Wilbert Ting Tolentino

Wilbert Ting Tolentino is a Chinese-Filipino entrepreneur from the Philippines, and philanthropist who owns a call center, Wemsap,

[lower-alpha 1] a “web development BPO that promotes products online”, a bar, a spa/salon, and an imported goods business, and is a veteran beauty pageant producer.[1][2][3][4][5] He regularly serves as a judge for other beauty pageants like Miss Earth 2018 in November, and Miss Asia Pacific International 2017.[6][7] Tolentino founded and produced several pageants and competitions: Miss F Universe, Mr. Fahrenheit/Mr. Gay World Philippines, Miss Earth Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit Look of the Year, Mr. Bear Fahrenheit, Miss F Jumbo, Miss F Supranatural & The Voice Of Fahrenheit.[8]

Wilbert Tolentino
Born
Wilbert Ting Tolentino

May 18, 1975
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Occupationbusinessman, pageant titleholder, philanthropist, vlogger
Known forfirst Mr. Gay World Philippines, Youtube Vlogger, pageant producer, Mr. Gay World Philippines license holder
Notable work
Mr. Gay World Philippines

He earned the first Mr. Gay World Philippines in 2009, and competed for Mr. Gay World 2009 in Whistler, Canada. Tolentino is an LGBTQ advocate awarded as one of Philippine's “Outstanding Men and Women“ of 2019.[1][2][9][10][11] Tolentino was the first openly gay Filipino man to compete in an international pageant.[8] He went on to compete in Mr Gay World winning Mr. Gay Popularity and Best in National Costume in 2009.[12] As of September 2016, he is the national director of MGWF.[13] In March 2019, Tolentino received a special award at the “Phenomenal Stars of Philippine Cinema” event, Global Entrepreneur of the Year.[14] He serves on the Quezon City Pride Council.[8]

In recognition of frontline health workers he is starting a reality show competition to reward cash prizes.[2][15] In September 2020, he started a virtual pageant, Miss GCQ or Miss Gandang Contesera Quest, to support pageant contestants until a regular season resumes.[3] He has a son, who as of September 2020 is four years old.[1][2]

Early life

Wilbert Ting Tolentino was born in Binondo, Manila with Chinese-Filipino parents. He is a businessman and owner of Fahrenheit Cafe & Fitness Center[16] or F Philippines, a gay membership club situated in the main street of Quezon City, and he runs various health spas. Tolentino is one of the board of directors of Quezon City Pride Council that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness to LGBT community. Tolentino studied at Lorenzo Ruiz Academy in Manila's Chinatown center and continued his college years at University of Santo Tomas for few units.

Pageant career

Tolentino was 2009's Mr. Gay World Philippine representative[17] and is currently the national director for Mr. Gay World Philippines Organization. He was appointed to represent the Philippines and the competition was held in Whistler, Canada. He was Mr. Gay Popularity, Best in National Costume, Best in Formal Wear and Sports Challenge Winner.

Prior to Mr. Gay World 2009, Wilbert competed for the Mr. Gay Philippines in 2007 and landed only 2nd runner up. He bagged numerous special awards such as Best in Casual Wear, Best in Talent, Congeniality Award, Photographer's Choice Award and Mr. Popularity.[18]

He also joined in a local noon time variety show in ABS-CBN, It's Showtime's I am Pogay[19] contest in 2014 and landed as a weekly finalist.

Pageant Producer

He founded and produced five major local gay competitions: Miss F Universe, Mr. Fahrenheit, Miss Earth Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit Look Of The Year and Mr. Gay World Philippines.

In 2016, Tolentino became the license holder for Mr. Gay World Philippines. He attributed two (2) winners for Mr. Gay World, John Raspado and Janjep Carlos of 2017 and 2019, respectively. [20]

Mr. Fahrenheit / Mr. Gay World Philippines

The Philippines' first male pageant for gay men and bisexuals, and the longest, since 2003. In 2018, the production for Mr. Fahrenheit has merged with Mr. Gay World Philippines and its winner will represent the Philippines to the Mr. Gay World. Its platform are Mental Health Awareness, HIV/AIDS and Pre-exposure prophylaxis Awareness. Louie Gonzalez was the first openly gay man titleholder, when he was proclaimed as the winner.

Miss F Universe

A Miss Universe inspired pageant for gay men and bisexuals men and queers. Its platform are the fight against homophobia and transphobia[21][22]

Miss Earth Fahrenheit

A Miss Earth inspired pageant for gay men and bisexuals men and queers. Its platform is the involvement of the LGBTQI community for the preservation of nature and environment.

Fahrenheit Look Of The Year

A male pageant for gay men and bisexuals men, since 2006. Its platform is to advocate programs and laws for the protection of the gay youth.

Mr. Bear Fahrenheit

The Philippines' only male pageant for bears and chubby gay men. The winner will represent the Philippines to the Mr. Bear Universe. Its platform is to support the solidarity of bears and chubs in the country.[23]

Miss F Jumbo

A plus size pageant for gay men and bisexuals men and queers. Its platform is the fight against fat shaming.

Miss F Supranatural

It is a "pangkalawakan" inspired pageant for gay men and bisexuals men and queers who embody over-the-top personality and judged not by their beauty but their wit and humor.

The Voice Of Fahrenheit

A singing competition open to all gender and ages.

Facebook Online Challenges

Because of the worldwide COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Tolentino started multiple online benefit competitions starting in March 2020—for “drag queens, gay contestants, male contestants, social media influencers, entertainment and pageant media, pet owners community and singer-songwriters”—to raise funds for the contestants and their families who had lost income.[24][3][25]

Covid 19

In July 24, 2020, Tolentino experienced mild symptoms of soar eyes. Eventually it became severe and on August 2, he was hospitalized for testing positive and having symptoms of Covid Pneumonia in critical severe state with Accute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. He had a survival chances of 20% and was intubated in CCU at St. Lukes Hospital, in Quezon City.[26] COVID-19 coronavirus.[1][27][28]

Youtuber

On October of the same year, Tolentino started his career as a Youtube content creator. His channel has garnered more than 300,000 subscriber in just three (3) months since its conception. [29][30][31]

Notes
  1. Web Marketers Specialist Association of the Philippines, Inc., (WEMSAP), he is founder and president.

References
  1. "Pageant King Wilbert Tolentino survives COVID-19". Manila Bulletin. 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  2. "Wilbert Tolentino: The road to recovery". Tempo. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  3. Dumaual, Mario (2020-09-01). "Gazini Ganados, other queens rally support for new virtual pageant Miss GCQ". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  4. Ciriaco, Nico Erle (2020-07-01). "Combating the coronavirus contagion | Nico Erle Ciriaco". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  5. "Wilbert Tolentino: Born this way_ helping people is his destiny". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  6. "Vietnamese beauty crowned Miss Earth". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  7. Lo, Ricky. "Will Pinay teenager win Hadid's model search?". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  8. Antolin, Jet D. (March 5, 2017). "Wilbert Tolentino: Born this way, helping people is his destiny". Women’s Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  9. "Outstanding Men & Women of the Year (Philippines) awards honor trailblazers —". Asian Journal News. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  10. Caparas, Celso de Guzman (May 9, 2019). "Phl bet Janjep Carlos wins 2019 Mr. Gay World in South Africa". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  11. "Wilbert Tolentino Glamour Magazine July 2020". MagCloud. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  12. Yazon, Giovanni Paolo J. "Nomer Yuzon aims to be first-ever Mr. Gay World from Phl". Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  13. "Out and proud". Tempo - The Nation's Fastest Growing Newspaper. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  14. News, ABS-CBN (2019-03-25). "LOOK: Kathryn, Daniel accept 'Phenomenal Stars' award". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  15. Estela, Kathrine (2020-09-10). "Wilbert Tolentino survives Covid-19". Metro Sun. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  16. "Fahrenheit Cafe and Fitness Center". fahrenheitcafe.com. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  17. "Contestants 2009 - Mr. Gay World". Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  18. "Mr. Gay World Philippines 2009 | normannorman.com". normannorman.com. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  19. "'I Am Pogay' debut draws shrieks, trends worldwide". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  20. https://www.fahrenheitcafe.com/
  21. https://normannorman.com/tag/miss-f-universe-2015/
  22. http://baklapoako.com/miss-f-universe-2015-hail-the-new-queen/
  23. https://bearworldmag.com/inaugural-mr-bear-fahrenheit-contest-to-be-held-in-philippines-online-voting-started/
  24. https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/342841
  25. "Entrepreneur Wilbert Tolentino creates virtual challenges for charity and fun amid the ongoing crisis". Business Mirror. June 25, 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  26. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/07/01/combating-the-coronavirus-contagion/
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyF36nzVh0c
  28. https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/02/public-square/on-the-road-to-full-recovery/775118/
  29. https://www.youtube.com/c/WilbertTolentinoVLOGS/
  30. https://randomrepublika.com/wilbert-tolentino-promotes-advocacies-through-vlogging/
  31. https://showbizrepublika.com/2020/12/22/wilbert-tolentino-wagi-sa-youtube/
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