The pride of Iriga

IRIGA CITY, Philippines — All of them know what a jejemon is. But none of the 24 candidates who joined this year’s Miss Iriga Pageant agreed to adapt the current fad among teens when jurors asked about “the jejemon craze” during the beauty tilt’s pre-screening interview at Iriga Plaza Hotel. They would rather share the importance of learning and good values to the young.

No wonder many Bicolanas stood out in a tougher, more popular beauty contest like the Binibining Pilipinas. Maria Venus Raj from Bato and former Miss Iriga Dianne Necio are this year’s Binibining Pilipinas-Universe and first runner-up, respectively.

Who knows, the next Bb. Pilipinas title holder will come from this year’s Miss Iriga Pageant? Held in connection with Pintakasi Festival in honor of St. Anthony of Padua, the pageant is considered one of the highlights of the annual affair.

“Sabi nga if you have it, flaunt it,” mayor-elect Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen says. “Besides, it (beauty contest) also helps our city to be recognized.”

Recently, several lovely ladies from Iriga and its neighboring towns vied for the title Miss Iriga, Miss Rinconada and Miss Bicol Tourism in a beauty contest with nationalism and patriotism as theme. It was held at the City Colosseum across the city park. Iza Calzado hosted the event while Douglas Nierras, congressman-elect Lucy Torres-Gomez and Mike Tan judged the contestants together with Manila Bulletin’s Nestor Cuartero and Eugene Asis of People’s Journal.

Candidates were initially presented in casual wear while moving in a choreographed dance number. They also wore gowns made from piña in the evening gown portion. Then came the Q&A portion that revealed the IQs of the 12 finalists selected from the 24 candidates.

The two-hour grueling beauty and brains battle ended with smiles of victory on three young Bicolanas’ faces. Linda Buckland is this year’s Miss Iriga; Casey Anne Austria, Miss Bicol Tourism and Princess Armillos, Miss Rinconada.

Nikki Charmaine Alfelor is first runner-up and Nicca Jane Biñas, second runner-up.

Mayor Madelaine, who is hands-on in the event — from conceptualizing its theme, stage lighting, video clips and blocking, was delighted with the results.

But it doesn’t mean she’s focusing on this activity alone. The mayor continues to make Iriga a much better place to live in.

Now on her last term as mayor, she does not resort to mere lip service in helping her constituents. She conducts studies every time she starts a project and follows it through.

“During my first term, I attended a CDS seminar. CDS is a group (made up of representatives) from regions/cities of the Philippines managed by World Bank and Asia Foundation. We had a series of seminars there na may graduation din,” the first Iriga woman mayor says. “What’s good about this was we were able to create our own benchmark and criteria. We also came up with the city’s Top 10 priorities and we accomplished almost all in the list like the construction of public library (wi-fi ready), city hall, market, and the central business district.”

She also succeeded in implementing rules that enforce discipline.

“We set a curfew for the safety of the young. Tinaboy ko din ang mga nightspots because when I computed they just generate small amount of revenue and much headache, pinasara ko na. Maraming nagalit pero marami ding mga misis na natuwa.”

This time, the city government focuses on the demands of growth and progress like street decongestion and alternative routes to avoid traffic in business areas.

“Several investors come here for possible businesses syempre hahanapan mo ng location so we really need to do some overhaul,” she explains.

She knows working for progress is not an easy thing but the mayor believes everything is possible when one has good intentions.