MANILA -- The stalwarts of the new Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) franchise have come together to give fans an idea of what to expect in its very first pageant this year.

In a Facebook clip, Shamcey Supsup, Jonas Gaffud, Albert Andrada, Lia Ramos, Mario Garcia and Atty. Nad Bronce said that the new franchise is set to bring “an unforgettable pageant that will surely delight the Philippines and the rest of the universe.”

“Join us as we choose a confidently beautiful Filipina,” Supsup said at the end of the video.

For the first time in pageantry history in the Philippines, a separate Miss Universe Philippines pageant has opened applications for aspiring queens.

In the last 55 years, Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) had been sending winners, from the same pool of annual candidates, to various international pageants, including Miss Universe, Miss International, and at one point, Miss World.

Under the Araneta group, the country produced four Miss Universe winners — Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018 — nine runners-up, and 10 top 20 finishes.

The MUP has yet to announce further details about the 2020 pageant.