,” Marquez said.
She will try to inherit the Miss Universe Philippines title from reigning queen Chelsea Manalo, who was proclaimed as the first-ever Miss Universe Asia titleholder in the international pageant in Mexico last year.
If Marquez succeeds Manalo, she will get to represent the country in the international arena once again, and try to bring pride and honor to the Philippines anew by bringing home her second global crown.
No date has been announced for the coronation of the next Miss Universe Philippines titleholder. But the competition is already getting tougher with more pageant veterans in the field of contenders.