Family of real winner wants thorough probe

Cebu - The family of Kimberley Therese Burden, who was the real winner of the Globe’s Texter’s Choice Award during the Miss Cebu 2009 pageant, is still feeling hurt by the incident and is asking the city government to be thorough and transparent on its investigation into the matter.

Rowena Burden, Kimberley’s mother, who was interviewed over a local radio station yesterday, said that until now her daughter has not received even a text message from the organizer, apologizing or explaining what had happened.

“Mao na ang pagkatinood,” Rowena said adding that the act of the organizers had added insult to injury. “I saw the face of my daughter nga murag gi-betray siya.”

Rowena admitted that even before the award was announced, they already knew the results of the final tally of the Globe’s Texter’s Choice and Kimberley was shocked when the announcer declared that it was Miss Cebu 2009 Kris Tiffany Janson who won it.

“What we’re after is to know what really happened and we are waiting for the result of the fact finding investigation that was ordered by the Cebu City Government,” Rowena said.

She said that are hoping that the investigation will be opened to media with all truth and sincerity and that other issues that surround it would be addressed also.

It was learned that until now no one has claimed responsibility for the erroneous announcement of the Globe Texter’s Choice award during the Miss Cebu 2009 coronation night.

When asked who she thinks are the personalities who should be summoned in the investigation, Mrs. Burden immediately answered it should be the Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTM) who organized the event.

Rowena said she is willing also to face the organizers before the fact finding team to know what really happened.

It was allegedly the first time that Kimberley joined a beauty pageant and because of the “humiliation” that she had suffered, she would no longer join any pageant in the future.

Although she insisted that it was not an honest mistake, Rowena said her family will not file a case against the organizers because the damage has already been done. — Johanna Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)