Mr. and Miss Mandaue Pageant Night

CEBU, Philippines - A statuesque 22-year old Boholana, Donna Maricel Cardino, was crowned Miss Mandaue 2011 in an awfully long-drawn out pageant night (began after 9pm and finished up close to 2am!) held Saturday night at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Cardino is a Tourism graduate of Holy Name University in Bohol and previously worked as a technical support representative in one of the major BPO centers in Cebu City. Towering at 5’8”, she is a potential couture designer’s delight with a height and figure that wears any piece of creation regally. Proof of that, she romped away with the Best in Filipiniana Terno and Best in Formal Wear awards, with the recognition also going out to her designers Jonas Navarro (Best Design for Filipiniana Terno) and Danny Booc (Best in Formal Wear Design).

“Aside from my height, I think my edge was my personality. I just enjoyed myself tonight. I know I am capable of being an ambassador of goodwill here in Mandaue,” said a beaming Cardino to The FREEMAN right after her victory. She won P50,000 and other major sponsor prizes.

Miss Mandaue was the biggest pageant she has joined so far, and is now setting her sights to competing in more beauty tilts if given the opportunity. She previously won Ms. Sandugo Bohol 2008 4th runner-up and Ms. Bohol Tourism 2008. Under the stable of Cebuano designer and model-agent Danny Booc, Cardino also dabbles in print and runway modeling.

Her first runner-up is 18-year-old Crystal Star Aberasturi, an early front-runner who harvested quite a handful of awards namely Best in Resort Wear, Most Photogenic and the sponsor citations Parkmall Shopper’s Choice Award, Miss Casino, Miss MO2 and Miss Godiva. She is a student of Cebu Doctor’s University who dreams of becoming a pediatrician and chef someday. A stunning face apparently runs in the Aberasturi family, as her younger sister Steffi Rose, the Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, is a striking beauty herself.

Christine Paula Love Bernasor, 2nd runner up, is a 24-year-old graduate of Cebu Normal University who is one of the survivors of the Ormoc flood tragedy. The 3rd runner-up sash went to 19-year-old Ma. Genefe Navilon, a Mass Communications student of USJ-R.

Another crowd favorite and recipient of a number of awards was 18-year-old Reygin Brion, who surprisingly ended up 4th runner-up. A student of USJ-R, she was adjudged Media’s Choice, Ms. OMRA, Smart Texter’s Choice and Ms. Lecit-E.

Other awards: Ms. Friendship April Ann Velasco, Online Voter’s Choice Rosalyn Clavano, Miss Gems and Designs Ann Vernice Cabasa and Best Presentor Award Valene Lou Rosas (given to the candidate who presented the best AVP for a woman achiever of Mandaue).

A head-scratcher for the evening was the Q&A format which asked the candidates to write down their answers to a single question within a two-minute time limit, after which host Sian Maynard read them out loud. The ladies were then asked to elaborate on their answers, except candidate #1 who wasn’t given a chance to do so. While organizers claimed the format was less time-consuming, a written answer and verbal explanation seemed redundant and lost the excitement of seeing candidates think and speak on their feet.

The coronation ceremonies also significantly paid homage to the women achievers of Mandaue, who were acknowledged as “once just behind the men in power, but are now themselves empowered.”

These power women of Mandaue were: Eleuteria Perez Cortes, pioneer nurse and midwife of Mandaue; Juliana Perez Suico, founder of the famous masareal delicacy; Macaria, Lourdes and Crispina Mayol, keepers of the bibingka tradition; Lilia Socorro Sanchez Pascual, accountant and educator; Concepcion Flores Mendoza, principal for 54 years at the Mandaue Academy School; Susana Baring Cabahug, educator and poet; Vicenta Labucay Cabahug, musician and educator; and Asuncion Cortes Soon.

The rest were Caridad Yuson Sanchez-Babao, accomplished actress; Gaudiosa Ouano-Bercede, accomplished barangay captain; Corazon Bontia Ruelan, outstanding public servant; Amada Alivio Castañeda, kitchen ingénue and successful businesswoman; Perla Dadula Janea, sportswoman and educator; Bernardita Ouano Batiller Amigo, doctor; Natividad Cortes, hospital administrator; and Celestina, Sebastiana and Sarah Cortes, three generations of first ladies.

Balladeer Mark Bautista and Starstruck runner-up Diva Montelaba performed numbers during intermission, while wellness and beauty guru Cory Quirino was spotted front row, apparently scouting for possible aspirants for the upcoming Miss World Philippines, the franchise of which she now holds.

Meanwhile, the Mr. Mandaue 2011 pageant night held last May 3rd gave tribute to the blue-collar workers of Mandaue, which is just fitting as the city is known to be an industrial hub and highly urbanized capital in the Visayas and Mindanao. It was also their way of honoring their patron St. Joseph the Worker.

Also held at the CICC, the 16 candidates came out in a production number donning working men attire to represent various laborers such as construction workers, jeepney drivers, factory men, electricians, etc., whom city officials acknowledged as great contributors in the continued progress of Mandaue.

After parading on stage in their resort and casual wear, the gentlemen had to hurdle the interview portion, which required them to complete statements on topics ranging from environmental concerns, the role of the youth, but mostly, their sentiments regarding Mandaue City.

In the end, 18-year-old Danilo Kelso Belangel was declared Mr. Mandaue 2011. The tallest of this year’s batch at 6’1”, Belangel is a second year Management Accounting major at the University of San Carlos. He won P35,000 and other major sponsor prizes, including one sponsor award as Mr. OMRA.

Belangel beat out other crowd favorites and early contenders such as first runner-up Daryl Borces, whose father was Ginoong Mandaue 1994. Only 17, this University of the Visayas student has not lost any of the school-based pageants he had previously joined. He was also named Best in Workman’s Attire.

Second runner-up and Mr. Lecit-E awardee was 18-year-old Lyrey Yves Campos; third runner-up was Ludwig Dan Beltran (he also received the Mr. Casino Award, Parkmall Shopper’s Choice Award and Smart Texter’s Choice Award). The 4th runner-up spot went to 21-year-old Criminology graduate Carlos Ching (also recipient of the Best in Resort Wear, Best in Formal Wear Attire and Mr. Photogenic awards).

Other special awards were Mr. Friendship which went to Wenzel Don Sevilleno, and the Online Voter’s Choice for Rafael Dominic Torneros. Designer Lord Maturan of the Clothes For Life Foundation, Inc., whose creation was worn by Ching, was judged Best Formal Wear Designer.