Face of Cebu returns after five years

CEBU, Philippines — With Miss Universe Philippines Cebu not pushing through with a pageant this year, it prompted founder and director Danny Booc to finally revive Face of Cebu for its third edition, with its finals on April 11 at the Grand Pacific Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Originally planned in 2022 following its second edition in 2021 and its inaugural run in 2019 – where former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate and Kapuso actor-singer John Clifford was named Mr. Face of Cebu – the competition faced several setbacks. These included the COVID-19 pandemic and Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, which ultimately prevented the 2022 staging from pushing through.

Booc promises a bigger competition this year, which includes a grand slew of prizes for its winners. Among them is a franchise package deal for a Korean restaurant worth P1.7 million, to be awarded to the teen winners.

“All of the candidates have this huge enthusiasm and interest to win this contest, and I believe they can pull it off because the standard of looking for contestants in model search competitions has evolved,” Booc told The FREEMAN after its media launch presentation last February 15 at SM Seaside Cebu.

Lara Bernadeth El Sayed and Mark Hans Mabala, both competing in the teen categories, were named Darling of the Press.

Responding to a question about what she would tell God, El Sayed, 16, spoke about her devotion, sharing that she often serves in her church and grew up in a religious household. “If I were to talk to God right now, I would tell Him that I appreciate the blessings He gives me,” she said.

While aspiring to become a therapist, she also sees herself competing in pageants in adulthood, which she enjoys as a hobby. “I always train myself to be a better person and role model. My hobbies after school are training in pasarela and personality development because I want to inspire others,” she said. “I had to conquer my fears so that I could stand in front of you today. If I can do that, I believe everyone else can do that too.”

Mabala, 17, said his parents taught him to be good, trustworthy, and self-reliant. “If we trust ourselves, we can achieve our goals. No matter how good you are, you also need to care about the people around you because if we make the right decisions collectively, even small steps can make a huge impact,” he said.

He added that time management is key to building a career as a young model while still studying in school. “By having hope for myself, it helps me go through challenges, to stand, and to find a way. I believe hope helps us to never give up, so stay positive so we can be the beacon of hope for everyone else around you,” he said.

Other top three contenders for Darling of the Press were Princess Pardillo, 17, and Lily Dominique Gomez, 14, for the Teen Female category; and Cedric Gabriel Siglos, 16, and Ace Matthew Paez, 14, for the Teen Male category.

The strongest contenders for Face of Cebu were also revealed through the nominations for two categories, with winners to be announced at the finals.

Nominated for Best in Funwear in the Kids Female category are Marielle Gaston Narvios, 6; Love Marie Trinidad, 10; Chrizofia Abigail Arceo, 9; Ma. Arkisha Oeliss Dampios, 7; and Princess Reneze Mae Sy, 8. Also nominated from the Kids Male category are Luca Reynolds, 11; Jio Gabriel Conson, 10; and Elijah Zachary Maturan, 9.

Nominated from the Teen Female category are El Sayed; Pardillo; Blythe Keoni Cardino, 14; Keisha Tiffany Arriola, 16; and Edrin Brichelle Osmeña, 13. From the Teen Male category are Paez; Matt Enzo Zanoria, 15; and Junmark Pueblas, 18.

Best in Runway nominees from the Kids Female category are Mary Elyza Faith Niño, 7; Khiara Michaili Bacaltos, 11; Georgina Veniece Canedo, 11; Divine Elyssa Mahidlawon, 11; and Althea Khaye Maagad, 12. For the Kids Male category, nominees are Conson; Daniel Roy Japzon Lumongsud, 10; and Rhyle Terrence Cawit, 11.

In the Teen Female category, nominees are Princess Nicole Pepito, 14; Ava Mikayla Villaver, 15; Keith Roselyn Ocampo, 16; and Kelly Alexandrei Trocio, 17. In the Teen Male category are Mabala, Siglos; and Skyller Samontiza, 14.

An online vote through its voting partner, Efficientrix, is also underway, allowing the public to help their favored candidates get a leg up. Niño, Lumongsud, Gomez, and Paez are leading in their respective categories, as of press time. Voting ends on April 11 at 11 a.m.

There are 29 candidates in the Kids category (23 female and six male) and 33 in the Teen category (23 female and 10 male), totaling 62 candidates in this year’s Face of Cebu.

Season 2 winners Jamie Armada and Kherman Alpasa shared advice to their successors, saying authenticity is key to winning the pageant. “You have to be unique and be excited for this show because it will help boost your confidence,” Alpasa said.

“Being yourself will always be the key to success. Only you can make yourself a winner. Those judges and their scores might define you based on your physical appearance and performance, but it’s always your authentic self that can make you win,” Armada added. — (FREEMAN)