Ladies of the Land

Last October, we bore witness to the coronation of Cebu’s newest ambassadors in the second year of the Binibining Cebu pageant. After months of searching for rightful individuals to represent Cebu, amid intensive screening, training and pocket competitions leading to the big announcement, five strong and stunning women came out on top. Epitomizing beauty, wit and most of all, heart, meet the reigning Binibining Cebu and her court: Aberasturi is not a new face in the pageantry scene, but the latest Binibining Cebu was her first pageant after years of hiatus. Aberasturi said her decision to join this year’s pageant was not because of the crown but for the direction it can give her. She wishes to make a big difference and take a leap towards her goals in life, and Binibining Cebu allows her to do just that. “I believe Binibining Cebu opens doors for more productive opportunities that will enable my skills and capabilities to be shared across the island,” says Aberasturi. Long before the screening schedule for Binibining Cebu was announced, Aberasturi already had her mind fixed and even took the liberty of calling her handler. “I was excited and scared at the same time because I stopped joining pageants for a while. But I was so eager to join and make my family and friends proud of me once again,” Aberasturi shares. She adds that her family and friends helped boost her confidence. The decision to join the pageant was only the first step, and next was the grueling preparation process. Like any other beauty pageant contestant, Aberasturi visited the gym thrice a week and did trainings with her Kagandahang Flores family, on top of practices with the other 52 contestants. “It was tiring but nothing in life comes easy, so I just had fun all throughout the competition and grabbed the chance to know my 52 sisters better,” Aberasturi reveals. She never saw Binibining Cebu as a competition but an opportunity to make friends and improve herself. Aside from bringing her name to the pageant, Aberasturi also represented the city of Mandaue, which she says offers fun activities, festivals like the Mantawi Festival, delicacies like bibingka, a colorful history, and diverse arts and culture. “Mandaue may be far from pristine beaches or magnificent mountains, but what makes it beautiful is the preservation of its colonial-era gems that can be found at the very heart of the city,” Aberasturi adds. Aberasturi never expected to win the Binibining Cebu 2018 crown, but Aberasturi’s name was called at the end. “I wasn’t able to control my emotions and cried on stage. Prayers are really powerful and it can move mountains.” Now with a crown on her head, Aberasturi is in the process of coordinating with the people of Mandaue for future projects. And for a bigger advocacy as a beauty queen, she plans to revive and cultivate the art of weaving. With plans and an advocacy in discussion for her reign, Binibining Cebu has taught Aberasturi to be more responsible in her everyday actions and to humble herself before others. Aberasturi’s journey as a beauty queen doesn’t end on the last day of her reign for she plans to compete at a national level, with Pia Wurtzbach as her inspiration. “She is very determined in achieving her dreams and making a positive mark in this world. I hope to follow her footsteps one day because it’s not the longevity that I seek or a life well lived but a legacy I can carve and leave.”

I believe Binibining Cebu opens doors for more productive opportunities that will enable my skills and capabilities to be shared across the island.