VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Thousands of Ilocanos welcomed last Sunday night the 19 candidates of the Miss Universe 2016 beauty pageant during a visit to this four-centuries old city.
This is the first time that some of the candidates to the prestigious beauty contest made a public appearance in Day 2 for pre-pageant activities.
Their first event in the Philippines happened in the small island of Boracay in Palawan. But it was exclusive only for Solar, one of the major sponsors of the pageant.
Ilocanos lined up on both sides of the historic Calle Crisologo which is filled with Spanish-style houses to cheer for their favorite candidates who later took part in the terno fashion show at the plaza.
Pageant fans clicked their cameras as the international beauty queen smiled and waved at them during the short parade that started at 9 p.m. Fireworks capped the terno fashion program.
Those who took part in the elegant fashion show were Miss Belgium Stephanie Geldof
Miss Brazil Raissa Santana, Miss British Virgin Islands Erika Creque, Miss Bulgaria Violina Ancheva, Miss Cayman Islands Monyque Brooks, Miss Czech Republic Andrea Beldekova, Miss Great Britain Jaime-Lee Faulkner, Miss Guatemala Virginia Alejandro Argueta, Miss Malaysia Kiran Jassal, Miss Netherlands Zoey Ivory, Miss Nicaragua Marina Jacoby Santos, Miss Philippines Maxine Medina, Miss Sierra Leone Hawa Kamara, Miss Singapore Cheryl Chou Zhi Hiu, Miss Slovak Republic Zuzana Kollarova, Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss USA Deshauna Barber, Miss Uruguay Magdalena Cohendet and Miss Venezuela Mariam Habach, and Miss Vietnam Dang Thi Le Hang.
The candidates have already returned to Manila yesterday, Jan. 16, to prepare for their next activities.
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wutrzbach and Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar did not take part in the fashion although it was previously announced they were part of the fashion show.
Participating designers were Amir Sali, Vince Sityar, Cathy Capistrano, Russ Cuevas, Frederick Berches, Jearson Demavivas, Joel Acebuche, Rian Fernandez, Cherry Veric, Albert Andrada, Barge Ramos, Mike dela Rosa, Edgar Madamba, Mimi Pimentel, Eroll Reminates, Darwin Ramirez, Raffy Sy, Gyan Claude Ben, Jan Van Paquing, and Danika Damo.
Security to the terno fashion show was strict as persons carrying bags were not allowed to watch the parade. Other rules: no selfies with the candidates, no eating, and no bottled or canned drinks.
“It’s a bit strict but they are organized,” said a member of the media during an interview at Top V Hotel at Poblacion East in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.