Miss Mandaue 2013’s media darling

CEBU, Philippines - Eighteen-year-old Steffi Rose Pearson Aberasturi was voted Miss Mandaue 2013’s Darling of the Press during the annual pageant’s poolside presentation Thursday night at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan.

Aberasturi, who stands at five-foot-six, is an upcoming college sophomore at the University of San Carlos taking up Tourism. Her pageant accolades include Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Miss Campus Femme 2012 and Miss CESAFI 2013 first runner-up.

She said her elder sister Crystal Star, a Miss Mandaue 2011 first runner-up placer, has been giving her pointers such as “how to speak well and how to feel confident.”

Plantation Bay’s event coordinator Paige M. Ginete and six members of Cebu’s tri-media threw questions at all 12 candidates to gauge how well they thought on their feet and whether they came off sincere or pretentious.

Two other bets who made it to the top three choices for Darling of the Press were Eva Psychee Patalinghug, an 18-year-old Nursing student at Cebu Doctor’s University and SK Chairman of Lapu-Lapu City; and Kristine Alexandra Sy, a 21-year-old Medical Technology major at Velez College.

The 44th Miss Mandaue coronation will be on May 7, 8 p.m. at the Heritage Plaza in front of the Mandaue City Hall. Spectators will not only be treated to a free show, they will also catch a glimpse of ABS-CBN actor Xian Lim who is this year’s celebrity guest. (FREEMAN)