Beauties and kings at 39th Flores de Mayo

With Ginintuang Ani: Our Lady of Guadalupe as theme, the 39th Flores de Mayo was recently presented by Congregacion del Santisimo Nombre del Niño de Jesus at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia.

Hailed as the flower queens were (above, from left): La Flor de Pasay, Kitkat Yu Ekey (escorted by Jhudiel Gilbert Amier) in Pepe Quitco; Reina de las Flores, Sammie Anne Legaspi (escorted by Prince Noor Masud) in Ole’ Morabe; Rosa Mistica, Leren Mae Bautista (escorted by John Edgar Adajar) in Chico Estiva and La Flor de Manila, Sirene Sutton (escorted by Ricardo de Jesus) in Paolo Blanco.

Named honorary Rosa Mistica was reigning Bb. Kalikasan Eimeverlee Canimo (in Roy Aquino), 13, escorted by Van Allen Ong.

Beauty queens and kings who were sagalas and escorts that evening were Yvethe Marie Santiago (in Renee Salud), Ma. Ahtisa Manalo (in Mikee Andrei), April Tanhueco (in Mario Ramos Javier), Mary Ann Mungcal (in Rex Nicdao), Nadine Bornilla (in Oliver Tolentino), Hannah Khayle Iglesia (in Russ Cuevas), Neil Perez (also in Javier) and Ion Perez (in Nicole Ann Danika Damo).

Other participating designers were Jontie Martinez, North Ortiz, Vince Sityar, Louis Pangilinan, Dee Jay Abustan, Pencil Diestra, Christopher Quejano, Nikky Martinez, Toni Galang, Rowell Panlilio, Obet Orajay, Choi Villarama, Ranel Espaldon, Adin Lara, Rholand Roxas, Rey Lazaro, Leslie Rivera, Sony Boy Mindo and Adam Balasa.

The annual event was directed by Ogee Atos with Ben Farrales and Mila How, and Nelson Mendoza and Jessie Maloles as Hermano and Hermana Mayores, supported by the Designers Circle Philippines.

— Celso de Guzman Caparas/Photos by Edmund Ong Chua