By Robbie Pangilinan
Beautiful and handsome candidates lit up the brightest and happiest festival in Tacloban City.
Disaster responder Cassandra Marie “Cassey” Chuca Lee is Sangyaw Festival’s Miss Tacloban 2018. The 24-year-old Hotel & Restaurant Management student has been serving as a volunteer rescuer for the Tacloban City Rescue Unit (TACRU) for three years already; she is TACRU’s Basic Life Support instructor and First Aid and Junior Rescue Program Trainor.
Her crown, worth a thousand dollars, was made exclusively for Ms. Tacloban 2018 by famous Venezuelan pageant crown maker George Wittels. Crown donor Mr. Richard White said that the masterpiece flower wreath crown was drawn from nature by Wittels with an intricate intertwining of lily flowers, leaves and branches.
“A perfect homage to mother earth, the crown symbolizes power, legitimacy, victory, triumph, honor, glory and righteousness. It also represents the advocacies of the organization, therefore must be treated with utmost care,” said Richard.
At the coronation night on June 22 at the Tacloban City Convention Center, Lee also received four major awards: Ms. Advocacy Project, Best Philippine Terno, Ms. Professionalism, and Best in Evening Gown; as well as six special awards: Ms. Oishi, Ms. Executive Facial Care, Ms. RDL, Ms. Natasha, Ms. Sofia’s Way and Ms. Robinsons Mall.
“I will focus on my advocacy and enjoy my reign as Miss Tacloban,” said Lee.
Concert Queen Pops Fernandez expressed her happiness over the pageant, saying she was elated to have been invited by her best friend, Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Romualdez, to host the event.
“All the candidates were good and beautiful. I knew the judges had a hard time choosing the winners,” she added.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old broadcasting major Chelsea Fernandez, representing Tacloban City’s Sangyaw Festival, was crowned 2018 Reyna ng Aliwan Fiesta. She bested 19 other candidates from various regions throughout the Philippines.
“I am looking at joining Miss Earth to represent Tacloban City,” announced Fernandez during Saturday’s big event.
For the gentlemen, the very first Ginoong Sangyaw search was held on June 25 as part of the Sangyaw Festival. Fifteen young men competed in the region-wide search and Cris Bernales was named Ginoong Sangyaw 2018. He will be promoting the Tacloban City government and the advocacy of the Sangyaw Foundation Inc. for a better Tacloban.
“If I get an offer from showbiz, I will definitely grab it,” said Bernales.
Mayor Romualdez said that the pageants were created to inspire young Taclobanons to believe in themselves, empower them to have confidence and be role models in their communities. Ms. Tacloban and Ginoong Sangyaw 2018 will be Tacloban’s ambassador of goodwill.
“As our theme says, we are the happiest people in the world. And we are happy with the winners of the pageants. Congratulations, everyone!” said the Mayor.