Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) has officially begun the competition legs for Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen 2021, September 11, Saturday.
The Top 12 finalists face four weeks of four different competitions every Saturday night from September 11 to October 2. It begins with the Launch and Pride of Place competition where the aspiring ladies feature the local pride that best represents their respective places.
The Launch and Pride of Place show was hosted by DJ Raqi Terra of 90.7 Love Radio Manila and DJ Nick of 96.3 Easy Rock Manila.
For this year’s competition, the esteemed panel of judges are: Beauty pageant blogger Norman Tinio, entrepreneur, and content creator Patrisha Ashley Cayuca, Mr. Allen Yotoko from ACS Media Agency, Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1997 and image consultant Abbygale Arenas de Leon, and DZRH anchor Deo Macalma.
Top 12 finalists came from different parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that they can genuinely promote and stimulate their provinces’ local culture and traditions.
The first candidate, Angelie Gabrielle Estrada, described Puerto Princesa City in Palawan as the most biodiversed and rich province. She promoted Subaraw Biodiversity Festival that advocates resiliency. “We create consciousness through the environment and build happiness to our community,” she said.
The pride of Iloilo City, Coleen Beatrix Alcarde, took pride of her city about its enormous development through the years. ‘The City of Love’ has been boosted with infrastructure, construction, and road networks that involves biking. She mentioned Dinagyang Festival and its “fervor of Ati warriors and the rhythmic beat of drums” that they missed because of the pandemic. But the fun continues because of “Batchoy is life” in Iloilo. The unique cuisine of the city remains popular.
Sharmaine dela Cruz, the candidate from Zamboanga City, enumerated numerous things to be proud of at her place. She talked about the ‘Satti’ or the cuisine with spicy sauce, ‘puso,’ and grilled beef and chicken, the ‘Yakan’ woven clothes that are made by indigenous women, the ‘Vinta,’ and the ‘Mascota.’ She also described their dance with a Hispanic origin twisted with Muslim culture. And of course, dela Cruz also took pride of her kababayans Hidilyn Diaz and Eumir Marcial for their achievement in the recent Olympics.
The ‘Queen Town of Isabela,’ Echague, was represented by Keith Arboleda. She mentioned the origin of the people of Echague, ‘Yogads’ and ‘Mengals.’ She promoted the backbones of their town’s agriculture, palay and corn, as well as the popular tourist destinations such as the Dipaniong Caves, Dissu-ur Lagoon, Dicalabbagin Falls and the Ilaguen River Forest.
The next candidate was from Malay town in Aklan, Shealtiel Kyze Cahilig. She wanted the audience to discover the beauty of her town, to celebrate the ‘Fiesta de Obreros’ and discover the beauty of nature through the Nabaoy River and the famous island of Boracay. “As much as we love our municipality, we will gladly share it to any visitor who extend the same love,” she declared.
Jayvee Lyn Lorejo, from Mawab, Davao de Oro described her beloved place as a province of golden opportunities. According to her, it promotes creativity and possibility. She also promoted the clay pot making, banana plantation, rice plantation, their local bibingka and the Bulawan Festival.
Another candidate from Isabela, Vjie Matias, from the town of San Manuel, took pride of her place with its Bambanti Festival, the agri-tourism and eco-tourism programs, the culture of family values and symbol of people’s unity. The town also invested with a man-made forest and cow milk, the weaving of ‘Inabel,’ their several kinds of kakanin, fishponds as source of living. The town also valued the physical well-being of the people through the sports complex, biking, and hiking.
The ‘honey of Minglanilla,’ Shanyl Kayle Hofer, disclosed the beauty of the town’s nature. There is a placed called ‘Campo Siete’ which happened to be a man-made forest. She endorsed going to Kabanhawan Festival and promoted specials from Minglanilla, ‘budbud’ and hopia.
Iligan City, the City of Majestic Waterfalls, was represented by Jeramie Mingo. On her video, she proudly brought the audience the Diyandi Festival and a made a quick trip to the beautiful places in the city such as Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House, Tomas Cabili Obelisk, Sendong Memorial Park, Mimbalot Falls, Centennial Park, St. Michael Cathedral, Holy Spirit Shrine and the wet park. A heritage mode of transportation called as ‘Tartanilya’ is also popular in the city combined with food like lechon and peanuts.
The pride of Pangasinan province, Chynna Kaye Verosil, also made a quick trip in the province. She has brought the audience to the municipalities of Lingayen where bagoong and bucayo can be found; in the pilgrim capital Manaoag where the Minor Basilica of the Virgin Mary is located; the town of Mangatarem, the place of Tupig Festival; the town of Bautista as the place where Julian Felipe composed the Philippine National Anthem; Bayambang, where the colossal bamboo statue of St. Vincent Ferrer is situated; the home of Bangus Festival, the city of Dagupan; the town of Calasiao in the heart of the province where Puto Festival is popular; and the island hopping place of Alaminos City.
Another candidate from the province of Aklan, representing the town of Kalibo is Cherry May Regalado. She is fond of telling everyone about the faith and devotion of the people in Aklan to Sto. Niño through the celebration of the Kalibo Ati-atihan Festival. The gateway town to Boracay is popular for its piña weaving, the vast mangrove forest, the Tigayon Hills and its cuisines such as ‘Tamilok,’ ‘Inubarang Manok,’ ‘Longganisa,’ and ‘Suman.’
Hoping for a back-to-back opportunity on this pageant, Krysti Ann Villarias, from Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, gave the audience a sphere of adventure in the place. In Cabadbaran, people can do paintball shooting, biking, swimming, hiking, and other water sports.
All the competition segments and the coronation night will be aired over DZRH TV, and all social media platforms of MBC: DZRH News, Love Radio, Yes The Best, Easy Rock, Radyo Natin, and Aksyon Radyo.
Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen is presented by Unique toothpaste, White Rose Papaya whitening soap, Charm fabric conditioner, TNT, Palmolive Naturals Ultra, Shopee, and Alfonso Light Brandy.
For more details, follow Aliwan Fiesta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
