Jimalalud bet is Hari ng Negros 2006

Mark Xander Ramira Fabillar, a business marketing graduate of Saint Paul University Dumaguete City, bested 23 other candidates from all over Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental to win the Hari ng Negros - Ginoong Canlaon title last July 2 at the Canlaon City Sports and Cultural Center. Fabillar, 22, represented the municipality of Jimalalud in the pageant. Leviger Laxina of Dumaguete City, a mass communication student of Negros Oriental State University, and JM Contreras of Bayawan City were adjudged First and Second Runners-up respectively.

Jayson Bayona of Canlaon City, Andreo Poleros of Escalante City, Mark Anthony Prestin of Tanjay City, Chris Chiong of Bacolod City, Michael Magbanua of La Carlota City, Robert Porter of Cadiz City, and Juren Consing of Sagay City rounded up the top ten semifinalists.

The pageant was a close fight between the Jimalalud and Dumaguete candidates, each of whom garnered significant major awards prior to the announcement of the semifinalists. Fabillar won the awards for Best Speaker, Best in MTV Showdown, and Best in Streetwear, while Laxina won Best in Formal Wear and Best in Swimwear. Other winners included Bayona for Best in Festival Costume, Magbanua for Mr. Body Beautiful and Mr. Friendster, Enrique Pareja of San Jose for Mr. Photogenic, Joseph Amoguis of Moises Padilla for Mr. Professionalism, and Poleros for Mr. Friendship.

According to producer Michael Ocampo, the Hari ng Negros pageant, which started in 2003, has become "the most prestigious male pageant of its kind in the Visayas," regularly fielding top bets from various towns and cities in both sides of Negros Island. This year, 24 candidates vied for the title, making the pageant one of the biggest in the region.

"The prestige of the pageant has been increasing every year, and more and more people are coming to Canlaon City to watch it. This may be because previous winners of the Hari ng Negros title have gone to lead successful professional lives in film and modeling," Ocampo said. Past winners include top Cebu model Paul Brett Orozco, businessman Emmanuel Labirua, and screen actor Reiven Bulado who parlayed his win to achieve a plum role in Cesar Montano's award-winning Panaghoy sa Suba.

This year, the panel of judges included luminaries in film, tourism, and the international fashion field such as fashion designer Patis Tesoro, high society don Ado Escudero, Brussels International Film Festival director Robert Malengreau, and international supermodel Rebecca Picket. Jude Bacalso of ABS-CBN Cebu hosted, while comedienne Pokwang and Cass Ponti of the Pinoy Big Brother reality TV show provided the entertainment for the jampacked audience, making the pageant the veritable highlight for this year's Charter Day Anniversary of Canlaon City.

This is the fourth time in the 4-year history of the pageant that bets from Negros Oriental have won the title. (Ian Rosales Casocot)