BALER, Aurora , Philippines – All roads lead to this province as the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2009 gets crowned tonight at the spanking Baler Sports Complex.
Renee Salud, Mutya ng Pilipinas International managing director and chairperson of the national search committee for Mutya 2009, said to be crowned are the Mutya ng Pilipinas-International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities; first runner-up and second runner-up.
Gigi Gomez, overall coordinator for the MPI of the provincial government, said the Mutya ng Pilipinas-International and Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism will each receive P200,000 while Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Communities will get P100,000. The first and second-runners up will be given P50,000 each.
Roberto de Venecia, MPI president, said other special awards would be handed out, among them best in long gown, best designer award, best in swimsuit, Miss Congeniality and Miss Talent.
The grand coronation will be graced by host, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and House Deputy Majority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara and the members of the board of judges.
The host province fielded two candidates for the pageant, Athena Mae Imperial and Sheryl Rose Guerrero. Guerrero, a CPA graduate, won the special award, called Aurora Beauty Award – for being adjudged the “most radiant candidate” when wearing a sabutan costume. Rene McHugh of East Coast, USA was crowned Ms. Photogenic during balloting by press photographers.