Organizers of Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global Philippines 2026 pay a courtesy visit to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on September 10, 2026. Photo from the pageant’s Instagram account
Chinoy TV and ABS-CBN’s Star Magic strengthened Thursday their partnership with the city government of Manila for the upcoming Mr. and Miss Chinatown Global Philippines, with representatives paying a courtesy call on Mayor Isko Moreno.
The partnership aims to go beyond the traditional pageant format by providing aspiring Filipino-Chinese talents with opportunities in acting, singing, dancing, and other areas of entertainment.
Chinoy TV President and CEO Alvin Kingson Tan said Manila plays an important role in this year’s competition, particularly with the city being home to Binondo, recognized as the world’s oldest Chinatown.
“We’re very happy to partner with the City of Manila, ABS-CBN Studios for Mr. and Miss Chinatown Global Philippines,” Tan said.
Following auditions in Manila, Cebu, Baguio, and Davao, around 28 to 30 candidates are expected to gather in the capital for a series of activities and training sessions.
READ: Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global PH expands auditions beyond Manila
Tan said holding the activities in Manila would also give candidates from different parts of the country an opportunity to learn more about Filipino-Chinese history and culture.
“What we want is ma-educate sila, ma-immerse sila sa culture. And at the same time, get to experience the beauty of Manila,” he said.
NEW FORMAT
This year’s competition will also depart from the conventional pageant format and incorporate elements of a talent and artista search.
Candidates will undergo training with ABS-CBN, including performance and dance classes, while also meeting personalities from the Filipino-Chinese community. Their journey will also be documented through a digital series across different platforms.
The partnership with Star Magic is expected to extend beyond the competition, with the winners set to be co-managed by ABS-CBN. Tan added that even non-winning candidates may be given opportunities depending on their talents in acting, singing, and other fields.
“We’re creating like a mini-unit for Chinese Filipinos,” Tan said, adding that the initiative hopes to discover a new generation of Chinoy talents who could follow the path of established Filipino-Chinese stars.
For Tan, the partnership is also about expanding representation for young Chinoys who want to pursue careers outside the traditional paths often associated with the community.
“I think it’s important because for us, representation matters,” he said. “Some would want to be into performing, into acting, into entertainment. So basically, itong platform na ito ang magbibigay sa kanila ng bridge towards that dream.”
OPPORTUNITIES
ABS-CBN business unit head Raym Dizon, meanwhile, said the partnership opens opportunities for Star Magic to connect with a wider Filipino-Chinese audience locally and potentially internationally.
“It’s really very exciting, yung partnership with Chinoy TV and Mr. and Ms. Chinatown because I think we’re tapping into a bigger market of the Chinese community, not just here in the Philippines but even globally,” Dizon said.
Dizon said Star Magic is already looking beyond the pageant itself, with possibilities ranging from dramas featuring Filipino-Chinese artists to music and other content that could showcase talents discovered through the competition.
“More than the pageant, it’s really the projects that we’re going to do after,” he said.
He also noted the potential to discover multilingual performers capable of singing in Chinese, Filipino, and English and eventually build what he described as an “ecosystem of Chinese content” through the partnership.
“Expanding our market into the Chinoy community and the Chinese market, I think it’s very important to ABS-CBN and Star Magic,” Dizon said.
The Mr. and Miss Chinatown Global Philippines winners’ night is scheduled for October 20 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.