Twenty young ladies from various festivals in the country will vie for the title of Festival Queen or Reyna ng Aliwan 2017 on April 22.
Now on its 15th year, the Manila Broadcasting Company, organizer of the annual extra-vaganza, presented to the press the 20 official candidates during special presentation held at Maxim’s Hotel at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
This year’s contestants are: Rowena Gandeza, representing the Manggahan Festival of Guimaras; Julie Faith Agsalud, Zamboanga Hermosa Festival; Angelica Doguiles, Pescao Festival of Zamboanga; Patricia Kate Gonzales, Antipolo Maytime Festival; Alexia Sonia Edmund, Bambanti Festival of Isabela;
Ariella Jazmine Roque, Tuna Festival of General Santos City; Cherry Rose Fernandez, Panagbenga Festival of Baguio; Liezel Libria, Sultan Kudarat Festival of Maguindanao; Maria Ahtisa Manalo, Niyog-Niyogan Festival of Quezon; Apriel Smith, Utanon Festival of Dalaguete, Cebu;
Kathleen Mae Lendio, Karansa Festival of Danao City; Alyssa Charish Vivas, Kneeling Carabao Festival of Pulilan, Bulacan; Kyla Ocso, Kalivungan Festival of North Cotabato; Elaine Segura, Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival; Marla Alforque, Sinulog Festival of Cebu;
Maria Vivien Fabella, Boling-Boling Festival of Catanauan, Quezon; Venisse Charm Costibolo, Sangyaw Festival of Tacloban City; Carmela Villaruel, Timpuyog Festival of Sarangani; Angelica Gabriel, Pasay City; and Erna Torreblanca, Masskara Festival of Bacolod.
The pageant night will be held at the outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theater at the Cultural Center Complex on Friday, April 21, with the coronation night following the grand parade on Saturday, April 22.
This year’s Festival Queen winner will receive R100,000 cash and a trophy, plus the chance to be a goodwill ambassadress for domestic tourism.
The Reyna ng Aliwan pageant is part of the activities of Aliwan Fiesta 2017 from April 20-22.
Other activities in the annual fiesta are Shoppers Bazaar on Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Pasay, April 20-22, whole day; Tugtog ng Aliwan, Sotto Street, CCP Complex, April 20, 6 p.m.; Reyna ng Aliwan Pageant, Sotto Street, CCP Complex, April 21, 6 p.m.; Float Parade and Streetdance Competition, Quirino Grandstand, April 22, 4-9 p.m.; and Awarding Ceremonies, Sotto Street, CCP Complex, 9 p.m.