 The pageant was hosted by Television show host Ariel Ureta.The candidates were initially presented at the poolside of Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City on October 22, 2003.Beauty for a Cause Award was awarded to Vida Samadzai the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, for helping found a US-based women's charity that seeks to raise awareness of women's rights and education in Afghanistan by “symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today’s women and representing the victory of women’s rights and various social, personal and religious struggles”.