Mutya sa Sugbo 2011 candidates unveiled

CEBU, Philippines - Come sunshine or storm, there’s never a dearth of beauty pageants in this side of the universe. Whereas some organizers justify their version of yet another beauty contest as really, a charitable venture for naming such and such as the beneficiary of their event proceeds or their means of molding role models for the dear youth, it still all boils down to our intrinsic fascination with all the pomp and pageantry.

There was a heavy downpour outside the premises and split-second power interruptions within the mall when candidates for Mutya sa Sugbo 2011 began their public launch cum press presentation Monday afternoon at the Ayala Activity Center. But the worrisome weather was no reason for the young ladies not to flash their sweetest smiles and glide onstage the best way they could.

Staged by Sepia Events and Productions, Inc., this first Mutya sa Sugbo beauty, brains and body tilt is participated in by 17 hopefuls representing their respective hometowns or barangays in Cebu province. The grand pageant night will occur at the Pacific Ballroom of Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug this July 28.

We recognized a handful of pageant regulars, but we gathered most of the girls are first-timers, with some boldly expressing a desire to represent the country someday in international beauty contests even if they needed a lot of catching up in the height department.

The Mutya sa Sugbo 2011 finalists include Joanne Bonnety, Guada Mikka Abenoja, Lawrence Casas, Daisy Rell Lopez, Mon Theress Menaling, Amanda McCoy, Janine Calibara, Samantha Dela Peña, Diane Joy Espinosa, Sandy Marie Chua, Kristine Joyce Alilin, Edzel Peggy, Krystal Lyssa Pelomiana, Alicezandra Ann Sommerauer, Rosemarie Abapo, Valiree Janne Vidal and Armejoice Bael.

The people behind the project state that their mission is to provide an exceptional pageant which will offer an opportunity of a lifetime for an aspirant by challenging and expanding their horizons, while providing a means of giving back to the community. They hope to showcase the positive qualities and virtues of Cebuanos by creating role models.

Moreover, organizers said Mutya Sa Sugbo will also be about promoting Cebuano cultural awareness, that is why they designed for the candidates a series of socio-cultural involvement programs, tourism magnetism, workshop enhancement skills, social responsibility awareness and environmental concern activities.

Next year, they plan to tie up with the local government and find representatives for most of the province's towns. (FREEMAN)