The search for festival queen heats up this summer’s celebration of the annual Aliwan Fiesta with 24 young ladies competing for the title of Festival Queen or Reyna ng Aliwan 2019.
Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC), which produces the annual cultural extravaganza in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay, has announced the names of this year’s candidates.
Bets from Luzon are Kimberly Naz for the Antipolo Maytime festival, Lyka Velena (Boling Boling festival of Catanauan, Quezon), Gezza Avila (Niyogyugan festival of Quezon Province), Roi Neve Comanda (Panagbenga festival of Baguio), Cinderella Salilican (Pangisdaan festival of Navotas), Jhan Nicole Ambata (Paru-Paro festival of Dasmarinas, Cavite), Aubrhie Cindyrelle Carpio (Singkaban festival of Bulacan), Kizia Jermaine Maligalig (Tagultol Fishing festival of Antimonan, Quezon), and Leandrea Gabrielle Batingan (Tanglawan festival of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan).
The Visayas region has seven faces this year with Nicole Borromeo (Sinulog festival of Cebu), Milca Romares (Salapan festival of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental), Cassandra Marie Lee (Sangyaw festival of Tacloban City), Angelic Olmedo (Pintados de Passi festival of Passi City, Iloilo), Charlotte Arcena (Pasaka festival of Tanauan, Leyte), Ruffa Nava (Hirinugyaw Suguidadonay festival of Calinog, Iloilo), and Debrah Belen Villaflores (Buglasan festival of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental).
Mindanao will be represented by Alayzza Izzabelle Tolimao (Agten Tufi festival of Tupi, South Cotabato), Ma. Kristina Ramos (Cocowayan festival of Isabela, Basilan), Honey Be Parrenas (Kalimudan festival of Sultan Kudarat), Angelin Simmer Fernandez (Kalivungan festival of North Cotabato), Frenzie Dione Escalada (Muna To festival of Sarangani), Merhyl Kit Angeline Paraluman (Tuna festival of General Santos City), and Princess Serdenia (Zamboanga Hermosa festival).
This year’s Festival Queen will receive P100,000 and a trophy, plus the chance to be a goodwill ambassadress for domestic tourism.
Previous winners have gone on to participate in international beauty contests and have likewise tracked careers in professional modelling.
The pageant night will be held at the outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex on April 26. The coronation night will be followed by the grand parade and festival dance showdown on April 27.
For details about this year’s participants and line-up of activities, check out Aliwan Fiesta 2019 official Facebook page or log onto www.aliwanfiesta.com.ph. (Robert Requintina)
