Miss Cebu 2014 is fisherfolk advocate

CEBU, Philippines - The newly-crowned Miss Cebu harbors a fascination for revolutionaries, among other things, and loves singer Beyonce’s messages of women empowerment. “Girls, we run the world,” she gamely croons during an interview immediately after her victory when asked why she’s particularly fond of the global music superstar.

Cheriemel Diane Muego, who turned 20 the day before pageant night, was female empowerment personified when she left the crowd at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Wednesday night awestruck with her eloquence.  

During the casual interview round wherein finalists were made to pick questions formulated by their fellow candidates, Muego picked candidate number 7 Natasha Angela Manuel’s question, which read, “Some people have said that Cebu will boom if it will gain independence from the Philippines and become a country on its own. What do you think about this?”

The graduating Political Science major from the University of Philippines-Cebu’s reply was: “We cannot make parallel comparisons with Singapore and Hong Kong to Cebu, basically because we have different experiences. The idea of Cebu becoming an independent republic is for me, absurd. If that will happen, we will become a country within a country. Therefore, we will experience logistics and transportation problems. Becoming a separate republic is like cutting the umbilical cord that connects our island to the entire country. And lastly, if we become independent, we will face greater challenges, like borders and building up our own military. I believe that we will benefit if we remain a province — an economically, socially and culturally rich province of the Republic of the Philippines.”

That secured her top five inclusion and garnered hearty applause from a very impressed crowd.

She sealed the deal by yet again nailing the final question, which asked how she can give her countrymen affected by super typhoon Yolanda hope for their future.

“I believe that I have already started even if I’m not yet Miss Cebu, because in my own little way, I have contributed in sparking volunteerism among the youth, students and people of Cebu. I believe in the power of the collective. It is only when we march in unison that we can achieve our goals. By working together, we can inspire others and give hope to the people to rise again,” said Muego, a Bb. Ormoc 2012 winner and Miss UP first runner-up.

Muego has a soft spot for Cebu’s fisherfolk community after interacting with them while completing her thesis. She plans to work for an NGO that helps marginalized sector’s cause.

She won P60,000, and trips to the Holy Land, Las Vegas, USA, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore care of Tiger Airways

Muego wears a brand-new crown made especially for the pageant’s Pearl anniversary, designed by Mark Tenchavez in collaboration with Simply Cebuana. The headpiece is bordered with princess-cut Austrian crystals, accented with large Swarovski tear-drop crystals, and highlighted with majorica pearls.

Runners-up

Her first runner-up Eva Psychee Patalinjug was heavily-tipped to win the crown, since the 19-year-old nabbed all of the evening’s special awards namely, Miss Friendship, Miss Photogenic, Kapamilya Star of the Night and Best in Evening Gown (she donned a champagne-colored gown by Ditas Rodriguez). She was also chosen Best in Fun Wear during the pre-pageant night.

Patalinhug, a graduating Nursing student at Cebu Doctor’s University and outgoing SK chair, was last year’s Miss Mandaue second runner-up

Hailing from a family of politicians, the charming beauty amused the audience when she used Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s oft-spoken line, “Together, we can make things happen” as a conclusion to her answer for the final question.

Patalinjug says she is quite happy with her placement, and hinted that Miss Cebu is just the beginning of her pageant “journey.”

“There are already three pageant handlers from Manila who want to get me. I’m still making up my mind which camp I’ll join,” she shared.

The second runner-up spot went to 20-year-old Fil-Am beauty Hannah Marie Gore. She is a Nursing graduate from Cebu Normal University. Her elder sister Rosemary Gore was Miss Cebu 2011 third runner-up.

“I am extremely happy with the placement of each one chosen for the Top 5. I am especially happy for Diane because she really does deserve to win the crown. I didn’t care if I won Miss Cebu or not; all I wanted was to get into the top five. Being second runner-up is already mind-blowing for me,” said Gore.

Asked why she was teary-eyed while delivering her answer during the final Q&A, she explained, “It was very touching for me because I got to see through Miss Cebu the destruction brought about by Yolanda when we visited Bantayan Island. It was hard to see all those houses destroyed, and especially when I saw footage from Ormoc and Tacloban. It broke my heart because I have a friend whose father went missing for a couple days. Thankfully, he was found. Still, if I was in her position, I would freak out.”

Another crowd favorite was Grace Anne Marie Yap, 21, who placed third runner-up. Possessing a model’s frame, Yap’s wit and charm was on full display that evening, a far cry from her quiet presence during the candidates’ press presentation back in October. She is a Management Accountancy graduate from the University of  San Carlos who’s now employed as a sales administration staff at a leasing and finance corporation.

Yap said she is “probably open to opportunities” of joining another pageant. “Binibini perhaps,” she said shyly, adding: “After Kris Janson.”

To which Patalinjug, who was beside her, playfully quipped, “See you there!”

Fourth runner-up honors went to Crystal Star Aberasturi, 21, a mestiza model who has been joining pageants since kindergarten. This registered medical technologist who earned her degree from Cebu Doctor’s University also holds the title of  Miss Mandaue 2011 first runner-up.

The fourth, third and second runners-up won P30,000 each and trips to Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu; while the first runner-up won the same trips, plus a prize of P40,000.

The Best in Evening Gown designer award went to Marichu Tan, whose mermaid-cut gown was worn by candidate number 4 Ayn Ilya Ingking.

Judges for the evening were New York-based photographer Xander Angeles, Metro Society managing editor Georgia Del Rosario, TV personality Bobby Yan, Megaworld VP for Strategic Planning Mariecor Manlangit and fashion designer Jojie Lloren.

Carrying the theme of “30 Years of Celebrating the Beautiful Cebuana,” Miss Cebu winners, runners-up and finalists from the 80s, 90s to the new millennium reunited on stage. Photos by REYNAN VILLENA (FREEMAN)