Friday, January 16, 2004
23-year-old CPA is Miss Cebu
A CERTIFIED public accountant bested 11 other candidates in the Miss Cebu pageant last night.
Marnelli Abatayo, 23, won the coveted crown, a trip to Hong Kong and a tour of the US, Africa or Europe. She also earned P30,000 cash.
The runners-up are Golda May Gabriel, 20, (first), Recca Marie Menchavez, 20, (second), Guia Estrella Chua, 18, (third). They each won a trip to Hong Kong and P20,000 to 30,000 cash.
Gianne Karla Chan, 18, won Best in Gown designed by Arcy Gayatin. She also wore the outfit by Ray Kuan that got the Best Costume Design.
Carmelli Canoy won as Miss Friendship.
The minor prizes went to Kathleen Hazel Go, 19, (Miss Fuji Film), Menchavez (Miss Cebu Pacific) and Christine Peiper (Miss Charmee).
Abatayo earned resounding applause during the question-and-answer portion when she spoke on what she thinks is the Cebuanos’ best virtue.
“Cebuanos respect themselves as much as they respect other people. You see in other people who you are. No matter what you achieve or what you did in life, if you don’t respect other people, you go back to being nothing,” she said.
Abatayo reportedly owns a personality development training center where she also works as a trainer.
Estrella and Menchavez are business administration students from the University of San Carlos.
This year’s pageant at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel grand ballroom paid tribute to the Cebuanos who made a difference in the development of Cebu’s arts and culture.
The Hong Kong prize trips are courtesy of Cat-hay Pacific.
(January 16, 2004 issue)
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