Binibining Cebu 2018: Easy win for early favorite

CEBU, Philippines —  No shocker here: Steffi Rose Pearson Aberasturi smoothly claimed the second Binibining Cebu crown Friday night at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Casino, in a win that almost everyone saw coming the second her name was announced as official candidate of the pageant’s second edition.

 For pageant watchers, the rest of the 52 candidates (down to 53 after Talisay City’s Raschel Uy backed out two days before coronation night due to a job offer) had to make do at competing for the four other crowns at stake.

Aberasturi, a 23-year-old ESL teacher, did not cower at such extreme pressure and expectation from all fronts as she wowed judges and audiences alike with her beauty, poise, figure and spontaneity.

Representing Mandaue City, she succeeds last year’s Apriel Smith, earning P200,000 for her chosen advocacy project, P500, 000 in cash and P300,000 in kind.

The former Miss Mandaue title-holder said that she did not see the victory coming despite being considered an early favorite.

“I feel so happy. I wasn’t expecting it. From all the girls that were called, my heart was pumping so hard. It feels like any of these girls would win. And it was tough looking at them [national placers] being really tall and experienced. It was a really great challenge. But I prayed so hard for this,” Aberasturi told The Freeman moments after her coronation.

Binibining Cebu Tourism 2017 Samantha Ashley Lo crowned Alegria town’s Kimberly Covert (a Miss Philippines Water 2014 winner), who apart from the Binibining Cebu Tourism 2018 crown, also won P150,000 for her advocacy project, P 300,000 in cash, and P 100,000 in kind.

Both returning candidates from last year also got into the top five. Tracy Maureen Perez, who represented the town of Madridejos, was crowned Binibining Cebu Charity 2018, succeeding Maria Gigante. She received P100,000 for her advocacy project, P200,000 in cash and sponsor prizes. Perez, an Industrial Engineer, was also named Miss Photogenic.

For her second time, Lou Dominique Piczon, representing Ronda, was rewarded the Binibining Cebu Heritage crown, taking home P75,000 for her project and P100,000 in cash.

Isabela Deutsch, representing Borbon, was named Binibining Cebu Ecology 2018, winning P15,000 for her chosen advocacy project, and P75,000 in cash.

Special awardees include Dalaguete’s Princess Joesel Bajamonde for Sun’s People’s Choice Award, Carcar City’s Vanessa Amman for Miss Congeniality, Aloguinan’s Angeli Christine Navarro for Best in Production Number, while Oslob’s Rubby Clavel Verano and Balamban’s Alaia Kirsten Doverte shared the SHS Batch 1985 award for being the most professional candidates.

The Top 25 were determined through their performances in the pre-pageant events like the Evening Gown Competition and Swimwear Competition bearing 30 percent each, the closed door interview bearing 25 percent, and another 15 percent from the organizers for the candidates’ overall attitude and character throughout the competition.

From 25, the ladies were whittled down to the Top 12 candidates, after which the Q&A segment followed. The twist: two common questions were asked per candidate, a casual one, the other, the clincher.

To start off the last hurdle on a light note, the ladies were asked what makes them blush.

Apart from teaching her co-host KC Montero a bit of Bisaya, host Karla Henry once more adapted the role of translator for candidates who spoke in Bisaya. For the clincher, the Top 12 finalists were asked: What quality of a binibining Cebuana is most important to you and how can you use it to make Cebu a better place?

“For me, the best quality of the Cebuana… someone who has the compassion,” Aberasturi said. “Because I came here in Binibining Cebu believing that I can make a big difference. Not just in my life but to the thousands and millions of people out there. I can make a difference through touching them, inspiring them, generating love. And that is the most important thing for me—compassion. Through compassion, I can help many people and that is the main reason why I am here. To make a big difference.”

For Covert, a Cebuana is someone who is honest. “If you are honest with yourself, and you know who you are, you know your true core values and you’re able to share that. Especially as someone who is here on the spot where everybody listens to your voice. People look up to you. You have to be a good leader. You have to be believable. Good, honest leaders, queens, stand out. And that is the most important value that a Cebuana should have.”

Perez, 25, spoke of the Cebuana resilience in the face of challenge.

“A binibining Cebuana is resilient. In times of adversities that more often than not come our way, no matter our gender, religion, or status in life, we always rebuild, recover, and come out stronger. And I believe that is exactly what we need to make Cebu a better place to live in. To live through the hard times, not making excuses but finding solutions instead. To survive and be happy no matter the circumstance. And of course to use our stronger self to lift each other up and I believe this is what Cebu truly needs. And I am proud to say that I am resilient and I am a binibining Cebuana.”

Piczon, another Miss Mandaue title-holder, spoke about the permanence of humility as a Cebuana’s most important quality.

“Once you get crowned as Binibining Cebu, opportunities, audiences will come crashing to you. And they will look at you like you’re the most important person in the world. But when you keep your feet on the ground, that will make you more memorable. Your reign will not just be on paper but on everyone’s hearts,” she said.

As for 18-year-old Deutsch, she answered: “A Cebuana is a woman of compassion, of character, integrity, and love. But most importantly, a Cebuana is a woman of hope. I am a Cebuana and I love Cebu. And I will do everything I can—may it be under the sun, in the forest, near the homeless, with the kids, wherever—put me there and I will lend my hand. And I will use my voice into making Cebu a better place.”

The panel of judges was made up of talent manager and Miss World Philippines franchise holder Arnold Vegafria, Yahoo! Philippines Executive Director Anson Or, Miss Asia Pacific International 2018 first runner-up Gabriela Palma, ophthalmologist Yong Larrazabal, Miss Asia Pacific International president Jacqueline Tan-Sainz, celerated designer Francis Libiran and first ever Filipina to win the Reina Hispanoamericana title (2017) Winwyn Marquez.