Monday, December 22, 2008 Miss Dinagyang '09 bets to do advocacy projects By Lydia C. Pendon
THE candidates in the search for Miss Dinagyang 2009 will have to submit to the search organizers their personal advocacy project in the village where their selected ati-atihan tribe resides.
Pageant director Rowena Diaz said the candidates’ advocacy may focus on the environment, health, education and tourism potentials of the selected village in the city proper.
Diaz presented the 12 stunning candidates for this year's pageant last December 18. This year's winner will become the city's Ambassadress of Goodwill.
The candidates will be given the opportunity to be carriers of the social, cultural and educational advocacies to showcase Ilonggo's beauty in diversity in a move to attract more tourists to the city.
The search is one of the highlights of Dinagyang Festival, the city's premier tourism extravaganza celebrated every fourth week of January.
The festival is a Hall of Fame winner after having been selected by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (Atop) as the best tourism event in the country for the last three years.
For this year, the organizers will introduce an innovative search component where candidates will create their own gown made from recycled paper embellished with indigenous materials in deference to the green environment program of the City Government.
The winning advocacy project will get P3,000 cash incentive and a plaque of commendation.
The candidates will also be tapped as volunteers to the city's skills enhancement program for young adults with disabilities.
The candidates for Miss Dinagyang 2009 are Luisa Ace Lambito, 16 years old of Savior International School; Jocelyn Caceres, 20, of Western Institute of Technology; Stephanie Juanitas, 20, of the University of Iloilo; Rapunzel Crystal Palma, 18, of WVSU; Wena Amor Paurillio, 19 of Maasin, Iloilo; Natalie Grace Roberts, 17, of CPU; Sheryl Maye Manalo, 19; Marie June Bebing, 20, of University of San Agustin; Karla Dawn Yaneza, 18, of WVSU; Kharessa Jyanne Simoy, 21, USA; Ma. Soriel Sorel, 19, of WVSU; Geline Antonette Cabrera, 18 of CPU; and Kathlene Gamboa, 18, of CPU.
