Nicole Borromeo respects Aliwan’s decision

CEBU, Philippines —  Despite her dethronement as Reyna ng Aliwan 2019, Nicole Borromeo said that she is feeling positive and is focused on doing well in her current pageant assignment.

“I respect the organizers’ decision to crown Roi Neeve Comanda of Panagbenga Festival of Baguio City as the newest Reyna ng Aliwan 2019,” Nicole began in a Facebook post, which was accompanied with photos of her Reyna ng Aliwan crowning moment.

Nicole, crowned Reyna ng Aliwan last April, was stripped of the crown due to violations of the contract she signed prior to her victory. Candidates and winners are often embraced as in-house talents, and are therefore expected to prioritize their responsibility to the organization.

After winning Reyna ng Aliwan, Nicole joined Miss Teen Philippines in May after placing in the regionals prior to Aliwan. Currently, Nicole is Cebu’s bet to the “Eat Bulaga!” search for Miss Millennial Philippines. Since these competitions are very much well within her Reyna ng Aliwan reign, the organization decided to give the crown to Comanda.

In the same Facebook message posted Thursday night, the 19-year-old freshman Interior Design student from the University of San Carlos expressed her gratitude to the people behind Reyna ng Aliwan.

“The competition has a special place in my heart because it was a once in a lifetime experience to be part of the Aliwan Fiesta. It is every Filipina’s dream to be part of this competition,” said Nicole.

She also had nothing but kind words to her successor.

“Neeve Comanda is a good friend of mine and I have known her since Miss Silka Philippines 2017. She was also my roommate throughout my Aliwan journey and I can honestly say that she is one of the kindest persons I know,” Nicole continued. “To Roi Neeve, I wish you a fruitful reign. You have always embodied the values of a queen.”

Nicole’s decision to pursue Miss Millennial over keeping her Reyna ng Aliwan crown was met with approval by former Sinulog Foundation, Inc. director Ricky Ballesteros.

“The announcement and awarding of Miss Millennial Cebu was made during the coronation night of the Sinulog Festival Queen last January, of which I was one of the judges together with Eat Bulaga’s Ryan Agoncillo and Asia’s Next Top Model Maureen Wroblewitz, the reigning Miss Millenial Philippines who was also the Sinulog Festival Queen 2018 turned over her Sinulog crown and millennial sash to Nicole that night,” Ballesteros said in an online comment.

He said the new guidelines of Aliwan prohibiting the winner to join other pageants during her reign was announced “a bit late last week of March or early April. It’s a new guideline, other Aliwan queens were able to join other pageants.”

“I believe Nicole made the right decision,” he added. “As the saying goes ‘With the crown comes with a responsibility.’ Unfortunately she had two crowns in her head, the Millenial Cebu and Aliwan Queen and she had to give up one and choose which she thinks has bigger responsibility and a more relevant pageant. It’s just a crown. The pride and the honor as the most beautiful festival queen of the Philippines is still yours. Nobody can take that away from you. You are still our Sinulog Queen…”

Even though it cost her a crown, nothing will derail Nicole from putting not only hers but also Cebu’s best foot forward in Miss Millennial Philippines.

“For now, I have to focus on Miss Millennial Philippines. The moment I was proclaimed Sinulog Festival Queen 2019, I was also named Miss Millennial Cebu 2019. I personally received the sash from two ‘Eat Bulaga!’ hosts Mr. Ryan Agoncillo and Maureen Wroblewitz. Winning these two titles gave me the ticket to represent Cebu in Miss Millennial Philippines 2019. This is one of the duties that I have to fulfill after the coronation,” the Cebuana beauty queen said.

“I hope that you will continue to support me in my quest in promoting Cebu in this journey. Thank you Cebuanos and to everyone out there for your love and support! Mabuhi kitang tanan!”