Padayon – a motto from a man full of passion and drive to succeed.
From a humble beginning in Tacloban to the international stage of Mister International 2024, Justine Ong’s journey is a true inspiration of perseverance.
Ong has been selected to represent the Philippines in the 16th Mister International competition, set to take place on December 14 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The eldest of six siblings, the Waraynon ambassador comes from a family with a complex background. He has two siblings from his mother's side, two from his father's side, and one from both parents.
His parents' separation when he was just six years old exposed him to the harsh realities of life.
Despite his parents' lack of stable employment, Ong was supported by his grandmother, a teacher, and his grandfather, an accountant.
Perseverance
At a young age, Ong made the difficult decision to drop out of school and started working.
He entered the wedding industry in Tacloban as an event coordinator but faced a setback when the pandemic hit, causing the events industry to come to a standstill.
This period was once again a low point for Ong, and it was during this time that he got a tattoo on his arm with the word "Padayon," meaning "Keep Going" in Alibata. This served as a reminder to him to persevere in life.
Going Into Business
Ong then started his own business, Barako Bois Tacloban, a meat production company in Tacloban that delivers and sells meat to houses.
This venture provided him with numerous opportunities and allowed him to support his siblings.
He was able to send his sister to college from her first year until now, and he takes his responsibility as an older brother and to his parents very seriously.
He is determined to help them, which is why he works so hard in everything he does, from business to modeling and pageantry. He is also preparing to become an actor in the Philippines.
Against All Odds
Ong's pageant journey began when he was just 14 years old in his school in Catbalogan City. His teachers were very supportive of him, and he won the competition. That's when he fell in love with pageantry.
That time he was looking up to Neil Perez, Mister International from the Philippines, and told himself that one day he wanted to be like him.
When the pandemic hit, Ong focused on his business and work to support his siblings, as he was the one sending them to school.
However, his school, Asian Development Foundation College (ADFC), asked him to represent his department, and he won again.
This rekindled his passion for pageantry and led him to join Mister Pilipinas Worldwide.
Despite facing criticisms and negative comments about his body and height, Ong saw these as opportunities to grow and become a better person.
He continued to compete and, against all odds, won the title of Mister International Philippines.
Ong is currently preparing to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Mister International 2024 in Thailand on December.
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