Thursday, October 18, 2007 San Sebastian lass crowned MassKara Queen '07 By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
INSPIRED by her icon of faith, the San Sebastian Cathedral, 20-year-old beauty, Rosario "Anne" Sales, grabbed this year's coveted MassKara Queen crown.
She bested nine other contestants in a three-hour glittering pageant presented by ABS-CBN-Bacolod at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
Sales was also chosen as Miss Globe Texters' Choice, Negros Navigation Princess, Miss Samsung, Best in Swimsuit, Miss PNOC-EDC and Best in Festival Costume.
The two other contestants who towered from among the remaining nine were Kristine 'Tin" Alonso (first runner up) and Nicole Marie "Coy" Dimalig (second runner up).
Sales chose the San Sebastian Cathedral as answer to the final and uniform question, "What icon do you think will best represent the MassKara Festival."
Sales explained her "icon of faith," saying, " There is that deep spiritual longing in her which she considers a strength in these troubled times."
The greatest surprise of the evening was Alonso who received no other award but the equally coveted first runner up slot.
Second runner up Dimalig was the most talented, capturing the Miss Talent award held at Gaisano City some two weeks ago.
The rest of the awards were bequeath to Loiza Marie "Marie" Tonico (Miss Photogenic), Kristine Casandra "KC" Soriano (Best in Evening Gown and Miss Generoso Brandy).
Soriano and Alonso attend schools outside of Bacolod.
Soriano is the 'Iskolar ng Bayan' being schooled in the University of the Philippines in the Visayas of which she has to go home everyday to catch up with the rehearsals.
While Alonso is schooled in the University of San Carlos, Cebu City.
Meanwhile, Concilor Celia Flor said, "Although I have no means of comparing but I find the pageant very supportive of women."
Flor is a pro-women and gender sensitive councilor.
Flor does not find anything in the show that led to the so-called "commodification" of women.
She instead stressed that the entire program led to the development and discovery of women potential.
"In the first place, I believe that all participants formally applied for the contest, therefore, it is their own choice. Then the depiction of women in this contest is very developmental. I saw how these young women's talents and potentials were drawn out to become better persons," Flor said.
She admitted though that she does not watch beauty contest except for official function like last night.
