Masscom student wins Miss Cebu 2011 crown

CEBU, Philippines - A lavish production number patterned after Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s carnival-inspired mardi gras opened the Miss Cebu 2011 coronation Wednesday night at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. This was one among four globally-renowned festivals showcased in an evening that paid tribute to the world’s best, including Cebu’s very own Sinulog Festival.

After Queen pageant winners in carnival queen garb were rolled on stage aloft giant pink-draped platforms, Miss Cebu 2010 Reena Elena Malinao made a grand entrance in a Philip Rodriguez original that depicted safari queen. Swaying to the celebratory beat, she was on top a makeshift tribal carrier that held her high above the 12 candidates who sashayed in casual wear by Salvador Malto and Harley Ruedas for their first stage appearance.

Giving audiences a glimpse of how our Chinese friends celebrate their New Year and Spring Festival, the resort wear segment was preceded by a colorful dragon dance. The dancers then gave way to the competing ladies who were at this point dressed in Orientalia-themed ensembles crafted by Barbie Alvez, Edwin Ao and Protacio Empaces.

The mood turned mysterious and romantic in the Venetian Masquerade evening gown portion, reminiscent of Italy’s masked pageantry and ball processions associated with the tradition of the Venetian Carnival. The elegant gowns were created by Cebu’s premier designers, with the girls’ maquillage done by the Make-up Artists Club of Cebu.

Giant screens positioned all over the venue showed videos of the authentic festivals as they were performed on stage.

Filipina-Bahrainian Mia Zeeba Ali Faridoon was later declared Miss Cebu 2011, after giving the most convincing answer to the final question which was “In what way as a Cebuana can you help in the aspect of nation-building?”

Mia, who was the first to answer among the top five, said: “As a mass communication student, I learned that the most effective communication tool is through word of mouth. I will use my knowledge and my recognition to spread the word, sticking to my values and confidence in helping build a stronger nation.”

The 19-year-old junior student of the University of the Philippines Cebu College was also awarded Kapamilya Star of the Night. She won P60,000 cash, a roundtrip ticket to Hong Kong and Las Vegas, Nevada and other major sponsor prizes. This was her second pageant, after previously winning Miss UP 2010.

Mia, whose parents are based in Bahrain, currently lives with her aunts along Jones Avenue. An only child, she was born in Leyte to a Filipina mother and a Bahrain national. Her mother is a former secretary in a newspaper firm while her father is a sales executive and part-time photographer. Their family moved to Bahrain when she was 11 years old and settled in the Muslim-prevalent country until she graduated high school. She decided to move to Cebu to pursue college studies here.

“It’s unbelievable! I missed two weeks of pre-pageant activities because I had to visit my family in Bahrain. So I thought it was too late for me to catch up. But I’m just so happy that I was able to get through coronation night and prove to the judges that I’m worthy to be Miss Cebu,” said the aspiring news/business reporter minutes after her victory. Her black sheer-topped gown with rosette details was by Wendell Quisido. 

Mia wears a brand-new Miss Cebu crown, designed by no less than the first-ever Miss Cebu winner in 1984, Janice Bañez-Minor. The intricate headpiece, a marked improvement from the crown that the winners from 2003-2010 wore, is encrusted with rhinestones and Swarovski crystals.

First runner-up was crowd favorite Teffanie Lene Llamada, a 21-year-old staff nurse of St. Vincent’s General Hospital. In a sweetheart neckline black gown by Cary Santiago, she won Best in Evening Gown and Miss Glamour Cathay Pacific.

Also a crowd charmer, Fil-German Vanessa Claudine Ammann was 2nd runner-up. A model and arts enthusiast, she was voted Miss Friendship Waterfront by co-candidates.

Rosemary Gore, 18, Medical Technology student of Southwestern University was 3rd runner-up, while Aiko Lyanne Serrano ended 4th runner-up.

Aiko, 21, dealt with an unforgiving crowd who jeered when it took her way longer than the acceptable pause that allows a candidate time to gather her thoughts after a question is read. She is an English tutor for home-based company Four Communications.

The rest of the awardees were Katrina Raye Yuson for Miss Photogenic by NGenius and Philip Tampus for Best in Evening Gown Designer. Tampus’ creation was worn by candidate Katrina Jane Esmas. 

Scoring the candidates that evening was a panel of judges headed by its chairman, fashion show producer and director Jackie Aquino, together with Bb. Pilipinas-International 1991 and sought-after development personality consultant Patricia Betita; Cathay Pacific Cebu team manager Camilla Taylor; show producer and designer Randy Ortiz and editor-in-chief of lifestyle and society magazine Philippine Tatler Anton Sandiego.

Main hosts for the evening were Miss Cebu 2008 Sian Elizabeth Maynard and Cebuano kart racer-turned-actor Matteo Guidicelli. The ABS-CBN star serenaded the top five with Bruno Mar’s “Just The Way You Are.” Let’s just say singing and hosting aren’t his strongest suits.

Other guest performers were Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 Jacqueline Schubert who rendered a song number and “Pilipinas Got Talent” finalists, singer Markki Stroem and magician Alakim. (FREEMAN)