ANGELES CITY -- This city’s grandest and highly anticipated beauty pageant concluded with the crowning of the new Mutya ning Angeles (MNA), November 3 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Complex (AUF-SCC).
Angela Maria Robson of Barangay Malabanias was adjudged as the newest queen to belong to the long roster of MNA royalties.
The 18-year old lass studied Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management at AUF. At the same time, Angela completed a training on basic first aid and survival at Red Cross and graduated as a commanding officer of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in her university.
“It has been my dream and my uncle’s dream for me to become a beauty queen. He died three months ago and I am just trying to fulfill the promise I made him,” said Robson.
During the pageant, Robson garnered almost all of the major awards including Best in Talent, Best in Swimwear, Best in Evening Wear, Ms. ISCAHM, Ms. Omni Aviation, Ms. SM City Clark, Ms. Aphrodite Goddess, and the Darling of the Press.
Robson is currently a member of the Pampanga’s Elite Mannequins (PEM), an organization of young, professional and aspiring models which produced most of the MNA winners in the past decades like Patricia Gloria Vargas in 2005, Genie Baron Abeleda in 2012, and Zaina Marie Chandley in 2014.
The group is involved not only in the modelling industry but also in meaningful socio-civic activities.
Talking about her advocacies, the new mutya said that she will continue being part of PEM which holds annual charity fashion shows that helped various underprivileged and disadvantaged sectors of the community.
“PEM has its own annual fashion show for a cause and recently, we were able to extend assistance to paediatric cancer patients. Now that I am crowned as the new MNA, I vow to continue this meaningful cause and whenever there is an opportunity comes up for another charity, I will be glad to be part of it as well,” Robson added.
For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said that the annual beauty pageant, which he started in 1992, is staged to bring hope to the dulled spirit of the Angeleños.
“We were in our darkest days in 1992 because of the devastation of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and we thought of staging the first MNA beauty pageant to inspire and encourage our people to rise as we crown our queen, an embodiment of the Angeleño resilience,” said Pamintuan.
“Until now, it is our tradition to find new lasses who will continue this legacy of rousing our people, especially the youth, to the best version that they can be,” the mayor added.
Meanwhile, the 20-year old campus journalist Camille Eisma of Barangay Pandan was crowned as this year’s MNA Tourism, while 19-year old Communication student from Holy Angel University Francesca Taruc was hailed as the MNA Youth Ambassador.
Joining her court are Florita Gross of Barangay Pulung Maragul as first runner-up, Ana Mae Babasa of Barangay Malabanias as second runner-up, and Haira Anastacia Fornalczyk of Barangay Anunas as third runner up.
Meanwhile, outgoing MNA 2016 Hazel Ayn Erickson is set to compete this year in the Mutya ning Kapampangan.
Judging in the 25th edition of the MNA pageant were Miss World 2011 First Princess Helen Nicolette Henson, Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-up Maria Venus Raj, Celebrity F1 Racer Marlon Stockinger, Mister International 2014 Neil Perez, beauty queen maker and President/CEO of Aces and Queens Jonas Antonio Gaffud, Renowned events organizer Voltaire Zalamea, and Executive Director of the League of Cities of the Philippines Atty. Shereen Gail Yu-Pamintuan.
This year’s Mutya ning Angeles was presented by the Angeles City Tourism Office, Beyond Essence Creative Group, Velvet Rope Productions and Events, and Focus Management Agency. (PR)