International singer and matinee idol Christian Bautista has been proclaimed as the winner of The 2013 Elan Awards, the epitome of the Modern Filipino Gentleman.
As the 2013 Élan Man, Christian Bautista will be awarded the prestigious Élan trophy, designed by acclaimed contemporary Filipino artist Igan D’Bayan; 100,000 pesos; and a year’s supply of McJIM Classic Leather products. The Élan Awards will also donate 100,000 pesos to Bautista’s favorite charity, World Vision.This Elan Awards was held at 55 Events Place in Scout Rallos, Quezon City, August 15, 2013.
In the first ever online
competition established by McJIM Classic Leather, the 2013 Elan Award's purpose to inspire all Filipino men to become true gentlemen of our modern
times.
The award has been established by popular
leather brand McJIM to find and honor the best role models for style and
elegance among today’s Filipino gentlemen. The finalists were chosen from a
lengthy list of entertainment, fashion, sports, music, and public service
personalities. The winner was chosen by popular vote; the votes were cast on
the Official Facebook Fan Page of McJIM Classic Leather.
Bautista was picked from among twelve stellar
finalists. His co-finalists included Senator-elect Sonny Angara; actor and
director Dingdong Dantes; celebrity food blogger Erwan Heussaff; actor Xian
Lim; acclaimed actor Coco Martin; actor and producer Piolo Pascual; singer and
businessman Richard Poon; actor and fitness enthusiast Derek Ramsay; actor and
singer Jericho Rosales; professional basketball athlete, businessman, and TV
host Chris Tiu; and AZKALS member Phil Younghusband.
The finalists were chosen by a celebrity panel
of judges that included society columnist Tim Yap; actor and top male model
Victor Basa; and radio and TV personality Sam YG based on three criteria:
a.
Elegance of Style;
b. Refinement; and
c. Accomplishment
In an official statement, McJIM Classic Leather
said it was very pleased over Bautista’s victory. It said that Bautista is a
perfect choice as winner because the award highlights the fact that Filipino
talent is respected in the world and is capable of great
accomplishment—qualities that Bautista possesses as an international performer
and recording artist.
“We are glad that Mr. Christian Bautista has
been judged to represent the best in what is truly Filipino. As a singer, Mr.
Bautista has an international fan base, proving that Filipino talent and
passion has no bounds. He shows us that the Filipino stands proud and can hold
his own with any other race or nationality. Mr. Bautista is an inspiration to
us all for his sense of style, his Filipino values and manners, and his drive
to succeed,” said 2013 Élan Awards Project Head Chris Cahilig.
The 2013 Élan Awards trophy was designed by
Filipino visual artist and writer Igan D’Bayan. D’Bayan has held several sold
out exhibitions that gained critical and popular acclaim. He is also an art
columnist and illustrator for a major Philippine broadsheet.
Cahilig added that the overriding purpose of the award is to
inspire Filipino men “to live the life and apply the values of a true gentleman
of the Philippines” and that Christian Bautista exemplifies this gentlemanly
lifestyle. He also said that they were overwhelmed by the response of Filipinos
to the online search for the 2013 Elan Awards winner. “Filipinos from Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao, and even across the globe, all responded by Liking our page,
nominating, and voting for their candidates.”
The criteria for the 2013 Elan Awards, which include elegance in
style, refinement, and accomplishment, are also represented in the prizes that
the winner receives. The supply of McJIM Classic Leather represents stylish
elegance in their manufacture and design while the cash prize represents the
success and accomplishment that the winner has achieved.
“We note in particular the trophy that we had especially
designed for the awards. The trophy was designed by a person of notable
accomplishment, in this case it’s Igan D’Bayan. We wanted Mr. D’Bayan to create
a trophy that is, by itself, a work of Art: it represents refinement in
manners, values, and etiquette—the true Filipino gentleman.
“Through this competition, even we at McJIM Classic Leather
learned a valuable lesson: our Filipino youth’s ideals are alive and well.
Their participation in this competition signals that they are at one with, and
are ready to uphold, the ideals that make us true Filipino gentlemen.
“The Elan Award is a celebration and a challenge: it reminds us
of our calling to be Filipino gentlemen wherever we are—to be proud of being
Filipino, to be stylish, refined, and to accomplish great things for ourselves
and our nation,” said Cahilig.