AS it would appear, the first Renaissance Cebuana candidates do not only have to be aces in Athletics and Academics, but as the final leg of the AAA Renaissance Cebuana 2018 unfolded, the top 15 girls would also have to pull off an Artistic stint to deserve the title. This unique pageant is called AAA Renaissance Cebuana because the contestants have to be good in Athletics, Academics and Art, hence, AAA.
The candidates for the AAA Renaissance Cebuana have to play a juggling act as the women who survived the Athletics and Academics round had to do a video talk about their advocacy. But it was the ladies from Consolacion, Carcar City, Balamban, Daanbantayan, Tudela, Pinamungajan, Liloan, Argao, Danao City, Mandaue City, Tuburan, Alegria and Bogo City that caught the most reactions and shares on Facebook.
Fifteen girls out of the hundreds who ran and overcame every hurdle in the five-kilometer and 10-kilometer run of the Athletics round, and the brain-twizzling Academics round, are set to strut in the finale, which will be the Artistic round. The candidates were officially introduced last Aug. 3. The finale will challenge the contestants’ talent and eloquence in charming the audience.
The candidate from Tudela, Cianza Pearl Gutierrez, turned heads and hearts as she poured out the reason for her advocacy on women empowerment with the goal of stopping violence against women.
She cried as she explained: “I am doing this para mapahibaw sa tanan nga dili ko ganahan nga naa pay ma-abusohan (to let everybody know that I don’t want anyone to experience abuse) because the pain and the struggles of losing someone nga wala kay mahimo (where you are effortless to help) is like living (in) hell every day. The survival is like you wake up every day nga you do something because you want to save someone nga di’ na gyud mabuhat (that you can no longer save). So that’s why I’m here.”
Guttierrez shared how she juggled work—as she was a breadwinner—and her studies back in college, where she graduated with honors. Her advocacy is dedicated to a close friend.
The 22-year-old stressed the importance of women speaking out and telling authorities the violence they endure to break the stigma of women being quiet. “We need to raise our voice. Kung mahimo isinggit nato kung unsa na ang nahitabo nato (if possible, we shout to the world what happened to us).”
In a quivering yet strong voice, she urged women to stand tall and be proud of their gender. Her decision to be the face of a strong woman has since prompted her to be a part of the Gender and Development Committee in her office. Her move for women empowerment is a way for her to help her best friend.
“Para na ko, kay wa man ko’y nahimo atong panahona, at least naa koy mahimo para di na mahitabo to sa laing tao (For me, since I couldn’t do anything at the time, at least now I can do something for other people),” Gutierrez also said.
In her determination to win, she juggles her job with the Land Transportation Office and with school, as she is finishing her master’s degree. She promises to do her best in the last round.
Gutierrez was in awe of the confidence of fellow competitor Wella Jane Ybas from Carcar City.
Ybas is passionate and proud in her work in the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO): “As a training staff, we focus more on those who are vulnerable, and those are women and children. We can’t deny that women are vulnerable due to known facts that there are more women who die in times of disaster.”
The striking 21-year-old said she feels strongly about issues involving women: “We have these everyday disasters, which are rape issues, cyberpornography, women dealing drugs, teenage pregnancies, early marriage. All those negative things involve women.”
The contestant said her advocacy could be traced back when she was young and was growing up with a strong mother, who raised three kids on her own.
“On that thought, I believe that women can do what men can,” said Ybas.
Finally she is inspired by her work and her co-workers: “I am assigned as the focal person of women and children and I am happy I got this big chance to shout to Cebu and the whole world that we have resilient Cebuanas.”
The laidback beauty shared her plans if she wins: “I plan to get partners to empower women not just in the PDRRMO, even also the Penro (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office), Philippine Youth Commission and Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines, and all those that can help these offices focus on sectors, especially on women, because there are things that only a woman can do.”
Ybas also said she wants to do a musical play, as she knows how to sing and dance.
Apart from women empowerment, the advocacy varied as each contestant sought to make sure that their individual voices were heard.
Laboratory analyst Marjorie Bolutano made sure that her expertise in Biology came in check in her advocacy for an environmentally sustainable tourism.
The witty and charming contestant spoke proudly of Cebu’s natural beauty thereby attracting tourism. However, this beauty has been compromised due to improper disposal of waste.
“As a biologist, I encourage first the local government,” said Bolutano, explaining that having ordinances within the local government on keeping the environment clean should be strictly complied with. She feels positive that if local tourists could adhere to these rules, foreigners would also appreciate and follow.
The 23-year-old candidate was also dead set at making trash and recycling bins more accessible to encourage people to throw their trash properly.
“Ang mga trash bins or trash cans gamay ra man... para na ko, padaghanon pa para mas accessible (There are only a few trash bins and trash cans... For me, we should have a lot of these to make them more accessible).”
The petite beauty from Carcar eyes performing a folk dance in the pageant, trusting her folk dancing skill that served her well when she was still in high school.
Another finalist is athlete Katherine Jumapao from Liloan, who just swam, biked and ran through the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship last Aug. 5. She placed 10th in her age group.
Although the feisty Liloanon did not make it to the press conference as she was getting ready for the race, she told SunStar Cebu: “I had six months to prepare and work on my swim-bike-run. I feel that I did better than I expected.”
As a varsity player in basketball and volleyball, she already had an advocacy focused on sports: “I have a grassroots program already in Liloan. We train kids every summer and semester break. I want to share this opportunity for them to learn so that they will have their scholarships, too.”
As for her planned advocacy if she wins, the 26-year-old freelance real estate broker said: “I will work hand in hand with the Capitol to have a province-wide grassroots program teaching kids aged six to nine (basics) and 10-14 (advanced) basketball and volleyball.”
Her preparation for the Ironman was her priority then, but she is now gearing up for the Artistic round of AAA Renaissance Cebuana. When asked what she plans to do for the round, she said: “Secret... Naglibog pa bitaw ko mag unsa ko (I’m really confused on what to do). But I can play three musical instruments.”
With the women swearing to give it their all, it will be entertaining to see how they will manage the time limit for the talent show, which is two and a half minutes.
The Artistic round will be divided into segments: sportswear; resort wear using hablon fabrics by Dino Lloren; the Cebuana Got it All, where the candidates’ talents will be showcased; evening gowns; and the question and answer, where the top five candidates answer one common question in just 30 seconds.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale was truly ecstatic of the candidates’ and the pageants’ journey. Magpale, who was very adamant on women empowerment, was hard at work, explaining how the selection process of the top 15 was done in the midnight of July 31.
Magpale will write all the mayors, especially the finalists’ local government units, to give the candidates more support in the final leg. (S)