A parade of beauty queens

CEBU, Philippines - For the third year in a row, SM City Cebu and Clothes for Life Foundation Inc.’s “Santacruzan sa Sugbo” boasted a powerhouse cast of reinas and zagalas who were all beauty pageant title-holders in their own right. As designer and Clothes for Life president Cary Santiago proudly proclaimed, they had the “crème of the crop” and the “biggest Santacruzan spectacle” among its Cebu counterparts.

In an elaborate and fashionable parade that began at the Radisson Blu Hotel up to the Northwing Atrium of SM, beauty queens from past to present showed off their fine form in Filipiñiana ternos crafted by 34 designers from Clothes for Life. All eyes were glued to the center-stage as each lady, escorted by a gentleman and flanked by university cadets, was introduced in her Santacruzan character before her pageant title was revealed.

Many have questioned the significance of this Flores de Mayo tradition and Church officials have lamented the “showbizification” (with celebrity-centered Santacruzans as opposed to the original practice of picking a town or barrio's fairest females) of what was initially set out as a religious exercise to represent various aspects of the Virgin Mary, but these haven't prevented numerous organizations from mounting their versions of the annual Santacruzan.

Nevertheless, with the gorgeous designs and equally gorgeous faces to feast our eyes on, the event became simply another testament to Cebuano beauty and artistry.

Below are the Santacruzan characters and the beauty queens who played the part

this year:

•Reina Emperatriz – Cebu’s Five Prettiest 1985 and Miss Fiesta Islands Philippines 1987 Girlie Maraya-Ang

•Reina Elena – Reyna ng Aliwan 2011 Rogelie Catacutan

•Reina Banderada – Miss Cebu 2011 Mia Zeeba Ali Faridoon

•Reina Abogada – Miss Cebu 2009 Kris Tiffany Janson

•Reina Justicia – Miss Dumaguete 2010 Lorraine Kendricksson

•Reina Samaritana – Miss Mandaue 2008 1st runner-up Phoebe Kaye Fernandez

•Torre de David – Miss Cebu Olympics 2010 Cleofe Jerrae Blanco

•Reina Sheebah – Philippines’ Next Top Model 1st runner-up Elvira Stehr

•Maria Magdalena – Miss PAGCOR Cebu 2008 Marie Ann Maraon

•Maria Salome – Miss Milo Little Olympics 2010 Apriel Smith

•Maria Veronica – Miss Mandaue 2010 1st runner-up Katrina Raye Yuson

•Reina Esther – Miss Teen Philippines-Central Visayas 2007 Tamara Johansen

•Reina Judith – Miss Teen Philippines 2008 Ana Andrada

•Reina Libertad – Miss Teen Talisay 2010 Aliza Alfonso

•Reina Fe – Miss Cebu 2011 1st runner-up Teffanie Lene Llamada

•Reina Esperanza – Miss Cebu 2006 1st runner-up Angel Wella Luzano

•Reina Caridad – Miss Cebu 2003 1st runner-up Melissa Basubas

•Reina Paz – Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen 2008 Chelo Mae Timtim

•Reina de los Martires – Sinulog Festival Queen 2011 Steffi Rose Aberasturi

•Reina de las Corazones – Sinulog Festival Queen 2008 Crystal Star Aberasturi

•Reina de las Prophetas – Miss Mandaue 2010 Karina Nikko Gajudo

•Divina Pastora – Miss Cebu 2010 Reena Elena Malinao

•Reina del Rosario – Miss Mandaue 2009 Hazel Ceniza

•Stella Matutina – Miss Cebu 2008 Sian Elizabeth Maynard

•Reina de la Nieve – Miss Cebu 2007 Loise Angelique Tan

•Reina de la Luna – Miss Mandaue 2011 Donna Maricel Cardino

•Reina de las Estrellas – Miss Cebu City Olympics 2011 Patrice Luigi Gomez

•Rosa Mystica – Miss Cebu 2007 1st runner-up Katrina Isabel Ros

•Reina del Sol – Miss Anyag 2010 Ma. Genefe Navilon

•Reina del Cielo – Miss Cebu 2006 Stephanie Señires

•Reina del Mundo – Miss Teen Philippines Visayas 2006 Shekina Lasola

•Reina de los Angeles – Mutya ng Pilipinas 2010 2nd runner-up Sharon Grace Angel

•Reina Sagrada Familia – Miss Radisson Blu Hotel April Duenas

•Reina de las Flores – Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen 2010 Janine Dagcutan (FREEMAN)