Ormoc beauty pageant to select Miss World PH contestant

ORMOC CITY, June 19  -- The winner of Ormoc City’s beauty pageant will automatically vie for Miss World Philippines, an event that selects the country's representative to one of the big four international beauty competitions.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said representatives of Miss World Philippines are among the judges of Miss Ormoc 2018 to be held at the city’s superdome on June 28.

Joining the pageant are 20 candidates from different villages of the city.

“This is really a big challenge for our ladies as they have to prepare for a world-class competition,” said the actor-turned-politician on Monday.

“Miss Ormoc Pageant will take on the task of promoting Ormoc City as a tourist destination. More than just a pretty face, Miss Ormoc will be a role model for other women. She will advocate environmental protection and local tourism promotion,” he added.

Earlier, the 20 candidates joined the personality development training, an activity designed to make “Ormoc ladies a woman of substance,” Gomez said.

This year’s contestants are Charo Galicia Dayandayan (1), Daniela Lois Tariman (2), Karen Joy Hawkins Degorio (3), Gia Leigh Maris Chu Carreon (4), Shanice Kae Omega Suarez (5), Micah Andrea Duarte Abarquez (6), Fhern Alyanna Magada (7), Alexa Shane Holanda Dolina (8), Kassandra Mayol (9), Meljoy Dacera Cairlang (10), April Rose Tabudlong Elejorde (11), Alexa Marie Saavedra Matuguina (12), Lyka Mae Barbac Torcende (13), Roijane Fae Paje Plazo (14), Allyza Shen Pesabille Bartolini (15), Maria Nathalia Parilla Veloso (16), Micah Maglasang (17), Nica Zosa Nabua (18), Trixie Alvia Ong (19), and Princess Donah Ortega Paraiso (20).

The pageant will be hosted by KC Montero and Karla Henry, with Tony Labrusca, McCoy de Leon and Marco Gumabao as guest performers.

Gomez invited everyone to come to Ormoc and join their festivities, which officially began on June 12 and will run until June 30.

The city’s prime crop -- sweet pineapples -- will take center stage in the upcoming Piña Festival street dance and ritual showdown on June 24, a celebration that is seen to draw thousands of spectators.

Gomez said this year’s festival will be merrier, with colorful and lively street dancing, highlighting the city’s queen pineapple, which locals claim to be the sweetest in the world.

The second Piña festival, to be joined by at least 10 contingents, is one of the highlights of the city’s fiesta celebration. Each contingent, composed of hundreds of dancers and performers from different high schools and colleges, will awe the crowd both in ritual showdown and street dance.

Last Saturday, the “Parade of Lights” brought cheer to residents and tourists as it featured a combination of luminescent vehicles and illuminated costumes in the theme of top-grossing movies, such as Avengers, Moana, Cars, Beauty and the Beast, and Avatar.

In between the main events are fun-filled days, such as the Ormoc Food Bazaar at the plaza area, barangay (village) day, educator’s night, religious night, market vendor’s night, civic society organizations event, government employees talent show, business night, and Balikbayan congress.

Also scheduled are sporting events at the plaza, such as basketball tournaments, laser run, boxing and mixed martial arts bouts, fun races, and the first Ormoc Dragon Boat Mayor’s Cup organized by the Philippine Canoe and Kayak Foundation.

Ormoc City is a first-class independent component city of Leyte province with a population of 215,031, making it the second most populous city in the province after Tacloban, the regional capital. It is the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of western Leyte. (SQM/LAAA/PNA)