Bicolana crowned Mutya

BALER, Aurora , Philippines   – A dusky 20-year-old Bicolana nurse was yesterday crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas International 2009.

Jane Bañares of Legazpi City, Albay emerged as the surprise winner in the first beauty contest she competed in, besting 36 other contestants in the pageant’s grand coronation night at the Dr. Juan C. Angara Sports Complex here.

She was also awarded best in long gown.

Her hotel roommate 18-year-old Jacqueline Schubert of Borbon-Cebu, the crowd favorite, was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism while 23-year-old Ana Baladad of Texas was adjudged Mutya ng Pilipinas for Filipino Overseas Communities.

Samantha East of Canada was chosen 1st runner-up while Jennielyn Natividad, a magna cum laude graduate of Quezon City, emerged as 2nd runner-up.

The youngest in a brood of four, Bañares, a child of an overseas Filipino worker, said she didn’t expect to win because it was her first time to join a beauty pageant.

She earned the nod of the judges with her witty reply to a question on how to compare her home province Albay and Aurora. 

Bañares said the similarity starts with Bicolanos and Aurorans as warm and lovable.

Both provinces also have natural attractions and good food.

Bañares and Baladad appeared composed, unlike Schubert who was tense during the question-and-answer portion.

“Though it was the first time I joined a pageant, I was never nervous. I don’t know why. Maybe I was just too tired to get nervous,” Bañares explained later.

Baladad, who idolizes Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman, agreed, saying “we just want to enjoy the moment.”

The 5’6” Schubert is an Economics graduate in Germany and the youngest daughter of German Willie Schubert and Filipino Lilibeth Durano, a distant relative of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Baladad, on the other hand, said she couldn’t believe she won and even asked a fellow contestant beside her if it was really her number which was called when the emcee hollered candidate no. 10 as winner of the Mutya ng Pilipinas for Filipino Overseas Communities title.

Baladad, whose mother Cornelia retired following a kidney ailment, won her fourth title in seven beauty contests she participated in. She was previously Ms. Philippines Texas-Oklahoma 2003, Ms. Philippines-America 2004 and Ms. Asia-America Princess 2007.

Baladad is taking up AB European Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University. She previously took up history in Baylor University in Waco, Texas. 

The pageant was graced by Sen. Edgardo Angara, his younger sister and host Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, also chairperson of the MPI executive committee, House Deputy Majority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara and Mayor Arthur Angara.

Renee Salud, managing director of the MPI and chairperson of the national screening committee for this year’s search, said the 2009 candidates were by far the best ever assembled by pageant organizers.

The board of judges was composed of Ms. International 2001 Margolzata “Gosia” Rozniecka, consul general Wilson Hugh, actor Alfred Vargas, ABS-CBN executive Elvira Angara, Fanny Serrano, Randy Ortiz, Jackie Aquino, Anna Marie Morelos, Nueva Ecija Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson and columnist Crispina Martinez-Belen.