2009 Reyna ng Aliwan search on

MANILA, Philippines - The search for festival queen heats up in this year’s Aliwan Fiesta, with 22 young ladies representing various festivals all over the country vying for the title of Festival Queen, or Reyna ng Aliwan 2009 in glittering ceremonies which will be held on April 24 and 25.

Manila Broadcasting Company, which produces the annual cultural extravaganza in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cities of Manila and Pasay, has released the names of the candidates.

Bets from the National Capital Region are Anne Camille del Rosario representing Pasig City’s Pakalog Festival; Camille Ramos of Navotas, representing the Pangisdaan Festival; and Charvel Rowen Paredes for Tondo’s Lakbayaw.

Candaba’s Ibon-Ebon Festival will be represented by Stephanie Rae Paras, with Rizelle Manio carrying the colors of Mabalacat, Pampanga. Parul Framil Shah of Baguio City will reign as Panagbenga muse, with Ma. Genina Isidro representing the Gaw-Gawayan festival of Isabela. Ilocandia will have Kate Lao for Laoag’s Pamulinawen Festival. 

Catanauan, Quezon will send Ma. Christia Josefa Luna for the Boling Boling Festival, while Thoreen Halvorsen competes on behalf of the Baragatan festival in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Nasugbu’s Fiesta de Toros will be led by Alona Pasague, while Nerissa Dimaculangan spearheads San Juan, Batangas’ Lambayok Festival. Ashley Ann Himor will represent Albay’s Pulang Angui Festival.

From Cebu is Sian Elizabeth Maynard, representing the Siloy Festival. Katrina Malahay represents the Baulan Festival of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental. Natalie Grace Roberts of Iloilo represents the Dinagyang Festival’s Tribu Paghidaet, with fellow Ilongga Marie June Bebing representing Tribu Kasag in the Kasadyahan Festival. Ariane May Briones leads the delegation for the Karatong Festival of Dulag.

Mindanao will have Aliah Heitz of Davao for the Kadayawan Festival, Charise Hannah Ingente for the Kalilangan Festival and Romarie Cunanan for the Tuna Festival.