BAGUIO City’S cream de la cream attended the exclusive gala dinner featuring Miss Universe candidates.
Around 500 guests composed of city officials, business and tourism groups, socialites, designers and sponsors joined the gala dinner of the 65th Miss Universe dubbed as a "A Culinary Sojourn" at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club (BCC) Wednesday night.
During the dinner Baguio City Representative Mark Go, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, city councilors, former Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio officers were joined by 28 Miss Universe candidates for a night of chit chat and performances by the city’s best.
2011 Miss Universe 3rd runner up Shamcey Supsup introduced the 28 candidates during the evening of beauty and confidence.
Depending on which ticket guests purchased which ranged from P3,000 to 6,000, guests will experience the once in a lifetime chance to interact with candidates over a dinner prepared by the BCC’s best chefs.
Menu includes a pan-seared Foie Gras with strawberry and mango coulis, taro chips, edamame; fresh organic Benguet garden salad with sauteed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, shallots, mesclun, crumbled goat cheese, balsamic dressing.
Entrée includes a gratinated Chilean seabass fillet with steamed bokchoy, cherry tomato confit, Kalamata and chorizo relish while the main course is a pepper-crusted Snake River Farms
Wagyu Grade 9 Beef Medallion in garlic creamed potato puree, maple glazed, carrots and beans, white and peppercorn sauce.
Divided into groups, Miss Australia - Caris Tivel, Miss Columbia – Jealisse Andrea Tovar Velasques, Miss Peru – Veleria Piazza Vasquez, Miss Puerto Rico – Brenda Azaria Jimenes Hernandez, Miss Spain – Nohelia Freirie Benito, Miss Albania – Lindita Idrizi, Miss Aruba – Charlene Leslie, Miss Barbados – Shannon Harris, Miss France – France Mittenaire, Miss Guam – Muneka Joy Cruz Taisipic, Miss Haiti – Raquel Pellisier, Miss Israel – Yam Kaspers Anshel, Miss Italy –Sophia Sergio, Miss Kenya – Mary Esther Were, Miss Korea – Jenny Kim, Miss Kosovo – Camila Barraza, Miss Malta – Martha Fenech, Miss Mauritus – Kushoo Ramnawaj, Miss New Zealand – Tania Dawson, Miss Norway – Chirstina Waage, Miss Slivenia – Lucija Potocnik, Miss South Africa – Ntandoyenkosi Witess Kunene, Miss Sweden – Ida Ovmar, Miss US Virgin Islands – Carolyn Carter, Miss Denmark – Christina Dalgaard Mikkelsen, Miss Finland – Shily Karvinen, Miss Canada – Siera Lacee Bearchell and Miss Japan – Sari Nakazawa were able to interact with the select few who were either invited or paying patrons of the dinner.
"May you continue to encourage every woman to come out with their comfort zone, beauty is a joy forever. We hope your beauty remain forever," Domogan added while appreciating the beauties in their evening gowns.
Department of Tourism Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) director Venus Tan who tagged the candidates as "beauty of substance" together with influential women in the Cordillera region gave appreciation to 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach by giving a century old necklace during her appearance before the end of the program.
Wurtzbach in her speech also thanked the people for the warm welcome.
The reigning Miss Universe added whatever she did not finish in her journey will be continued by the next Miss Universe while hoping Miss Philippines to take the crown during the coronation night on January 30 in the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Before the dinner ended, Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony de Leon also gave tokens from Narda's to all the candidates as remembrance from the Cordillera.
Performances were also showcased by Baguio Metamorphosis, Aloha Girls and Ballet dancers before and during the dinner.
The night was capped with a colourful fireworks display outside the convention hall.