CEBU, Philippines - Amid the Binibining Pilipinas hangover, pageant fans this side of the country have more reasons to celebrate as Cebu did a four-peat in the Search for Aliwan Fiesta Festival Queen (Reyna ng Aliwan) 2012 held last April 13 and 14.
Reyna ng Aliwan is a yearly contest where various festivals all over the country field their loveliest muses for the title of festival queen. The beauty pageant is just one among three major categories in the annual Aliwan Fiesta cultural extravaganza, the other two being the Float Parade and the Cultural Street Dance Competition which is the main event.
Cebu fielded two candidates this year: Angeli Dionne Gomez represented the Hinulawan festival of Toledo City, while Mira-Mae Dimmerling carried the colors for the famous Sinulog festival of Cebu City.
The 19-year-old Gomez beat out 21 other hopefuls for the Reyna ng Aliwan 2012 crown, giving Cebu its fourth consecutive win. For the previous three years, the same title was bagged by Cebuanas representing the Sinulog festival namely Sian Elizabeth Maynard in 2009, Rizzini Alexis Gomez in 2010, and Rogelie Catacutan in 2011.
Gomez, who wore a black Cary Santiago during the announcement of winners last Saturday night held at the Aliw Theater Complex in Pasay City, is a filmmaking student of Bigfoot in Mactan. She took home P100,000 plus other sponsor prizes.
Quennie Rose Bautista of Surallah, South Cotabato was first runner-up. She also won awards for Best in Festival Costume and Best in Evening Gown.
Dimmerling was declared one of three runners-up with equal standing, along with Vanessa Anna Scheuer of Bais City, Negros Oriental and Joy Marie Gangan of Ilagan, Isabela (who also won Best in Swimsuit).
Now on its tenth year, Aliwan Fiesta is an awaited summer event produced by the Manila Broadcasting Company, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the cities of Manila and Pasay. It gathers different cultural festivals of the country in Star City Complex, with the goal of showcasing the different Filipino culture and heritage in Manila and to the whole world. (FREEMAN)