A secretary in one of the popular government agencies was crowned Reyna ng Aliwan 2017 during finals held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Manila last Saturday night.
Sinulog Queen Marla Alforque, 20, bested 19 other contestants for the title of festival queen. She stands 5’6 and weighs 110 pounds.
Alforque is an education graduate from the Cebu Technological University. She currently works as a secretary in the legal department of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Cebu.
She received P100,000 cash and a trophy. She will also become a goodwill ambassadress for domestic tourism.
First-runner up honors went to Apriel Smith, 21, who represented the Utanon Festival of Dalagueta, Cebu.
Second runners-up were Jazmine Roque, Tuna festival of General Santos City; Maria Ahtisha Manalo, Niyog-niyugan festival of Quezon; and Venissse Charm Costibolo, Boling-Boling festival of Catranuan, Quezon.
The Reyna ng Aliwan 2017 pageant is part of the annual Aliwan Fiesta organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company.
Now on its 15th year, the annual event gathers different cultural festivals in the country.
Previous winners of Reyna ng Aliwan who have become popular include Jamie Herrell, Miss Earth 2014; the late Rizzini Alexis Gomez, who was crowned Miss Tourism International 2012-2013; Rogelie Catacutan, Miss Supranational 2015 semi-finalist; Angeli Dione Gomez, Miss Tourism International 2013-2014, among others. (Robert R. Requintina)