Nursing student wins Ms. Cebu 2002

It was more than just another beauty pageant. Eleven lovely ladies, all smiles throughout the evening and all extremely articulate, welcomed guests at the standing-room- only grand ballroom of the Cebu Waterfront Hotel, venue of the coronation pageant of Ms. Cebu 2002, in their neo-ethnic club wear by Cebu’s young proponents of fashion. Then, the show was on.

Cebu’s very own Vina Morales joined the candidates in a much-applauded song and dance number choreographed by director par excellence Junjet Primor.

Manila-based TV show hosts Angel Aquino and Daphne Oseña leisurely chatted with the ladies to get to know them better. Co-host was dashing model Marc Nelson.

Amiable Jeffrey Hidalgo serenaded the candidates, as they paraded on stage in their elegant evening gowns.

The panel of judges, which included Mega Magazine editor Sari Yap, Actors Actors, Inc. president Bart Guingona, Philippine Airlines AVP for cabin services Susan Altonaga del Carmen, Pagcor community relations department managing head Ramuel Agoncillo, photographer Wig Tysmans, Procter and Gamble regional associate marketing manager Regina Abueva and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Australia 2001 Marlena Cristaldi, soon made their choices.

Special awards for Best in Evening Gown went to Danielle Gonzalez, with much in demand Arcy Gayatin awarded as Best Designer. Darling Mae Libre, a sports buff, was also adjudged Ms. Platinum and Ms. Myra E.

Eighteen-year-old Melanie Lariosa Ediza, a sophomore nursing student at the Cebu Doctors College, was crowned Ms. Cebu 2002 by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his wife Margot, assisted by Ms. Cebu Tourism Laura Salgado.

Melanie, who wore a melon corset gown by Jude Elardo, was also voted Ms. Photogenic, Ms. Pantene and Ms. Lipovitan Ira.

First runner-up Czarina Dampor, a graduate of Cebu Doctors College with a degree in occupational therapy, was Ms. Friendship and Ms. Pagcor Charity.

Shortly thereafter, Danielle Gonzalez, Catherine Gabronino and Cherryl Pelayo were declared members of the Court.

The Ms. Cebu quest is a project of the Cebu City Tourism Commission, headed by Vice Mayor Michael Rama as chairman, assisted by Arts Council president Petite Garcia, restaurateur Jessica Avila, lawyer Jane Paredes, dynamic social worker Olivia Uy, Cebu Holdings’ Tetta Baad, trader Franklin Ong, businessman Joseph Gaisano and this writer. A stickler for perfection and arguably the dean of Cebu’s fashion designers, Philip Rodriguez was project chairman and overall coordinator.