Tovic Salvador

Kenneth Cabungcal’s emotional journey to Mister Supranational 2025 Top 5

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752742059994kenneth.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Mister Supranational 4th runner-up Kenneth Cabungcal. ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- From the fish stalls of Dumaguete’s public market to the glittering stage of Mister Supranational 2025 in Poland, Kenneth Cabungcal’s story is one of sacrifice, courage, and quiet determination.The stunner from Dumaguete clinched fourth runner-up in the prestigious international male pageant, which is a dream he never imagined possible, especially not for someone who once juggled school and fish vending to help his hardworking parents make ends meet.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/6/30/ph-s-kenneth-cabungcal-is-mister-supranational-2025-4th-runner-up-1438">PH&#x27;s Kenneth Cabungcal is Mister Supranational 2025 4th runner-up</a></div>“Since elementary ako (tumutulong sa kanila), dati kasi hindi kami nag-mi-meet masyado ng parents ko, during that time kasi sobrang busy nila sa palengke. So sinabi ko po, I will help them as a way na bonding na rin po namin. So hanggang dun, hanggang college, I&#x27;m helping them selling fishes there while also studying,” Cabungcal shared.Just two years ago, his life took an unexpected turn. A candid photo of him selling fish in Dumaguete went viral on Facebook— and that moment changed everything.“My manager from Cebu &#x27;yun naka-discover sa &#x27;kin through social media. Kasi na-picturan ako dati na nag-viral siya na nagtitinda ako doon sa Dumaguete. He chatted me and ayun,” he recalled.At the time, Cabungcal had been reviewing for civil engineering. But when his manager invited him to try pageantry in Manila, he made a difficult choice.“Actually, nag-review for civil engineering. Pero [I] did sacrifice my review for my pageant [career]. Dinala po ako ng manager ko dito sa Manila para ipa-pageant. So &#x27;yun, na-culture shock na ako dati kasi hindi ko masyadong kabisado sa Manila,” he said.“But eventually, nag-gets ko naman and nanalo ako ng first pageant ko.”During his early pageant days, Cabungcal had his doubts.“Hindi nga ako makapaniwala nun kasi parang wala lang. Nag-enjoy lang ako and parang gusto ko na umuwi dati kasi ano ba itong pinasukan ko? Ang daming gwapo. And luckily, thankfully dahil po ito sa will ni God for me,” he said.And as his career in this industry started to blossom, he admitted that self-doubt continued to shadow him even in Poland where he felt disheartened that he wasn’t included in online “hot picks” ahead of the Mister Supranational coronation.“Sobrang lungkot ko po noon kasi nakikita ko sa online na hindi ako part ng mga hot picks. Nalulungkot ako para sa mga taong tumulong sa akin kasi parang hindi ako visible noon,” he admitted.Still, Cabungcal pushed forward. He made it to the Top 10, and then the Top 5 despite struggling to answer the Q&amp;A.“Nung tinawag ako sa top 10, happy, pero after noon sa pagsagot ko sa question na given to us one hour before the show, nag-struggle ako kasi paano ko kaya masasagot in 20 seconds na calibrated at hindi practiced answer. Nag-struggle ako doon at sabi ko baka top 10 lang talaga ako. Pero luckily, [nakapasok] sa top 5 at sabi ko sasagutin ko na lang ito from the heart,” he said.At a moment of doubt onstage, it was ‘Mama J’ (Jonas Gaffud), who brought him back to himself.“Nalungkot ako doon pero nakita ko mukha ni Mama J at sabi niya ‘smile!’ So Ayun, sobrang sad ng face ko pero ganito na lang ako, I&#x27;m so happy kasi I made my mama proud,” Cabungcal said.He also took time to thank Gaffud and Voltaire Tayag, whose unwavering support made a world of difference.“Hindi niyo po alam &#x27;yung sacrifices na ginagawa nila sa amin,” he said emotionally.“Naisip ko po na paano kaya nila babayaran, milyon milyon mga gastos nila for us, pamasahe pa lang at wala silang hinihinging kapalit galling sa amin. Gusto lang nila na irepresent natin well ang ating country sa international stage.”Now back in the Philippines, Cabungcal is full of hope. With newfound fame and more opportunities knocking on his door, he dreams of one day entering the &quot;Pinoy Big Brother&quot; house, and even bigger than that: buying a house for his family, who still lives in a depressed area in Dumaguete.“Sobrang gulat ko pong nakapasok ko sa top 10 at sa top 5,” he said with teary eyes as he talked about how his dreams are not only for himself, but for his parents.&quot;I&#x27;m so happy sa childhood &#x27;yun kasi sila po &#x27;yung tumulong, nag-build sa akin as a person. And tinulungan nila akong makapatapos sa pag-aaral. And &#x27;yun, sobrang happy po ako sa childhood po kasi medyo esprego siya but we did it. We did teamwork and worked hard together.&quot;From the fish market to the global stage, Kenneth Cabungcal is living proof that no dream is too far — not even from Dumaguete to Poland.

From the palengke to Poland 🇵🇭🌍 Kenneth Cabungcal’s inspiring journey from selling fish in Dumaguete to placing 4th runner-up at Mister Supranational 2025 proves that no dream is ever too far. 🐟✨👑 #

From the palengke to Poland 🇵🇭🌍 Kenneth Cabungcal’s inspiring journey from selling fish in Dumaguete to placing 4th runner-up at Mister Supranational 2025 proves that no dream is ever too far. 🐟✨👑 #