10 ladies vie for Masskara Festival Queen crown
TEN young women vying for the 2018 Masskara Festival Queen title met the press during the presentation held at Robinsons Place Bacolod Saturday afternoon.
The finalists are Claire Therese Porras, Heryn Wilcel Gatilao, Shane Pia, Julia Bennett Divinagracia, Edelyn Roncales, Jacqueline Almogen, Angelica Amayna, Claudette del Castillo, Chrisselle Rose Lambating, and Ella Mercado.
Porras, 22, is a Bachelor of Science Tourism Management senior at the University of Negros Occidental-recoletos, an athlete and Kasadyahan Dance Company scholar.
She is also the Masskara Queen 2017 1st runner-up. She joined this year’s search to promote health and wellness through sports and encourage young people in charity works and community service.
Gatilao, 18, is a BS Psychology student from University of St. La Salle. She took psychology because of her fascination with human ways and behavior. She also dreams of becoming a lawyer. Her advocacy is suicide prevention.
Pia, 20, is a cum laude graduate from Visayan Maritime Academy where she finished BS Business Administration Major in Financial Management and is now working as a customer service representative. She likes creative writing and was the managing editor of her school’s publication.
Divinagracia, 19, is an Accounting Technology student of University of St. La Salle. She likes to read books and is also into music.
Roncales, 18, is an accountancy student from University of Negros Occidental-recoletos. She sees joining pageants as her way of encouraging people to be themselves and achieve their dreams.
Almogen, 18, is a Grade 12 student from Domingo Lacson National High School taking Humanities
and Social Sciences program.
She likes to play sepak takraw and volleyball and is also into singing and dancing. She joined the search for Masskara Queen 2018 because she believes that it will enhance her skills and improve her personality.
Amayna, 17, is a tourism freshman from the University of St. La Salle. She dreams of becoming a flight attendant and to travel the world. She joined the pageant to increase youth awareness towards tourism.
Del Castillo, 22, is a senior high teacher at Riverside College, Inc. and is also taking Master of Arts in Education in Physical Education at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College. She joined the pageant because she wants to win and believes that the symbol of service is a crown.
Lambating, 20, is a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science student from Riverside College Inc. She joined the pageant as a stepping stone in becoming a beauty queen.
Mercado, 17, is a Grade 11 student from Negros Occidental High School. She believes that joining the pageant will allow her to develop more about herself.
The candidates answered questions involving both local and national issues.
This year’s pageant was organized by OMS led by Rene Jun Ogapong and Danjan Plazo in partnership with the Silver Masskara Festival Organization.
Plazo said the final candidates were named after the thorough screening and deliberation of the 24 applicants last month.
He said the pageant and coronation night will be on October 19 at 7 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center.
Ogapong said Masskara Festival Queen will be crowned on her festival costume.
“We will revive the format of the original Masskara Festival Queen which was started during the term of Mayor Evelio Leonardia,” he said.
He added the pageant will run for two hours that will be hosted by Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna with the Masskara Queen 2010.
The Silver Masskara Festival Organization Inc. will also tap judges from Manila.
The Masskara Festival Queen pageant is one of the highlights of the 39th Masskara Festival from October 8 to 28.*