CEBU, Philippines — For some, the number 13 might bring forth ill fortune. For Chloe Boton Boone, it was her lucky number.
Luck was on Boone’s side during the Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 coronation night held Tuesday at the Hoops Dome, as the 18-year-old came out victorious in the search for the ultimate Oponganon ambassadress.
The 13th candidate, Boone bested 13 other Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 hopefuls, succeeding last year’s winner, Miss Lapu-Lapu 2017 Samantha Faye Yapit.
Representing Maribago, Boone won over the judges and people’s hearts throughout the evening.
“Na-surprise ako pero yun yung gusto ng judges. So I will do my best as the new Miss Lapu-Lapu,” said Boone, who lived in Pangasinan until two years ago.
“I’m so happy. I didn’t expect it all. Seeing my dad smile makes me so happy.”
A senior high school General Academic Strand student, Boone attends the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Campus where she was crowned Miss Intramurals 2018. Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 is her first major competition.
Strongly identifying as an artist, Boone makes posters and artworks – winning Regional Champion during this year’s World Aids Day and Fire Prevention Month celebrations. Since she was little, Boone’s father would get her brushes and paints. She said she must have inherited the skill from her grandfather, who was a painter in Belgium.
Boone, of Belgian descent, also has a twin sister. She shared that she tends to be the loud one while her twin is more of the shy type. During the casual interview, Boone gave her twin, who she called a “partner-in-crime and “best friend for life,” a shout-out.
Among Boone’s biggest motivations behind joining Miss Lapu-Lapu is the opportunity to speak out. She said that the competition – and now the title – will be a great platform to advocate for education.
“I know education is important,” she explained. “It has multiple positive effects on a person. I believe that the main hope of our city lies on the education of our people.”
Being a relative rookie, Boone admitted that she had a lot to learn.
Among the most difficult she had to go through during her Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 journey were the intensive trainings that included walking in high heels, which, according to Boone, wasn’t really her thing. While she she’s not much of a pageant fan, she has learned to appreciate the industry bit by bit.
“Natuwa ako when I first joined. Marami akong natutunan like taking responsibility and time management,” she quipped.
From the stands, Boone seemed like the crowd favorite, with almost the entire Hoops Dome cheering for her. But she believed that she botched her chances of winning, having faltered in the beginning during her turn to answer the clincher question: With the influx of tourists and foreign expats in the city, as Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018, how can you live by the values and virtues of our first hero, Datu Lapu-Lapu?
“Isasabuhay ko yung mga values ni Lapu-Lapu sa pamamagitan ng paggawa kung ano yon,” Boone began after a moment of pause in an attempt to gather her thoughts.
“Of course, he is strong. He is smart. He has a kind heart – a kind heart to help. He is smart to know what is right from what is wrong. And he is also responsible. As Miss Lapu-Lapu, I want to be that and I have learned all these virtues throughout the competition. I believe and I can say that I am ready to be your next Miss Lapu-Lapu,” answered Boone, who thought her performance would make her land fourth runner-up.
But in the end, the newly minted Jewel of Mactan crown sat on Boone’s head. The crown serves as “the brand new chaplet” for the competition. Its arcs and swirls resembling the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, a “testament of the Oponganon’s distinct brand of friendliness to neighboring cities.” Crafted in brass metal, the encrusted crystals and colorful gems signify the Oponganon’s “illustrious past and vibrant culture.” It is also inspired by the Mactan-Mandaue bridge. The Jewel of Mactan represents the bright days of Miss Lapu-Lapu and her role in promoting tourism, as well as the “golden age” and reputation of Lapu-Lapu as the Historic Resort City of the Philippines.
For her victory, Boone received P50,000 richer, a trip for two to Bali, Indonesia, a Timex watch, P10,000 worth of gift certificates from SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu, P50,000 worth of services at Skin Doctors Facial and Cosmetic Clinic, among others.
Boone also dominated the special and corporate awards as she was hailed Miss Skin Doctors Facial and Cosmetic Clinic, Miss Kandaya Fitness, Miss Photogenic, Best in Rampada Festival Wear, Best in Swimsuit and Best in Resort Evening Gown.
Making up her court is Cyvelshen Khesley Babatid, a 20-year-old Marketing Management major from Southwestern University PHINMA as first runner-up. She won P25,000 and also bagged the Miss Responsibility and Miss Air You Go Travel awards.
Second runner-up and winning P20,000 is Kristy Anne Ramirez Degamo. The 20-year-old Tourism major from the University of San Jose Recoletos took the casual interview as an opportunity to talk about mental health awareness through the anxiety attacks she experiences every now and then and on pageant night itself.
Jennifer Galdiano Ebner is this year’s third runner-up. The 19-year-old Customs Administration student from the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu Mandaue Campus won P15,000 and was named Best in Urban Resort Wear.
Completing the top five finalists is Claudine Malolot as fourth runner-up. The 21-year-old aspiring lawyer and communication graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos took home P10,000. She was also chosen Darling of the Press.
Other awardees include Kristine Jane Cartuciano from Punta Engaño who won Best in Talent for a poetry performance; Mercy Danica Barluado of Basak as Miss Congeniality; returning candidate Lyre Lyka Panis of Babag 1 who won Miss SUN LTE People’s Choice; and Orville Biongcong for Best Designer during the Evening Gown Competition.
Despite having pre-pageant events like the Swimsuit Presentation at the Ibiza Beach Club of Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, the extensive personality development and modelling training at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa, the Talent Competition at Gaisano Grand Mall Mactan, among others, the ladies started on equal footing during the coronation night.
They were judged according to beauty, wit and performance during the Rampada Festival Wear; Swimsuit Competition with swimwear by Dexter Alazas; casual interview; Urban Resort Wear provided by Phillip Tampus; Evening Gown Competition with creations by Tonet Berdon, Mel Maria, Alejandro Godinez Jr., House of Orville and Cryus Velasco; and their final Q&A.
Tasked to pick a queen were judges Regan King, Norman Tinio, Zoel Ambrosino, Miss Intercontinental 2014 second runner-up Kris Tiffany Janson and Cary Santiago.
Hosted by Miss Earth 2004 Karla Henry and Jonathan Cimafranca, the event featured guests like Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2018 Eva Psychee Patalinjug and Hari ng Lapu-Lapu 2011 Judah Jyreh Cohen, who talked about the new Miss Lapu-Lapu logo and crown. The crowd also swooned over “Glorious” star Tony Labrusca, who serenaded the candidates during the evening Gown segment.
With the tagline “Beautiful. Colorful,” Miss Lapu-Lapu 2018 searched for the modern Oponganon woman of “dignity, character and integrity” as a fitting ambassadress of the Historic Resort City. The competition aimed to embolden locals to share their talent, beauty, wit and advocacies as well as keep up with the times and standards.
Directed by Marti Ybañez, the Miss Lapu-Lapu competition entered a new era with the leadership of Ethelbert Ouano of the City Legal Office of the Government of Lapu-Lapu as project director and committee head. In a speech, Ouano shared why he agreed to manning the competition, as well as how the brand new Miss Lapu-Lapu search, which was in line with the Nuestra Señora de Regla fiesta celebration, came about.
“I saw a need for the Miss Lapu-Lapu pageant to keep up with the robust development of the city,” said Ouano, who hosted the pageant years before.
“I said yes because beauty, like our beautiful city of Lapu-Lapu, deserves to be celebrated.”