Model Kirk Bondad

MANILA – Model Kirk Bondad left Manila Tuesday morning to attend the Mr. World 2024 pageant in Vietnam, where he would represent the Philippines.

In an interview with members of the media, Bondad said he was excited for the pageant, the coronation night of which is slated on Nov. 23. Around 70 candidates are vying for the title.

“It is probably the highest honor that I have had in my life,” said Bondad.

Asked what his preparations were, the model said the past two weeks were the “most stressful and time consuming” that he had in his life.

“I was micromanaging a lot. My videographers, my production crew. There were a lot of meticulous things that I had to take over. There is a specific vision that I wanna showcase so I had to take a lot of time from me,” he said.

“When it comes to diet, when it comes to sports, it is already my basic life. I love working out, I like being healthy so in that aspect, it was pretty set,” he added.

Model Kirk Bondad with his girlfriend Lou Yanong

What was important, according to him, was enjoying the pageant.

“I do not want to put pressure on myself. There is so much pressure. I am competing for the Philippines. It is my mother country. There are a lot of things going on so for me, being collected and calm [are] my priorities,” he said.

Asked if the Philippines would take home the title, he said, “I am certainly very confident and doing all my absolute best.”

“I hope the judges will see me worthy of that (Mr. World). I will let the judges do their job.”

Bondad was accompanied by his mother and his girlfriend Lou Yanong to the airport.