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Ms. Cebu 2009 is just around the corner and I’m going to ask you, dear reader, to go online and vote for a dear friend.
Her name is Michelle Iva “Isa” G. Eguia. She’s one of those naturally-gifted people who can brighten up anyone’s day no matter how somber. She’s not difficult to get along with, has a heart bigger than most people, listens to problems with ease and she’s a Christian with a genuine love for God that radiates throughout her personality.
She’s the real deal and most fitting to represent the beautiful city of Cebu. No matter where you are in the world, you can vote for her. Go to http://www.cebucitytourism.com/ms_cebu_2009 and click on Candidate No.9.
If you live in the Philippines you can also vote through SMS via Globe. Text VOTE(space)MSCEBU(space)ISA and then send to 2278
January 7th, 2009 - 2:19 am
Friends,
Miss Cebu has always been one of the biggest events in town to look forward to each year. This year’s pomp and pageantry will take place come January 14 (Wednesday night at
at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino’s Pacific Grand Ballroom… to be telecast live on Studio 23.
Two of the aspirants are members of A.D. Models Philippines (managed by friend Dexter Alazas), the same agency that takes care of Miss Earth Karla Henry. They are Candidate #12 Kris Janson and Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). Both are equally gorgeous yet qualified to be crowned as Miss Cebu 2009.
One of the special awards to be given out during the coronation night will be Miss Internet (or something like that). Hence, I’m inviting as many people as far as this generic message goes to vote for the one candidate who deserves the award more than the others. I’ve talked to most of the girls, and while every one is entitled for the title, there’s one who stands out on account of her platform to make the most of her reign by teaching young Cebuano women the essence of body image (read: so that they should stop worrying about their weight, size, height, color, and whatnot). With that alone (among many others), we bet she should win not only the Miss Internet special award but, of course, the most coveted title of Miss Cebu 2009.
I’m talking about Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). She’s currently a Dean’s Lister at the Center for International Education on her Business Management studies. Not only does she have the wits, the brains, the smarts and the gift of gab, but more importantly, she has a very passionate heart. Her sunny disposition makes her stand out amongst the girls; her fluency bespeaks her spirituality in that she talks with a lot of sense and substance as a by-product of her pure thoughts and pacific emotions.
Now, with all of the above, why can’ t she be the next Miss Cebu?
Anyhow, there are voting booths at SM City and at the Ayala Center which you can utilize for free.
To vote through Globe, text VOTE(space)FOR(space)MSCEBU(space)ISA and send to 2278.
To vote using the internet, kindly go to http://www.cebucitytourism.com/ms_cebu_2009 and follow the links leading to Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva “Isa” G. Eguia.
I guess, the safest or easiest way to get to the link is by simply copying the URL below and pasting the same in the address bar:
http://cebucitytourism.com/ms_cebu_2009/candidates.html?contestant=9
Thank you very much. Rest assured, Michelle Iva Eguia is going to make a perfect Miss Cebu should we give her the chance to prove her worth. May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Ariel Allera
ariel_allera@yahoo.com
Publicist, A.D. Models Philippines
January 8th, 2009 - 10:21 pm
MISS CEBU 2009: Who will be the 25th loveliest Cebuana?
By Ariel Allosada Allera
ariel_allera@yahoo.com
The Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino will experience an illustrious night of glitz and glamour, pomp and pageantry, as past Miss Cebu beauties witness the quest for their 25th successor, the young lady whose crown will be relinquished by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard.
Celebrating its Silver Anniversary, the Miss Cebu continues to search for no less than the most exceptional lady that best defines the authentic characteristic of what a lovely Cebuana is, and how she lives up to her platform to make Cebu an even more captivating city both to come by and to live in.
For 25 years, this pageant has maintained its world-class production that can allegedly never even be compared with any of the major national beauty contests in Manila, much less its high-end presentation of its official candidates to spectators walking on the red carpets — consistently, quite a number of whom are members of Cebu’s elite. Because the event is one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog festivity, a lot of tourists from both overseas and other parts of the country are customarily expected to come and watch.
To be telecast live on Studio 23 at 8:00 PM on January 14 (Wednesday), the 2009 Search for Miss Cebu (spearheaded by Cebu City Tourism Commission) will likewise pay tribute to Cebuana beauties who, in their respective current fields of endeavor, have made an exceptional mark, thus giving us Cebuanos 25 years (and beyond) of reason to be proud of our heritage. One of these is Miss Cebu 2006 second runner-up Karla Henry, the very first Filipina to have captured the Miss Earth crown, so far the one and only Cebuana to have won an international beauty title.
This year’s roster of candidates holds a promise of another exemplary lady who will serve as an ambassador of goodwill, a spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, a voice of Cebu to the world.
Twelve equally smart and charming candidates are vying for this year’s Miss Cebu crown and the Silver scepter as a token of her being the 25th loveliest Cebuana.
Candidate # 1 Ana Coritha Desamparado
Birthdate: May 16, 1990 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 108lbs. School: University of the Philippines
Candidate # 2 Sheda Lynn Dusaban
Birthdate: October 10, 1988 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Cebu Institute of Technology
Candidate # 3 Christine Tan
Birthdate: December 1, 1983 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Cebu Normal University
Candidate # 4 Nadia Claire Urbino
Birthdate: December 20, 1989 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 90lbs School: University of San Jose-Recoletos
Candidate # 5 Tara France Oliver
Birthdate: October 5, 1988 Height: 5′4 1/2″ Weight: 102lbs School: University of San Carlos
Candidate # 6 Ethel Bitoon
Birthdate: November 23, 1984 Height: 5′5″ Weight: 109lbs. Company: LEXMARK Research & Development Corporation
Candidate # 7 Phoebe Kaye Fernandez
Birthdate: November 16, 1987 Height: 5′5 1/2″ Weight: 105lbs. School: University of San Carlos
Candidate # 8 Kimberley Therese Burden
Birthdate: September 7, 1989 Height: 5′6 1/2″ Weight: 120lbs. School: Cebu Doctors’ University
Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva “Isa” Eguia
Birthdate: March 28, 1988 Height: 5′7″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Centre for International Education
Candidate # 10 Angela Grace Alibanon
Birthdate: April 26, 1988 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 120lbs. School: Cebu Doctors’ University
Candidate # 11 Rizzini Alexis Gomez
Birthdate: August 29, 1990 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 118lbs School: University of Cebu
Candidate # 12 Kris Tiffany Janson
Birthdate: December 21, 1989 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 118lbs. School: University of San Carlos
January 14th, 2009 - 2:42 am
I’m an alumnus of SHS-J, a place we’ll always call home.
I’d go for candidate #12, our very own alumna of Batch 2007, Kris Tiffany M. Janson.
She’s got the 5 Bs men sought after, viz., Brain, Beauty, Body, Breast, and Bottom.
February 5th, 2009 - 2:41 am
The Glitch and Glamour: Burdened by ‘the beauty & the best’ of Miss Cebu
By Ariel Allera Pageant Coach, A.D. Models Philippines
Style Scribe, StyleFirm
This is in reaction to a myriad scuttlebutts around the Miss Cebu 2009 controversy , as though not only pageant fanatics but also the people in general have been feasting on the topic based on what they’ve heard on radio, seen on T.V., let alone read in the papers. It’s quite burdening to note that some came up with reports, both written and spoken, as if they were missologists who knew much about pageants and the ropes.
It stems from just one minor award given out during the selection cum coronation night held last January 14 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. The award in question is Globe Texters’ Choice, which went to Kris Tiffany Janson. While such must’ve gone to Kimberley Burden, because the latter was in the lead on the survey, it’s not in any way Janson’s fault that her name was called. The spectators present at the venue, not to mention the televiewers who were watching the event live on Studio 23, didn’t have any inkling to whom Globe Texters’ Choice award was supposed to go.
No less than Kris herself was quite taken aback on the spot, because the latest she’d heard about the poll was that it was Kimberley who was leading. Matter of fact, when she was proclaimed the winner, she was hesitant to come forward, until she was completely sure it was her name having been called out by the host. Janson’s supporters were as surprised at the announcement, thinking that maybe, just maybe, her votes had surpassed Burden’s at the eleventh hour.
Kris Tiffany Janson’s bagging the Miss Cebu 2009 crown at the end of the night had nothing to do with the special awards she had garnered prior to the coronation, as well as those she had acquired several nights ago when the candidates were first presented to the public in a fashion show held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. Quite a number of Miss Universe delegates ended up as winners without any special award in the first place. We can only wish that, before anyone dared to write something about this, they should have followed on prestigious pageants like Miss Universe, as religiously as they keep themselves abreast with current issues…so that they would’ve known that Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan didn’t get any special award before her crown was relinquished by Puerto Rico’s Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe 2006), who wasn’t awarded with any trophy or whatever prior to her coronation. Canada’s Natalie Glebova won the Miss Universe title in 2005 despite her not getting any minor award. The three successive years had our country’s delegates (2007 Bb Pilipinas Anna Theresa Licaros, 2006 Bb Pilipinas Lia Andrea Ramos, 2005 Bb Pilipinas Gionna Cabrera) winning the Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively; however, they were unplaced in the final slot. In 1999, Miriam Quiambao won as Clairol Herbal Essences Style awardee and Spain’s Diana Noguera got both the Best in Swimsuit and the Best in Gown special awards, but then Mpule Kwelagobe eventually edged them out by wearing the Miss Universe crown on her way back home to Botswana.
For 25 years now, Miss Cebu organizers have maintained their opulent taste in choosing the right people with the trained eyes for beauty, the keen ears for the sensible brains to match. Unfortunately (read: addressed to the ones who pretend to know something), this search doesn’t have a swimsuit competition. The fact that Janson was adjudged Miss Cebu would mean no more than that the judges saw her potentiality to be Cebu’s next official ambassador of goodwill, spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, voice to the world. Kris was indisputably a stand-out amongst everyone’s bet—what with her lovely face, her vibrant personality, her classy style, her regal carriage, her good breeding, let alone her no-nonsense answer to the final question. Any intelligent audience can attest to all of the above.
How could they question the credibility of judges Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales and Katrina Holigores? Now, some people are making insinuations that both judges must’ve accounted a lot for Kris’s victory because she had been in one of Tweetie’s and Katrina’s modelling workshops in FTV-Philippines. Dear friends, Metro Magazine’s Katrina Holigores was judging only the Best Fashion Designer (Oj Hofer) as well as the Best in Evening Gown awards (take note: the latter went to Rizzini Alexis Gomez). Isn’t it shallow?
The pageant is not just for anybody who comes in the Cebu City Tourism Commission Office and goes through the process with at least a five-feet-four stature, a beautiful face, a well-curved body, a fair-complected skin, a mind that contains her canned answers to hackneyed questions. The commissioners aren’t a dumb bunch of organizers who will give the last slot to whoever can fill in the blank. Which is why a string of screenings are completed before the list of official candidates is finalized. It is downright ridiculous that, after all, it seems easy for some to say that Kris Tiffany Janson had not undergone the screening process before she was enlisted as one of the 12 official candidates to the 2009 Miss Cebu Search.
It was about 2:00PM on January 29 (Thursday) when Kris and I were together in Ayala Center, en route to Starbucks, where we were supposed to sit down on our interview for my entertainment article, when we received a text message from Dexter Alazas (her mentor, managing director of A.D. Models Philippines and StyleFirm) saying that there was a formal complaint to be filed against them for violating a pageant rule that prohibits the candidates’ parents, handlers, and agents from being present in any official pageant activity. It was later stressed that Dexter attended the press conference at the Cebu City Hall and also the Miss Cebu pre-pageant night at the Fuente Osmena Circle.
Dexter had just arrived from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, together with Jam Charish Libatog, fresh from her victory at the Mutya Ng Pilipinas pageant the night prior. Being last year’s Miss Cebu 2nd runner-up and another Cebuana who just did Cebu proud, Jam was brought straight to the Cebu City Hall where a press conference was being held for the Miss Cebu 2009 candidates, hosted by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard, attended by Libatog’s fellow runners-up from the previous year and, of course, members of the press. Dexter’s presence that evening was highly regarded because, for one, he’s the manager of Jam’s and, on the other hand, he’s a fashion columnist of The Freeman newspaper and so he had every reason to participate in the so-called question-and-answer taking place in the room. Was that hard to understand?
True, Dexter was also present at the pre-pageant night held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. And why wouldn’t he be? He’s the one who designed and provided for all the 12 red evening gowns that the candidates were wearing at the finale of the fashion show. Is this harder to understand?
Anyhow, Kris and I then decided to just go straight to CCTC office where Dexter was awaiting. We couldn’t help laughing up our sleeves because, how could Kris have been enlisted as official candidate if she hadn’t passed through the screening? We were all just watching the video that contains the file of that said screening where Kris’s first runner-up Rizzini Alexis Gomez was with her, standing before a panel of commissioners who were interviewing them. It wasn’t in any way intended as a special screening for Kris and Rizzini, because there were two other girls scheduled to undergo such but didn’t show up for school reasons, because the list of official candidates was not finalized yet, because the last two applicants (Kris and Rizzini) were not difficult to fill in the blank. And w hat do they mean Kris failed to submit her curriculum vitae? There was the official Miss Cebu application form which every aspiring candidate filled out as a prerequisite for the screening. If that’s what they mean, maybe it’s time they knew its definition and the difference between the two.
Somehow, when thoughts are clouded with sour grapes, the mind becomes restless over nothing more or less than false accusations, a by-product of sheer envy and pure jealousy. Please bear in mind, this is not addressed to the Burdens. It doesn’t carry a wisp of insinuation for anybody following on the controversy, for we believe that hate is too great a burden to bear it injures the hater more than it injures the hated. William Shakespeare wrote, “A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; But were we burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain…”
Instead that we keep pulling the strings of Kris Tiffany Janson or try to lift the precious 25th Miss Cebu crown from her head, why don’t we support the lovely Cebuana in her cause so that, together, we make Cebu go over with a bang in the next 25 years… and beyond? (ariel_allera@yahoo.com)
February 10th, 2009 - 4:45 am
Guess you must be having a nightmare tackling the countless issues that have erupted from the recently concluded Miss Cebu 2009 beauty pageant.
Cheer up, mate. Whenever I’m caught in a similar situation I’d say to myself, “If everybody were happy, I wouldn’t be here”. Risk defines life.
Looking at the bright side, had the event gone smoothly, things would have simply died out after it ended. Due to controversies, it has become a hot topic. The related sites turned into popular “tourist attractions”. Serves as an ad for next year’s event. Not to mention the feedback provided to the planners.
In a way, though, I envy you. ‘Cause you’re in close contact with Cebu’s top beauties.
Currently living down under. Australia’s facing an ageing population problem and the government is providing incentives for young girls to get pregnant. I’m keen on contributing something. I’m taking up this glorious quest to find me a young Cebuana to be my soulmate. So, she can breed me an entire herd and help populate Australia. It’s a noble purpose, don’t you agree?
No worries. Australia’s a rich country that’s sparsely populated. 20M people in a size that’s 25X the Philippines.
Kana kon dunay usa nila modaginot nako. Kon wa, maglaway na lang ko.
(juan_tamad555@yahoo.com.au)
February 12th, 2009 - 2:58 am
To: Miss Kris Tiffany M. Janson,
You’re endowed with such an awesome charismatic appearance. Venus personified. Goddess of Beauty.
Your stage presentation was absolutely spectacular and magnificent. Truly a wonderful performance. Really a giant leap for you.
You brought honour and glory to our beloved alma mater.
What will always be treasured deep in my heart is your answer.
No matter how far or how wide I roam,
I still call Cebu my home, my paradise.
Reminds me of T. S. Elliott’s “We shall not cease from exploration. But at the end of all our explorations, we will go back to where we started, only to know the place for the first time”.
When will I go back to live permanently in Cebu? Maybe this year. Maybe next year. Maybe never.
Yes, accepting reality. The life we lead is almost always not the one we want to live but the one we are forced to live in order to survive.
Vaya con Dios. Always remember that life’s a rollercoaster ride. Whatever happens, keep smiling. Life is just a joke. A comedy of errors.
From,
A Lonely Cebuano Drifter
May 26th, 2009 - 4:55 am
Please add this event…
Manila & Cebu Manila Internet (14 hours hands on) Marketing Workshop/June 12-13, June 26-27,2009
I’m sharing this event with you –in case you’re interested, I’ve been learning from Jomar Hilario (the speaker) for a few weeks now and I can say that he has really helped me start this internet business….
Event details:
Learn how to:
1. Create a 2nd source of income via the internet so you don’t have to rely on your work income 100%
2. Create an internet business - a 3rd source of income by creating online stores using the supplied bonus ebooks (worth P 20,000) you can sell.
3. Popularize your websites for greater income and exposure to your market
Start getting out of the rat race via the internet.
The Manila & Cebu Manila Internet (14 hours hands on) Marketing Workshop
Resource speaker: Jomar Hilario (/www dot jomarhilario dot com)
When: June 12-13 (Cebu), June 26-27,2009 (Manila), 10:30am - 5:30pm, Friday/Saturday
Contact: cebuworkshop at gmail dot com / manilaworkshop at gmail dot com
Venue: SM City Cebu / Cubao, Metro Manila
Full details :
Cebu:
internetmarketingworkshop dot blogspot dot com/2009/05/cebu-14-hours-hands-on-internet dot html
Manila:
internetmarketingworkshop dot blogspot dot com/2009/05/manila-internet-marketing-workshop-june dot html
Or Learn Via The Internet:
www dot homebasedbusinessphilippines dot com