43 bets showcase symbolic costumes M

CEBU, Philippines —  The Province of Cebu has successfully staged the pre-judging of 43 Festival Queens in their different costumes for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival 2023 on August 27, 2023 in Carcar City.

The 43 beauties paraded in their colorful, mostly gigantic and symbolic costumes, vying for the Festival Queen’s Best in Costume award at SM Seaside yesterday, August 20, 2023.

Provincial Tourism Officer Marti Ybañez said the pre-judging event for the costumes of the candidates is very successful.

“Pwera buyag, happy kaayo ko kay successful atong gihimo nga event karon,” Ybañez told The Freeman.

Ybañez said that aside from the best in costume, a candidate will also be chosen as darling of the crowd in an online voting, wherein audience around the world can vote.

Some candidates, in an interview with The Freeman, complained of the heaviness and hugeness of their costume but some were okay with it especially those wearing costumes that looks heavy but is actually much lighter.

One candidate said that maybe her costume weighs more than 20 kilos and she felt dizzy when she was on the stage as the upper part of her costume was so tight in order to keep the costume in place.

“Hapit na gani ko nakuyapan kay ang sa upper portion sa akong costume huot kaayo, naglisud ko og ginhawa. Ang akong gown lang daan, I think mga 22 kilos na siya wala pay labot sa ibabaw,” said a candidate.

Ybañez said she will still to make some clarifications if those wearing beyond five kilos of their costume will be disqualified to win as best in costume or just a point/s will be deducted from their overall score.

She said that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has made a directive three weeks ago that the festival queen’s costume should not weigh more than five kilos amidst complains of pains and injuries in the previous staging of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

One designer said that they were preparing the costumes of their respective candidates several months ago and it is too late for them to modify the costumes.

“Lisud na pag-usab kay like for example kana among design dugay na na gihimo unya og tangtangon na namo nga design, mobati na man ang costume. So, amoa na lang nang ipadayon,” said one of the designers.

Some of the candidates said win or lose as Best in Costume, the show must go on.

Another designer said, “Kana akong gi design nga costume, dako na siya pero wala na kaabot og five kilos. Diha na gyud mogawas ang creativity sa designer unsaon na niya pagpanindot iyang gi design nga costume mga kutob ra gyud sa five kilos”.

Yesterday, prior to the pre-judging event, each candidate was weighed in prior to the wearing of their costume and was weighed again with their costume on.

The Cebu Province has a total of 51 towns and component cities. The cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu will also be joining the Festival Queen competition but only as guests.

The Best In Costume is among the several awards to be given during the Festival Queen competition, which is also part of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival 2023.

On August 27, 2023, the festival queens will be performing with their contingents during the street dancing competition and the ritual showdown competition.