FIRST DISTRICT, Pampanga – Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr., on December 3, 2025, filed House Resolutions No. 546, 547, and 548 recognizing Kapampangan designers Richard Strandz and Rich Sabinian, and Miss International 2025 4th Runner-Up Myrna Esguerra for their achievements.
Esguerra, who was previously crowned as 4th Runner-Up in the Mutya Ning Angeles 2022 and as Miss Abra 2023, bagged the 4th Runner-Up crown in the Miss International 2025 Pageant held in Japan on November 27, besting 75 other candidates from all over the world.
Esguerra’s mother hails from Pidigan, Abra, while her father hails from Angeles City, Pampanga.
In 2024, Esguerra graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management from the City College of Angeles.
Esguerra’s triumph in Miss International is a dream come true for Lazatin. Back in the Mutya Ning Angeles 2022 pageant, Lazatin said that he hopes to have a product of the Mutya Ning Angeles winning on the international stage.
“She may not have been representing Angeles City during her stint in Binibining Pilipinas, but the First District of Pampanga is still very proud of what she has achieved,” Lazatin said.
Strandz and Sabinian, both from Angeles City, designed Esguerra’s National Costume and Preliminary Competition Gown, respectively.
For the National Costume, dubbed the ‘Perlas de Sampaguita,’ Strandz used more than 10,000 pearls of various shapes and sizes, as well as floral elements to represent the Sampaguita – the National Flower of the Philippines.
Strandz began designing costumes for beauty pageant candidates in 2011. In 2024, his creation won Best National Costume in the Binibining Pilipinas 2024 Pageant, also worn by Esguerra.
For the Preliminary Competition Gown, Sabinian was inspired by the sun in the Philippine Flag, crafting a sun-gold gown with Solihiya – a traditional Filipino weaving technique using rattan strands – to create a sunburst star pattern in the bodice.
Prior to becoming a fashion designer, Sabinian worked in a rattan furniture company for 13 years.
“Pinakita ng ating mga Kapampangan designers sa Miss International stage na kayang-kaya nilang makipagsabayan at makipagtagisan ng galing sa mga designer mula sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin, who served Angeles City Mayor from July 2019 to June 2025, crowned four Mutya Ning Angeles title-holders during his term: Mizziah Reyes in 2019, Joanne Marie Thornley in 2022, Genica Cruz in 2023, and Allyson Hetland in 2024.
The Mutya Ning Angeles was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
