BULUSAN IS MISS LIBON 2016
by Kevin Carlo Abila
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| Photo courtesy of Ruby Patricia Maronilla. From left to right. Arlene Salceda (1st Princess), Anna Mae Sayago (2nd Princess), Jane Portugal (Miss Libon 2016), Jimilyn Gerobin (3rd Princess), and Sheena Mae Ponteres (Miss Libon Tourism 2016). |
In a night full of beauty and ingenuity, Libongueños flocked the Libon Macapagal Gymnasium to witness the coronation of Felixian Jane Portugal, the representative of Brgy. Bulusan, as Miss Libon 2016. An early front-runner during the pre-pageant competition, the 22 - year old Assistant Manager of fast-food giant KFC General Trias- Cavite branch, also garnered special awards during the finals including Miss Hotlegs and Best in Swimsuit, among others.
"Being confidently beutiful is never enough to be Miss Libon. It takes time, courage, a full blown effort, and a real life advocacy to achieve it. In almost all of the pageants I've been through, I can say that joining Miss Libon 2016 is the most fun and memorable experience I ever had”, she said on an interview right after her coronation. She was crowned by last year’s winner
Aggie Zephaniah Gonowon of Brgy. San Agustin.
The 5’7 lass won a total of Php 27,000.00 for her victory.
Other crowd favorites and pageant-veterans also made it to the final five. Miss LiCom (Libon Community College)
Sheena Mae Ponteres was named Ms. Libon Tourism 2016, the first time that the community college sent a representative in the local search. The 5’6 tall beauty is currently studying Secondary Education- Major in Mathematics.
Ponteres is followed by Ms. Zone 1, Arlene Salceda. A second-timer to the pageant, Salceda also won special awards such as Best in Safari Gown and Best in Ramp. She finished as Miss Libon 1st Princess, a reminiscent of her triumph as 1st Runner-up during her 2011 stint.
The rest of the final five finalists were Miss East Carisac, Anna Mae Sayago who brought home the title as Miss Libon 2nd Princess and Miss Buga, Jimilyn Gerobin, another repeater to the pageant, who finished Miss Libon 3rd Princess, a notch lower than
her previous title in 2014 as 2nd Runner-up. All of the top five finalists were asked the same question in the final round on how they would assess the first one-hundred days of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in his office.
Rounding out the top seven semi-finalists were Miss Zone 2, Parissa Rabeje, who won Best in Production Number,
Best in Festival Attire, and Miss Talent, respectively; and Ms. Apud, Maikar Jane Roco
who was named Miss Photogenic. Meanwhile, Ms. Pantao, Sharmaine Briones
won Miss Friendship. The winners of special awards receive sashes, bouquets, trophies,
and cash prizes.
The rest of the hopefuls were Ramona Mae Aquilar (Zone 7), Claire Corporal (West Carisac), Rosa Siaron (Zone 1), Josie Roncesvalles (Magallang), Michelle Barnuevo (Burabod),
and Rotessa Siat (Zone 4). The equally-gorgeous candidates received consolation prizes for their participation.
There were several pre-pageant activities prior to the finals night. The candidates went to Brgy. Talin-talin, Libon, Albay for the official pictorial and the selection of the Miss Photogenic. There, they have enjoyed the scenic beaches and mountain ranges.
Meanwhile, the talent competition happened on July 22, 2016 wherein the fourteen candidates showcased their festival attires as well as their talents. Parissa Rabeje, representative of Zone 2, emerged as the winner of both categories.
The Search for Miss Libon is part of the week-long celebration of the municipality’s Paroy Festival in celebration of its bountiful harvest as the “Rice Granary of Albay” and in honor of St. James the Greater, Libon’s patron saint.
This year’s theme was “Masaganang ani Nin Paroy Adi sa Libon Dahil sa mga Libonguenong Mahigos asin Nahuhulaw sa Pangataman ni Kagurangnan” which honored the farmers, the unsung
heroes of the municipality.
