2015 Miss RP winners crowned

MANILA, Philippines - 1976 Miss RP Joy Conde-Cruz (photo, center) crowned Fermira Dianne Tumangan Ramos of Zambales (photo, fourth from left) as 2015 Miss Republic of the Philippines on Nov. 4 at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino. Also Best in Philippine Terno, Miss Megadata Corp. USA and Miss Via Mare, 25-year-old Ramos took home a prize package including P100,000 cash prize, four-year scholarship grant, one-year management contract and gifts from sponsors. She won over 34 other candidates from the country's different regions and selected Filipino overseas communities.

Other winners were (photo, from left) Sheila Marie Reyes of Valenzuela City, Miss Visayas; Beatrice Valente of Milan, Italy, 2015 Miss RP-International; Joselle Mariano of Cavite, Miss Luzon; and Kristie Rose Cequeña of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Miss Mindanao.

Valente was voted by her co-candidates as Miss Congeniality. Mariano, a pre-pageant favorite, bagged five special awards: Best in Swimsuit, Miss Talent, Miss Astoria, Miss Pleasant Touch and Miss Halcyon. Reyes was adjudged Miss Photogenic and Miss Fisher Mall.

Joy stole the night when she executed the traditional farewell walk after nearly four decades. Now 62 and a mother of two successful children, Joy was the last Miss RP winner (for Miss World pageant), then organized by Ferdie Villar of Spotlight Promotions, crowned by 1975 Miss World Wilnelia Merced of Puerto Rico on July 3, 1976 at the Folk Arts Theater. The pageant is now revived by businesswoman Lynette Padolina.