USJ-R beauties make history

CEBU, Philippines — The candidates of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) etched their names in stone after sweeping the Miss Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) 2026 titles.

Lilia Amapola Buhat was crowned Miss CESAFI 2026 in the college division while Paula Mae Fernandez was adjudged as the fairest of all among high school beauties.

This marks the first time that USJ-R beauties swept the annual pageant that added glitz and glamour to the grand opening of CESAFI Season 26 on Saturday, August 29, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Buhat’s court includes Pauleene Mae Macquire (first runner-up) of the University of San Carlos (USC) and Tatiana Shantal Benedetti (second runner-up) of Velez College.

Angela Roa Perry from the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) and Ivana Gabrielle Markovic of the debuting San Roque College de Cebu (SRCDC) took the first and second runner-up honors, respectively, in the high school category. — (FREEMAN)