|
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Miss Teen Philippines lands four Mindanao qualifiers
By Stephen Capillas
THE Mindanao pre-qualifiers for the Miss Teen Philippines pageant were chosen in simple ceremonies held at the SM City Cagayan de Oro branch early last Sunday afternoon.
During the evening luncheon held at the Park Cafe near Xavier University in Divisoria City the four pre-qualifiers from Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan City and Iligan City socialized with pageant organizers, a well-deserved break from the grueling preparations and screening process they underwent to make it through to the national round.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro managed to interview one of the organizers, namely Image Networks Management Inc. Marketing Manager Monique Morales.
Morales explained that the four Mindanao pre-qualifiers would undergo orientation and training for the national finals of the Miss Teen Philippines pageant scheduled this May 20.
Now on its second year, Morales said the Miss Teen Philippines pageant is also organized by the Youth Empowerment and Self-Reliance Inc. (Yes). The event would be held at the Aliw Theater in Manila and would be telecast live at Studio 23.
She said the contest is expected to draw in 40 participants from Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Lucena City, Dasmarinas, Pampanga, National Capital Region (NCR), Iloilo and Cebu City.
The marketing manager also said the pageant winner would become a national youth spokesperson for Yes Inc. and can launch a program promoting her particular advocacy which runs the gamut of issues like the environment, tourism, the anti-drugs campaign and reproductive health.
In the case of 2004 Miss Teen Philippines winner Stephanie Mae Sol she is promoting her "Turn Trash into Cash" program together with government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs).
Morales said Sol had also participated in an Asia Pacific Youth Conference on Adolescent Reproductive Health last October.
Meanwhile she explained that the candidates, aged 14 to 18, would be judged not only for their looks but their intelligence and advocacy on issues.
"There's no swimwear, only fun wear and there is the gown competition as well," she explained.
Training for the candidates would be done by the regional coordinators, Morales said. "The judges in last year's pageant included Liza Macuja-Elizalde, fashion model Tweetie de Leon and government officials," she said.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro failed to contact other candidates but managed to interview one of the pre-qualifiers from Bukidnon province, Princess Stephanie V. Lalwani.
Lalwani, who stands tall for her age at above 5'6 (or maybe it's the heels), said her joining the competition started out as a joke. She recounted that she and her parents saw the ad and discussed among themselves about it.
"I joined the contest last Jan. 22 and I felt a little nervous but managed to overcome it," she said and added that she and the others will undergo intensive training among regional coordinators starting next month.
For her part Stephanie Sol said as Miss Teen Philippines winner the "Turn Trash into Cash" program launched last Jan. 22 was meant to encourage the youths to actively participate in cleaning up the environment.
And when asked to assess the chances of this year's Mindanao qualifiers Sol said she remains confident that they can make it. "I advised them to just polish their skills, believe in God and in themselves," she told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
(February 16, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
