The province of North Cotabato celebrated diversity and pride on Saturday, July 13, 2025, as the largest LGBTQIA+ pageant in the province, Kulayaan 2025, took place at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).
The night opened with a vibrant production number where 23 queens represented their municipalities and cities, each embodying one of the four elements — fire, water, air, and earth. Dressed in dazzling costumes, the queens introduced themselves to a cheering crowd that filled the venue with excitement.
Top-caliber hosts Jervi Wrightson, also known as KaladKaren, and Hannah Beshie, a Drag Race Philippines Season 2 alumna, kept the energy high throughout the evening. The panel of judges featured respected names in pageantry and fashion: Yllana Marie Aduana, Miss Philippines Earth 2023; Juul Messiaen, Man of the World 2025; Chelsea Fernandez, Miss Cosmo Philippines 2025; celebrated shoe designer Jojo Bragais, and beloved drag queens Miss Jade So, Khianna, and Eva Le Queen.
Following the opening number, the queens competed in the playsuit segment, where several special awards were handed out:
- Miss Photogenic – Candidate 8
- People’s Choice Award – Candidate 14
- Darling of the Crowd – Candidate 13
- Best in Talent – Candidate 15
- Best Municipal Costume – Candidate 19
One of the evening’s most touching moments was the awarding of the Queen Mother, given to Michelle Navasquez, a 43-year-old contestant who impressed during the screening and interviews with her courage and unapologetic pride. Michelle represented the more mature members of the LGBTQIA+ community and proved that age is no barrier to self-expression.
- Best in Production – Candidate 11
- Best in Playsuit – Candidate 11
- Serbisyo and Malasakit Ambassadress – Candidate 8
From 23 contestants, the top 15 moved forward to the preliminary question-and-answer round, where each queen picked a question and had 45 seconds to answer. After a tense segment, Len Latido of Mabungahon, M’lang (Candidate 7) stood out and earned her spot in the top 10 for the evening gown competition.
The top 10 finalists were:
7, 19, 11, 5, 20, 22, 8, 17, 15, and 14.
While all queens graced the stage in their elegant gowns, they were serenaded by actor and singer Vin Abrenica. The award for Best in Evening Gown went to Jysn Sore of Pigcawayan (Candidate 15).
The competition then narrowed to the top 5:
Candidate 15. Jysn Sore of Pigcawayan
Candidate 11. Khiara Lumantao of Kidapawan City
Candidate 8. Yuan Gubaton of President Roxas
Candidate 17. Deanna Dianna of the Third District Contractors Association
Candidate 20. Maria Atisha of Kabacan
The final question and answer portion tested each queen’s wit and grace under pressure. After the judges’ deliberation, the winners were announced:
2nd Runner-Up: Maria Atisha of Kabacan (Candidate 20)
1st Runner-Up: Deanna Dianna of the Third District Contractors Association (Candidate 17)
Kulayaan Queen Tourism: Jysn Sore of Pigcawayan (Candidate 15)
Kulayaan Queen Charity: Khiara Lumantao of Kidapawan City (Candidate 11)
Kulayaan Queen 2025: Yuan Gubaton of President Roxas (Candidate 8)
The Kulayaan Queen pageant was launched by Representative Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos of the third district under Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza’s Serbisyong Totoo initiative. In an interview after the event, Rep. Santos explained that the program was created to give marginalized sectors, especially the LGBTQIA+ community, a platform to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
This year’s edition of Kulayaan was a testament to how far the community has come and how powerful it can be when given the stage. With queens like Yuan, Michelle, and all the other contestants showing up loud and proud, the night became more than just a competition — it was a celebration of authenticity, courage, and hope.