The search for the next Ms. Puerto Princesa 2019 kicked off Monday at the City Hall with the press presentation of the 15 candidates who will be contesting for the crown.
The search is among the highlights of the 15th Balayong Festival and the 147th Founding Anniversary of the city which will be celebrated in March.
Dreu Manlawe, whose Oplan Linis office is in charge of this year’s pageant search, said Tuesday that the 15 candidates were selected from a total of 21 contestants who underwent their pre-screening interviews.
The official candidates are Aileen R. Abad, 18; Janine May Q. Jupiter, 16; Rizzamel C. De Oro, 22; Donna Mae C. Nunala, 18; Princess Julie P. Caabay, 18; Kate Danielle B. De Mesa, 20; Ana Francia B. Simpliciano, 17; Philline Louisse Ivy T. Dimla, 21; Arjane J. Cafauguan, 19; Remane Marge H. Ulson, 17; Carilyn Shaera C. Balocating, 23; July Ann P. Daguhoy, 18; Jennifer N. Linda, 18; Regean Lane F. Albaracin, 19, and Princess Alileen Mae A.
He said the pageant search aims to continuously celebrate the totality of the beauty of the women in Puerto Princesa City that goes beyond looks but also puts a premium on intelligence, confidence, wit, and personal advocacy on some prevailing issues in the society.
“What we are looking for sa mananalong Ms. Puerto Princesa is ‘yong hindi lang maganda kung hindi may advocacy towards the protection and conservation of the environment dahil mahalaga ito sa city government. Big to you on environment protection kasi. We are also looking for someone who has her personal advocacy also that supports youth awareness, halimbawa raising the youth’s awareness on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other social advocacy,” Manlawe said.
(What we are looking for in our winning candidate is not just her beauty but also her advocacy towards the protection and conservation of the environment because it is important to the city government. We are big on environmental protection. We are also looking for someone who has her personal advocacy that supports youth awareness, for example in raising the youth’s awareness on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other social advocacy.)
Eighteen-year-old candidate Jennifer N. Linda said if she will be crowned Ms. Puerto Princesa 2019, she will help in boosting the city’s tourism industry by being an effective role model to her fellow youth.
She said she will also help educate young people to love and protect their environment.
“If I become the ambassadress of the city, I will promote the tourism industry by being an effective role model of the youth. I will inspire everyone, especially my fellow youth to be more curious about our environment and I will take part in educating them about conserving, protecting and sustaining our natural resources because as we all know, our tourism industry contributes a lot in the economic development of our city,” said Linda.
The candidates will also be a part of the annual Love Affair with Nature on February 14 at Sitio Tagbarungis, Barangay Inagawan Sub-colony where they will help the community by planting mangrove trees.
The swimsuit competition will be on February 23, while the talent and casual wear will be on February 26 at 7:00 p.m. at SM City Puerto Princesa.
The coronation night, on the other hand, will be held on March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the City Coliseum.
