By Ronald Constantino
BIG WINS – Quezon province has two new national beauty queens. This is according to Beauty authority Jay P. Delgado.
JPD often goes to Quezon to cover provincial pageants and enjoy Quezon’s beautiful spots and warm hospitality.
Take it away Jay.
The province of Quezon scored big wins in national beauty pageants this year with the crowning of Ma. Ahtisa Rodriguez Manalo of Candelaria as Bb. Pilipinas-International 2018 and Eimeverlee Fren Avellano Canimo from Alabat Island as Bb. Kalikasan 2018.
Manalo, a 20-year-old BS Accountancy graduate of Manuel S. Enverga University in Lucena City, won the covered crown at the 55th Bb. Pilipinas finals at the Big Dome last March.
Manalo, a native of Candelaria, is the first Bb. Pilipinas winner from Quezon in 33 years after Divina Cristina Alcala who won as Bb. Pilipinas-Young International in 1985. She is busy preparing for her stint at the 58th Miss International tilt to be held in October in Tokyo where she will gun for the country’s seventh title.
Both Manalo and Canimo graced the recent 39th annual Flores de Mayo presented by Congregacion del Nombre del Nino Jesus and SM Mall of Asia at the MOA Music Hall along with other equally beautiful maidens, mostly top national and international beauty queens, who donned the exquisite creations of 31 of the country’s esteemed and upcoming designers.
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ROSA MISTICA – Canimo, a 13-year old aspiring beauty queen from Alabat, Quezon, was given a special citation as Honorary Rosa Mistica, in addition to the traditional titles bestowed annually.
Canimo, or Tin to family and friends, was singled out by the event’s committee for being the youngest sagala in the history of the May festival that honors the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tin could have easily passed as one of the flower girls who would traditionally offer flowers before the image of the Virgin Mary.
But at her tender age, Tin has already shown potential to become a top beauty queen in the future, having won the Bb. Kalikasan-Calabarzon 2017 pageant last September, and eventually, the coveted Bb. Kalikasan 2018 title at the national finals in Baguio City last February.
Balancing her multi-pronged activities is a talent for Tin as she also excels in academics and was named as one of the Academic Awardees during the recognition day at Calayan International School Foundation in Lucena City, her alma matter where she is in Grade 8.
As honorary Rosa Mistica. Tin was one of the penultimate sagalas who paraded on stage and walked at the traditional procession around MOA grounds. She wore a gold ensemble created by Roy Aquino (who is also from Quezon) and escorted by De La Salle-CSB student Van Allen Ong.
DESIGNERS – Tin took to the stage along with some of the country’s top beauty queens and models, including Manalo, Miss tourism Queen of the Year International 2015 Leren Mae Bautista, Miss Multinational 2018 Sophia Sordan Senoron.
Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2014 Yvethe Santiago, Miss Global Philippines 2017 Mary Ann Mungcal, and Miss Lumiere International 1st runner-up Sammie Anne Legaspi.
Renowned and sought after designers like Renee Salud, Oliver Tolentino, Chico Estiva, Louis Pangilinan, Jontie and Nickky Martinez, Ole Morabe, Rholand Roxas, and Sony Boy Mindo, showcased their creations at the spectacular show of pageantry and Marian devotion that was directed by Ogee Atos.
Hermanos and Hermanas Mayores for the event were Ben Farrales, Dr. Mila How, Nelson Mendoza, and Ms. Jessica Maloles.
