Star-studded press freedom pageant

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s oldest newspaper still leads in the tally of Miss Press Freedom winners, as another journalist-muse from The FREEMAN earned the title Saturday night at the Highlights Bar of Harolds Hotel.

The pageant, which began in 2004 as a prelude to the Press Freedom Week series of events, now has five out of nine Miss Press Freedom title-holders who were fielded by The FREEMAN.

This paper’s business reporter, Grace Melanie Lacamiento, did her co-workers proud by beating three candidates from other media outfits for the Miss Press Freedom 2012 distinction. Cebu Daily News (CDN) correspondent Carmel Matus was her first runner-up, while TV 5-Cebu reporter Katreena Bisnar representing the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Cebu chapter and Sunstar Cebu sports reporter Cheska Geli were second runner-up and third-runner-up, respectively.

CDN contributing lifestyle photographer Edd Buenaviaje was declared Mr. Press Freedom 2012. Sunstar’s police beat reporter Davinci Maru was first runner-up.

Lacamiento, a magna cum laude Mass Communications graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, donned a gown by Dexter Alazas and was dolled up by make-up artist Ramil Solis.

She received a cash prize of P10,000, a trip to Boracay care of Cebu Pacific Airlines, a Robinson’s gift certificate, plus gift packs from Sun Cellular, Psalmstre Enterprises, Topshop and Mang Juan.

After an internship stint with this paper, the 21-year old was absorbed as a regular staffer and has been filing business stories for the past six months. She expressed during the pageant’s casual interview segment with host Jude Bacalso that covering the business beat has made her realize Cebu’s vast potential to be a mega-province in terms of development.

During the final Q&A, Lacamiento voiced her support for the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, but also reminded her media colleagues not to abuse this guarantee of access to information of data from the powers-that-be.

The question on whether she was for or against the FOI bill was sent in by ABS-CBN reporter/ANC host/former beauty queen Ginger Conejero. She was one among Manila media personalities who contributed questions that were flashed on a screen, the others being Mel Tiangco, Connie Sison, Boy Abunda, Karen Davila and Paolo Bediones.

The judge’s panel included Queen of Cebu 2011 Bee Urgello, Shandar accessory and shoe designer Mark Tenchavez, GMA 7 Cebu station manager Ann Marie Tan, Harolds Hotel marketing and communications officer Rachel Niñal, and Sun Cellular representative Vikki Sambilay.

Bringing the house down with their melodious blending was the talented singing triumvirate better known as La Diva. The singing contest champions from GMA 7 — Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia — turned not a few in the audience into certified La Diva converts!

Kapuso network’s newest love team, Mikael Daez and Andrea Torres of the afternoon drama remake “Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga” were also on hand to promote their show. Mikael, who writes a Sunday entertainment column for The Philippine Star, said that like the press people in the audience, he too knew how it felt having to churn out worthy reads for print and beat newspaper deadlines. 

The Newsbreak Band, made up of The FREEMAN copy editor Malou Inocando-Tabar and Sunstar Cebu photojournalist Arni Aclao also rendered a few songs.

Organized by Cebu’s entertainment press group (E-Group), this year’s pageant was directed by the Wicked Sisters Socials + Events, a company run by beauty queens-turned-eventologists Bb. Pilipinas-World 2006 Anna Maris Igpit, Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry and Miss Aliwan Festival Queen 2006 Sian Elizabeth Maynard. (FREEMAN)