EIGHT beautiful candidates will compete for the crown in this year's Piña Festival Queen, as part of the Ormoc City fiesta activities.
Ormoc City Festival and Cultural Foundation Inc. Chairwoman Estrella Maria Serafica-Pangilinan and Ormoc Fiesta Executive Committee Chairman Jude Abenoja formally presented the candidates on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at Robinson's Place in the city.
The eight contestants are Myth Nica Pilapil, from Valencia National High School (Pundok Valenciahanon); Lime Berry L. Linaga, from Ipil National High School (Pundok Madasigon); Dianne A. Espinosa, from Liloan National High School (Pundok sa Mabungahong Paglaum); Francine Kate A. Wite, from Linao National High School (Pundok Mapasalamaton); Geovanna Catalina C. Dawa, from Western Leyte College of Ormoc (Pundok Kasadpan); Angeline Marie Napoles, from STI College-Ormoc (Pundok Nagkahiusang Ormocanon); Giovana Abrielle A. Scala, from New Ormoc City National High School (Pundok Sitihaynon); and Michelle Suarez Balderas, from EVSU-Ormoc Campus (Pundok Sidlakan).
"Upon watching their performances and practices, I can vouch that this year's Piña Festival will be better, nicer, and grander," said Serafica-Pangilinan as she invited the public to watch the Piña Festival Queen Parade and Street Dance on June 25.
Fourth District Congressman Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, also thanked the visitors and sponsors for their support of this year's different fiesta activities in honor of the city's patron saints, Saints Peter and Paul, on June 29.
Special guests and performers during the month-long fiesta activities in Ormoc, dubbed as the City of Beautiful People and the Events Capital of Eastern Visayas, include actor Piolo Pascual during Miss Ormoc on June 23; actor Seth Fedelin during the Piña Festival Queen Parade and Street Dance on June 25; and singer Bituin Escalante, actress-singer Frenchie Dy, motivational speaker Chinkee Tan, and another surprise singer-performer during the Business, Socio-Civic, Professional, and Power Night on June 27.
Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icons Marco Sison, Rey Valera, and Nonoy Zuñiga, with the Silent Sanctuary band, will perform during the Hitmakers Concert on June 28, while comedian-talk show host-singer Vice Ganda will perform during the fiesta culmination concert on June 29. (SunStar Philippines)