Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Ms. Dinagyang 07 candidates presented By Marie Katherine Villalon
THE 14 candidates vying for the Ms Dinagyang '07 title were presented before the public last Dec. 19, 2006 at the activity center of SM City Iloilo.
The candidates came from schools like West Visayas State University, Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, Iloilo Doctors College, ABE International School, and Professional Electronics Institute, among others.
The ladies are Heather Ann Nagaynay, Wena Amor Paurillo. Jovic Soliman, Marie Gensaya, Chona Lyn Uy, Jhoanne Marie Gonzales, Arianne Joyce Famur, Gladys Pacete, Christine Tamoman, Rachial, Ann Suvilla, Iris Milan, Cara Jeanne Sullano, Ronelyn Urera and Joanne Brodit.
The program started with a dance number from the Tribal Quest dancers.
It was followed by a speech by Ben Jimena, executive director of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc., which for the first time is directly handling the pageant.
Jimena exulted the candidates by labeling them as "most pleasing personalities of Iloilo today."
He also revealed the different feats that Dinagyang festival has garnered in the national and global level.
He said that Dinagyang was adjudged by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (Atop) as the Best Tourism Event of the Philippines.
Dinagyang is also the only festival in the world that is supported by the United Nations to promote its millennium development campaign.
On the other hand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) cited the festival organizer's and the City Government's cooperation as the Best Practices in Good Governance for the Private Sector and an NGO.
"Dagoy (the festival mascot) was also featured on national television. He was featured in one program of Wowowee. The Atub-Atub tribed performed in Unang Hirit. Last December 10, Dinagyang was launched at the Mall of Asia," Jimena said.
Jimena made special mention of SM's support by giving the venue for free, providing mannequins for the costumes and for the cocktails for the media. He also thanked Mang Inasal for providing food.
"We also made an impact in Muñoz City, Nueva Ecijua during their festival. For the first time, people engaged in real street dancing. Dinagyang was also showcased in the Bangus Festival of Dagupan, Pataraday of Santiago City, Sandugo Festival and the Independence Parade at the Quirino Grandstand," Jimena said.
After Jimena's speech, the candidates rendered a dance number while donning the creation of Alta Moda by Alex Soncio, the official couturier of the pageant.
As of the present, the sponsors for the Dinagyang festival are SM City, Freedom Jeans, Prudential Life, Robinsons Place Iloilo, Unilever Philippines, GMA-TV 6, Beauty Essentials, Winners Gym, Diaz Sppech and Personality Development, Novia, City Square Iloilo, Panay News, Blues Brothers, Makinaugalingon Press, Mary Kay and City of Iloilo.
