Gazini Ganados joins Miss Universe Philippines 2026 prelims selection committee

April 1 ------ Gazini Ganados may be gearing up for an international pageant comeback soon, but for now, she has returned to the “other side” of the stage as a member of the selection committee of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines preliminary competition.

The beauty queen-turned actress was spotted in the hallways of City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City on March 29, the day of the preliminary competition, and many suspected she was one of the judges. It turned out to be true.

Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPH) President Jonas Gaffud posted photos of himself from the closed-door preliminary competition standing beside the members of the selection committee on his social media page, showing Ganados.

She was the last Binibining Pilipinas winner to be sent to the Miss Universe pageant, competing in 2019 and finishing in the Top 20. She is one of the four entries from the Philippines in the first edition of MGI All Stars that will be held in Thailand in May.

Joining Ganados in the preliminary competition panel of the national pageant were MUPH National Director Ariella Arida and EVP Voltaire Tayag, Sparkle GMA Artist Center Vice President Joy Marcelo, GMG Productions CEO and Owner Carlos Garcia Candal, and City of Dreams Manila Director Tes Parado Aranda.

This year, MUPH is adopting a revamped format wherein the preliminary competition with all the delegates was filmed behind closed doors, with no live audience. The individual segments of the ladies will be uploaded in tranches online for voting. All of the ladies’ individual evening gown presentations will be posted for the voting period from April 5 to 11. The delegates getting the most votes will be announced on April 11, along with the ones with the highest scores from the selection committee.

Only those who topped the voting and scoring will have their individual swimsuit performances uploaded online for the second round of voting from April 12 to 16. The leading ladies in both voting and committee scores will be announced on April 16, and will be the only ones who will have their solo interview videos uploaded for the final round of voting on April 19 to 25.

Gazini Ganados (right) with Ariella Arida (left) and Jonas Gaffud. Image: Facebook/Jonas Gaffud

Gazini Ganados (right) with Ariella Arida (left) and Jonas Gaffud. Image: Facebook/Jonas Gaffud

Gazini Ganados may be gearing up for an international pageant comeback soon, but for now, she has returned to the “other side” of the stage as a member of the selection committee of the 2026 Miss Universe Philippines preliminary competition.

The beauty queen-turned actress was spotted in the hallways of City of Dreams Manila in Parañaque City on March 29, the day of the preliminary competition, and many suspected she was one of the judges. It turned out to be true.

Miss Universe Philippines Organization (MUPH) President Jonas Gaffud posted photos of himself from the closed-door preliminary competition standing beside the members of the selection committee on his social media page, showing Ganados.

She was the last Binibining Pilipinas winner to be sent to the Miss Universe pageant, competing in 2019 and finishing in the Top 20. She is one of the four entries from the Philippines in the first edition of MGI All Stars that will be held in Thailand in May.

Joining Ganados in the preliminary competition panel of the national pageant were MUPH National Director Ariella Arida and EVP Voltaire Tayag, Sparkle GMA Artist Center Vice President Joy Marcelo, GMG Productions CEO and Owner Carlos Garcia Candal, and City of Dreams Manila Director Tes Parado Aranda.

Gazini Ganados (second from left) with (from left) MUPH Pres. Jonas Gaffud, Tes Parado Aranda, Carlos Garcia Candal, Joy Marcelo, Ariella Arida and Voltaire Tayag. Image: Facebook/Jonas Gaffud

Gazini Ganados (second from left) with (from left) MUPH President Jonas Gaffud, Tes Parado Aranda, Carlos Garcia Candal, Joy Marcelo, Ariella Arida, and Voltaire Tayag. Image: Facebook/Jonas Gaffud

This year, MUPH is adopting a revamped format wherein the preliminary competition with all the delegates was filmed behind closed doors, with no live audience. The individual segments of the ladies will be uploaded in tranches online for voting.

All of the ladies’ individual evening gown presentations will be posted for the voting period from April 5 to 11. The delegates getting the most votes will be announced on April 11, along with the ones with the highest scores from the selection committee.

Only those who topped the voting and scoring will have their individual swimsuit performances uploaded online for the second round of voting from April 12 to 16. The leading ladies in both voting and committee scores will be announced on April 16, and will be the only ones who will have their solo interview videos uploaded for the final round of voting on April 19 to 25.

On April 25, during the delegates’ visit to Misamis Occidental, MUPH will announce the 10 ladies who will top the voting for the interview, and they will automatically enter the semifinals. The rest of the semifinalists will be announced on coronation day, and will be made up of five brand award recipients, five wildcard picks, and 10 selection committee choices. The 2026 Miss Universe Philippines coronation will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 1. Reigning queen Ahtisa Manalo is set to crown her successor at the end of the ceremony.

Source: inquirer.net