MANILA, Philippines — Trinh Bao of Vietnam was proclaimed 2018 Mister International in ceremonies staged at One Esplanade at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City, Sunday night.

Bao bested 38 other aspirants for the title in the 13th edition of the global competition for “distinctly handsome” men from around the world.

Sunday’s competition is still technically the 2018 edition even if it was already held in 2019.

Prime Events Productions Philippines (PEPPS) Foundation head Carlo Morris Galang, head of the Philippine organizing committee, said unforeseen problems with the original host country caused the delay. The international organizers opted to bring the contest to the Philippines, instead.

The first time the Philippines hosted the Mister International contest was in 2015, where the first Filipino winner Neil Perez relinquished his title.

The 2018 delegates participated in activities that ran for more than one week, some of them even visiting the province of Ilocos Norte.

Joining in the winners’ circle were first runner-up Francesco Piscitelli of Venezuela and second runner-up Walk-in Kwan of Hong Kong.

The Philippines’ Mark Kevin Baloaloa finished in the Top 5. /atm