Miss Palawan Charities Inc. Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Edgardo “Bong” S. Villanueva, denied the allegations hurled by Miss Universe Palawan 2021 Klaidel Hope Concepcion against him, on Thursday, March 3, during a press conference at the Hotel Centro Puerto Princesa.
“Ilang araw akong nanahimik, kasi hinayaan ko muna sila, hinayaan ko muna silang magsalita, kasi hindi naman ako yung taong napaka-askal, or hindi naman ako yung taong kuda nang kuda sa Facebook,” said Villanueva as he also presented evidence disproving the allegations.
It can be recalled that since the coronation of Miss Palawan Universe 2022, the crowning of the “first ever” queen since MPCI’s partnership with the Miss Universe Philippines organization, the Facebook timeline of Palaweños were filled with Concepcion’s complaints.
One of the complaints by Concepcion was the lack of business permits of the organization, especially from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue Certificate of Registration, which Villanueva refuted saying, “I’m here, meron ako dito, which is the SEC, which is hinahandle ng aking accountant, si Sir Dante. So meaning, nagkaroon ng delay yan is because of the Supreme G na naghahandle ng event dati ng Miss Palawan.”
He also shared that if the public wants to see the copies, it would be a follow up per request, alongside the copy of their application form to the SEC, if the public still doubts the legitimacy of the said organization.
“Well, this is the copy of the SEC, so we are legit. We’re not, I mean, hindi kami ganun, okay. So ito ang copy ng SEC, nakikita niyo naman, ‘Miss Palawan Charities Inc.’, I don’t know kung saan nila nakuha yun,” he continued.
“Kami ay non-profit organization na umaasa lang sa aming mga butihing mga kaibigan na sumusuporta. Bakit? Kasi ang platform, plataporma namin, ang advocacy namin, is to help those aspirant Palaweña that compete into international and national dahil wala talagang humahawak ng mga organization na tutulong,” Villanueva reiterated.
Legitimacy of Miss Palawan Charities Inc.
With the publicly-available documents, it was verified and validated by the former MUP titlist that MPCI has no possession of permits and registrations from the City Permits and Licensing Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), City Treasurer’s Office, and in the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In line with this, Villanueva shared the backstory of one year into the establishment of the charity organization, 2019, during Jennifer Linda’s reign as Miss Palawan.
“Nung una, si, yung time ni Ms. Jennifer Linda, may email, may calls, ang Miss Universe at si Shamcey, sila yung ano ng Miss Universe,” he said.
“Ang sabi nila, ‘May ipapadala ka ba?’ sabi ko, Meron, sabi niya, ‘Sige, ipadala mo, ipasok natin. I-screen natin,’” he said and also added that by then, they still did not have any formal partnership and accreditation with the national organization.
“Saka ako nag-rebranding dahil may certificate na kami. Formal na kaming inacknowledge ng Miss Universe PH,” he said.
Villanueva has also cleared the air for the sudden shifting of “Miss Universe Palawan” title into “Miss Palawan Universe” and giving the “first-ever” MPU title to the recently hailed queen last March 26, saying that it stemmed from their formal partnership with the national organization.
“Kaya sinabi kong first-ever yun dahil nga, sinabi kong first-ever yun dahil nga nito and nagkaroon na kami ng formal, ano, ng formal partnership with the Miss Universe PH.”
Tax Deduction
In the narrative report submitted by Concepcion to the Provincial Legislative Office dated last March 1, the complaints were: tax deduction on prizes, no business permit/s for the organization to operate, legitimacy of the titles, exploitation, lack of contracts, and body shaming.
One of which was the 32% cut that was made on their prizes for BIR remittance, when the organization is not even registered, as per Concepcion’s checking.
The MPCI CEO and founder was quick to deny the issue and suggested that they hear the testimonies of the Miss Palawan Universe 2022 – Luisa Gallardo.
“Itong sinasabi niyang 32%, ito, si Luisa, candidate yan. Siya ang makapag-witness na walang ganung issue dahil mas malinaw sa agreement namin sa isang private individual na nagbigay ng prizes na sinabi dun, mineeting,” said Villanueva, presenting the contract that he claims Concepcion has duly signed prior the 2021 pageant.
“Dito po yan. Ang 32 na sinasabi niya: ‘12% will proceed to Miss Palawan Charities,’ pinopondo namin yan just in case may manalo, yan ang pondo namin para may matulong naman dun sa mananalo, yung gagastusin, wala kaming fund,” he added.
However, it was also made known to the public through the several posts of the Miss Universe Palawan 2021 queen, plus, in an exclusive interview of Palawan Daily with her that she had opted from joining the national pageant last 2021 due to personal reasons.
With the deferral from joining, she had expected to claim all of her existing prizes from the pageant, and no more “national funds” in stock with the organization for hesitance, as she would want to finish her degree this year.
Business Permits
Operating for four (4) years now, the Miss Palawan Charities Inc. was alleged to have failed to be issued permits from the city Permits and Licensing Division and the Office of the City Treasurer.
At the press conference, Villanueva denied the claims and told the media that it was Supreme G Events who handled the organization’s permits, but the manager died a few years back and can no longer testify. Hence, the CEO and founder seek for a new start for the organization.
“From ‘Miss Palawan’ to ‘Miss Palawan Universe’, ayan po ang istorya, nakuha niyo po? Ayan po ang mga Mayor’s Permit natin tsaka lahat po ng mga permits namin, lahat po nito meron kaming mga kopya,” he clarified.
Back Story of Roxas, Palawan Effort
In an interview with Miss Universe Palawan 2021 – Klaidel Hope Concepcion, she shared about the argument that has happened between Villanueva and her, on the day of Roxas, Palawan effort, in partnership with GSMAXX, as they gave out some necessity packs to the victims of Typhoon Odette last December 2021.
Villanueva clarified that the “rift” between him and Concepcion was triggered the night before the Roxas, Palawan effort, wherein Concepcion coordinated with some of the reservists and a van rental on-standby just in case the vehicles from the organization’s end cannot push through.
“Nung gabi pa lang, syempre, ako, gusto ko maayos, proper, organized lahat from the small details throughout the end,” he said.
“Sinabi ko lang, we have the conversation, sabi ko “Wag ka na mangialam sa pakikipag-coordinate, nagrenta ako ng dalawang pickups pa. Aside from the van, the candidates, marami pang sasakyan. Nagulat na lang ako kinagabihan, sinisingil ako ng driver,” said Villanueva on the van rental that have coincided during the effort on Roxas.
“Alas-dos na ako natulog para lang i-secure lahat ng van. Ang sa akin lang naman dun, kung sinabi niya, kasi niremind ko pa siya, ‘Oh, ano, kumpleto na tayo,’ sabi niya, ‘Opo, may Innova na,’ sabi ko, ‘May dalawang pickup pa nakaantabay,’” he said.
For added protection and security, Concepcion has also contacted the reservists and the troops, as per Villanueva’s request prior the event, but he denied doing so.
Villanueva insisted that he did not allow the van rental and had requested the cancellation of the reservists’ help on the night before their trip to Roxas, Palawan.
“Yung sinasabi niyang kasamang tropa, sabi ko, ‘Wag ka nang kumuha,’ dahil si Col. Vidar, nagpadala ng tropa sa amin para i-escort kami para proper ang distribution ng ibibigay ng charity, maayos,” he added, highlighting Concepcion’s statement that it would be hard to cancel on the troops since it had already been scheduled with them.
“Ang iniinsist niya, di raw pwedeng i-cancel, sabi ko, ‘That’s, impossible yan. Ikaw na ang nagsabi na i-cancel na yan, so ako na ang gumawa ng paraan,’ nag-troubleshoot, dun na nag-start ang lahat, siya nagkaganun,” he said.
Supposed Farewell Walk of Miss Universe Palawan 2021 Queen
Traditionally, the previously hailed queen crowns the succeeding winner and does her farewell message and walk, but during the MUP 2022 coronation, it was Miss Universe Philippines 2021 – Beatrice Luigi Gomez who gave the crown to this year’s queen, plus, there was no farewell walk or message by Concepcion.
Villanueva said that they have requested a different flow of events from the Miss Universe Philippines organization, for which he said that the organization gave advice to just “dethrone” the previous queen due to her social media posts against the organization.
“Okay, nagbago kami ng sistema, I mean, you know. Kasi kinuha namin, sang-ayon, naghingi kami ng ano sa Miss Universe PH.”
“Sabi ko, ‘Ma’am, baka pwede bang ganito ang ano?’ sabi niya, ‘Actually, dapat dinethrone mo yan. From the moment na nanalo siya at nag-refuse siyang sumali sa national, dapat dinethrone niyo na yan at tsaka ang dami niyang rants sa FB,’” said Villanueva, on a verbal conversation between him and the National Director for MUPH – Shamcey Supsup-Lee.
“So sabi niya, ‘Dapat chinecheck mo yung mga ganyang klaseng mga ano ng mga candidates mo. Dapat proteksiyunan mo ang organization lalo na yung mga candidates,’” said Villanueva on his further discussion about Lee’s response.
As of this writing, Palawan Daily has yet to receive a verification and confirmation of the said statements of Miss Universe Philippines – National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, as given by Mr. Edgardo “Bong” S. Villanueva.