A “better” Miss Lapu-Lapu pageant
To keep up with the times, the long-running Miss Lapu-Lapu pageant finally got a much-needed facelift.
Now under the leadership of project director and committee head, Atty. Ethelbert Ouano of the City Legal Office, the pageant celebrates the state of the Historic Resort City today – an important international and local gateway where people of all races and backgrounds are welcome whether for a quick visit or in search of a new home.
The competition hopes to embolden the locals to showcase their beauty, wit and talent, as well as their opinions and advocacies which will hopefully, ultimately make Lapu-Lapu City a better place.
This year’s 15 candidates are 19-year-old political sciences student from Cebu Normal University, Kristine Jane C. Catruciano of Punta Engaño; Calawisan’s Dianna Clouie Nava Degollacion, a 21-year-old customer service agent of Skylogistics Philippines for Philippine Airlines; 18-year-old tourist guide and professional dancer from Agus, Trexie Ann C. Bate; Pajo’s resident writer, animal lover, and environment protector Claudine I. Malolot, a 21-year-old communication graduate from the University of San Jose Recoletos; Mary Jholeen O. Panugalinog, an 18-year-old musician, artist, nature lover and STEM student from Basak; Sheerah Abigial Ybañez of Basak, a freshman nursing student from the University of Cebu-Banilad who considers herself as an aspiring health care provider, new writer, and environment activist; Babag 1’s Lyre Lyka M. Panis, a 20-year-old mental health advocate and Miss Lapu-Lapu returning candidate; and 19-year-old Jennifer Galdiano Ebner of Basak, a role model student and pageant enthusiast who studies customs administration at the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Campus.
Also among the hopefuls are 20-year old Cyvelshen Khesley Babatid of Basak, a Miss Mactan 2016, Miss Gaisano Grand Mall Mactan 2016, and Miss Southwestern University 2017 title-holder and division level debater and student leader; 22-yearold Mercy Danica N. Barluado of Basak, a radiologic technology graduate from Cebu Doctors University; Kinalumsan’s Kristy Anne Ramirez Degamo, a 20-year-old aspiring tourism professional and third year college student at USJ-R; 19-year-old Maria Ysbel Cabido of Agus, a reigning Miss Philsca, aviation tourism student and aspiring travel manager; Maribago’s Chloe Boton Boone, a senior high school student and pageant rookie of Belgian descent who loves to paint and has a twin sister; Jonalaine A. Barcenas, a 20-yearold junior airline management student from Pusok, a volleyball player and aspiring flight attendant; and Binibining Cebu 2018 Top 25 semi-finalist Shaznay P. Corres of Ibo, a tourism management student from the University of San Carlos, and an advocate for the environment.
In a press presentation last October 26 at the Marina Sea View Restaurant, candidate number one Kristine Jane Cartuciano started the ball rolling by talking about how she would promote Lapu-Lapu City should she win the crown.
“I believe it would be an easy task for me because Cebu has been noticed for its historic spots,” she said. “I will do this by promoting my advocacy which is the preservation of the culture and traditions of the Philippines.”
Lyre Lyka Panis spoke of her experience being the only returnee in the competition. Panis, who finished second runner-up in the pageant’s 2016 edition, said she joined Miss Lapu-Lapu for her mother.
“My mother is my primary inspiration. She really wants me to join. Miss Lapu-Lapu will be the best platform to move forward with my goal. I hope that everyone would notice that mental health is just as important as physical health. I know it’s not really famous or popular but little by little, step by step, we’re actually making it happen,” Panis said.
Seeing that many of the candidates were environmental advocates, talk also came to the United Nations report that said we only have 12 years to turn around the effects of climate change. Candidate number 4 Claudine Malolot mused that living a zero-waste lifestyle takes practice and that it should start with individual effort.
“Zero waste lifestyle is a habit. You don’t wake up and tell yourself, ‘Okay, I’m going to live a zero-waste life.’ It doesn’t happen in a snap. It involves practice and changing our lifestyle. The mindset of the people matters because no matter how the government could promote saving the environment, if people don’t have the same mindset, then we can never have change,” Malolot said.
Sheerah Abigial Ybañez, for her part, opened up about her experience on bullying. Both her and candidate number 10 Mercy Danica Barluado left advice to anyone who might have trouble with bullying.
“It got to the point where I wanted to commit suicide. I want to share my experience so others can learn from it. I want to give advice to the women, young children, youth, and men. Voice out your problems. There is no fear in trying and in talking to someone you’re close to. Through communication, we can promote wellness and awareness,” Ybañez quipped.
Lapu-Lapu City Fiesta Executive Committee Overall Chair Marcelita Dignos said that they are happy with this year’s “better set” of candidates
With 10 judges, it took three phases for the 42 that screened to become worthy of a spot in the official 15: the look test, body and modelling test, and question and answer. The candidates needed at least seven out of the 10 judges to give them a passing score in each phase.
Ouano talked about how far Miss Lapu-Lapu has come from its humble roots. While preparing for this year’s staging, he found out that the pageant began in 1920 as a fund-raising event for the Nuestra Señora de Regla fiesta celebration. The first Miss Lapu-Lapu was Marciana M. Quiachon. Technically, Ouano said, this would be the pageant’s 98th year. He hinted that people should expect an even grander staging come the 100th anniversary.
Apart from fresh faces, Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 also debuted a brand-new look. The now privately-funded event’s logo portrays a proud modern Oponganon woman’s silhouette with her head held high. The head is overlaid with 30 petals and foliage bearing the city’s branding colors (sky blue, golden yellow, persimmon orange and forest green), and represents the 30 barangays that make the city and the pageant’s oneness with the city’s endeavors. A crown is also on the Oponganon’s head, shaped like a bridge with mighty towers to symbolize grandeur, elegance, and of course, glitz and glamour. The pageant’s new tagline: “Beautiful. Colorful.”
There will also be a new crown this year, set to be unveiled soon. A new award, called Miss Responsibility for the candidate who is most professional apart from the usual corporate and special awards, will likewise be handed out.
The coronation night , to be held November 20 at the Hoops Dome of Lapu-Lapu City, will be directed by Marti Ybanez and will have celebrities as guest performers. The competition is co-chaired by Ronal Ferrer of the Department of Education Lapu-Lapu City Division.
“This year, we adapted a coherent branding with our city. We celebrate the positioning of Lapu-Lapu as the city with multiple cultures. Koreans, Japanese, and our Caucasian friends live peacefully here and they each have their own communities. That’s the beauty of Lapu-Lapu City. It’s very colorful in the sense that many races live harmoniously with one another,” explained Ouano, noting that all candidates are domiciled in the city, in line with wanting to have a homegrown queen who can best represent Lapu-Lapu City.
Despite being a private event, Vice Chair for the Fiesta Executive Committee Hon. Harry Radaza supports the affair.
“I can already see very many aspects with which the winner’s influence can definitely help the city. We have the Kadaugan and Rampada, throughout the years and we have international events. The winners can be integrated into the city’s tourism thrust and also their advocacies,” Radaza offered.
The pre-pageant activities meant to assess the ladies’ performance include the Swimsuit Presentation at the Ibiza Beach Club of Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu on Nov. 3, an extensive personality development and modelling training on Nov. 6 at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa, the Talent Competition on Nov. 10 at Gaisano Grand Mall Mactan, and a courtesy call to Mayor Paz C. Radaza and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Nov. 14.
The Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 candidates will also take part in events in line with the city’s fiesta celebration. They will be at the Garbo sa Lapu-Lapu City parade, at the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Expo where they will strut down the runway of the Gaisano Convention Center on Nov. 15, grace a Smart Communication booth where people can vote for their favorite candidate, and enjoy a cruise to the most picture-perfect destinations in the city wearing Philipp Tampus-designed Urban Resort Wear.