Reena Elena Malinao is Miss Cebu 2010

CEBU, Philippines - A licensed nurse won her first title crown in the 26th Miss Cebu pageant held Tuesday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Reena Elena Malinao, 21, was declared Miss Cebu 2010, besting 11 other candidates, who were mostly former pageant winners. This year’s theme was “My City, My Heritage”, in a bid to encourage Cebuanos to uphold the city’s rich heritage and culture. The Cebu Normal University (CNU) nursing graduate won the judges over with her reply to the final question: “In light of the challenges the Philippines is facing today, what is the social responsibility of a beauty queen?”

Malinao, who wore a white gown with black accents made by Cebuano designer Ren Manabat, answered: “A beauty queen should have substance, integrity and morals. With all the challenges the country is facing today, she should be there to fight for what is right, to stand for and think of what should be done for everyone even if it would mean lesser popularity because after all, a beauty queen symbolizes femininity and a good citizen of the country.”

A medical tourism advocate, this is Malinao’s fourth foray into pageants, having previously landed as Miss CNU 2nd runner-up, Miss Liloan 2nd runner-up, and Miss Danao fourth runner-up — all in 2006. Three years after, her fourth try finally yielded victory, after she had to forego a position as hospital intern to join Cebu City’s prestigious annual beauty contest.

Malinao took home P50,000 in cash, a trip to the United States, and other sponsor prizes.

“I feel very blessed!” she said in a post-pageant interview. “I never expected to get the number one spot. I’m very thankful to God for giving me this kind of opportunity. I also thank my family and friends who supported me along the way.”

Although not a pre-pageant favorite, Malinao competed with an optimistic attitude.

“I always experience [mental] blackout when I get into the top five, but I was just happy that I was able to answer the final question and eventually got the crown that I never expected,” she said.

She said that during her reign, she plans to work with the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children.

“She spoke from the heart, with confidence and something that had substance, and it moved people. One thing with a beauty queen, the initial impact of beauty is passing. We felt that she could really speak her mind and she worked really hard to present not the traditional beauty queen that has just the looks, but a beauty queen who also has substance,” said Illac Diaz, one of the pageant judges.

The rest of the judges were host and producer of Travel Time Susan Calo-Medina, filmmaker Quark Henares, fashion and interior designer Jeannie Goulburn and international artist and floral architect Rachy Cuna, who also served as the chairman of the board.

Completing Malinao’s court are 1st runner-up Maria Gresa Lugo, 20, a BS Management Accounting student of the University of San Carlos (USC); 2nd runner-up Ma. Eliza Zosa, 21, a nursing student of CNU; 3rd runner-up Rogelie Catacutan, 18, a nursing student of the University of San Jose-Recoletos; and 4th runner-up Carole Monique De Leon, 20, a psychology major of USC. Catacutan was also declared Miss Friendship and Miss Photogenic, while De Leon, who wore a Cary Santiago creation, bagged the Best in Evening Gown and Glamour Girl, Belo Star White Skin and Miss Belo Beautiful awards.

Santiago won the Best Evening Gown Designer award, while designer Felix Yu was given the Lifetime Achievement Award as the “Dean of Visayan Fashion” for his long-standing contribution to the Miss Cebu organization.

Attended by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Vice Mayor Michael Rama and other Cebu City officials, the coronation night was hosted by Miss Cebu 2008 Sian Elizabeth Maynard, Studio 23 host Rovilson Fernandez, and Miss Cebu 2007 1st runner- up Katrina Isabel Ros.

Featured performers were Cebuana divas Anna Fegi and Vernie Varga together with balladeer Christian Bautista.

During the evening gown competition, Lugo’s tuxedo-inspired evening gown stood out for its politically-themed design. Created by Cebuano designer Harley Ruedas, the white ball gown had black and white printed images of the May 2010 election’s presidentiables and vice-presidentiables such as Gibo Teodoro, Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Joseph Estrada, Mar Roxas, Edu Manzano, Loren Legarda, and others.

After scrapping the Texter’s Choice Award, which became last year’s bone of contention, this year’s staging had a controversy-free conclusion.