Festival Queen is from Placer, Masbate

CEBU, Philippines – After Jamie Herrel’s feat in 2013, Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer Masbate once more produced this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen.

 Julienne Hazel Penserga, a third year mass communication student of the University of the Philippines and the reigning  Miss UP Cebu, was crowned the new Sinulog Festival Queen, besting 15 other lead dancers from different contingents during the coronation night at the Cebu City Sports Center on Friday.

 “Wala jud ko nag-expect nga modaog ko kay lig-on man daw ming tanan but I just prayed for the Holy Child’s grace and danced wholeheartedly for the audience, maybe that’s the reason why they (judges) chose me.,” Penserga said.

“I dance for His glory. I did not think of winning, I just dance with grace and I think it was important in the competition to enjoy the moment. Embrace the grace of the Holy Child and let’s not forget that this is all for his glory,” she shared.

She added that it has been her dream to dance in the Sinulog to pay tribute to Sr. Sto Niño, saying “the competition was a healthy, fun and tiring one as well. Since I was a kid, it’s my dream to dance in the Sinulog parade and now that I was given the opportunity, it’s really an overwhelming experience.”              

Penserga was tagged as a “modern day Queen Juana” who will represent Cebu and the Visayas to the world in prestigious pageants and socio-cultural activities.

Other winners were Ethel Abellanosa of Tuburan, Cebu (1st Runner-up); Ma. Loureen Tamayo of SWU South Campus (2nd Runner-up); Apple Joy Gamboa of Lanao del Norte (3rd Runner-up); and Joemelina Delantar of Tribu Katbalaugan (4th Runner-up).

 The Festival Queen also got P50,000 while the first runner-up got P30,000. The second runner up received P20,000, and the third and fourth runners-up got P5,000 each.

 Penserga was also named as the best solo performer and wowed the judges with her graceful and all-out performance. She was also awarded Best in Festival Costume. She wore a white gown accentuated with gold layers with glowing LED lights.

 She also won corporate awards such as 2nd runner-up Festival Queen Best in Runway, Miss Medicard, Miss Casino Femme and Miss Novelino Wines.

 During the showdown, Penserga’s dance troupe won best in musicality and best in production presentation.

 Sinulog Foundation Incorporated executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the Sinulog Festival Queen is not a beauty pageant but simply a search for the lead dancer who possesses the most exceptional qualities, both in physical beauty and dancing skills.

 Although she did not win, Lumad Basakanon’s Cyrstal Star Aberasturi won two special awards: Best in Runway and Miss Photogenic. She also collected most of the corporate awards such as Miss Sun, Miss. Globe, Miss Fugisan, Miss Lecit-E, Miss Manulife, Miss Pepsi, Miss Kokuryu Cosmetics and Miss Zest-O.

Tribu Katbalaugan won Best in Group Performance with lead dancer Joemelina Delantar, who was named Miss PLDT, while Loureen Mia Tamayo of Southwestern University South Campus won first runner-up Best in Runway.

 Other corporate awardees were Joanna Esterado of Apas NHS, Festival Queen Miss Cignal and Miss Bank of Commerce; Ethel Abellanosa of Tuburan town, Miss Petron; Jasmier Murray of Sinanduloy Cultural Troupe of Tangub City, Miss OLX Philippines.

SFI also recognized six Cebuana beauty queens and who held the Reyna ng Aliwan title six times in a row- Sian Elizabeth Maynard in 2009, Rizzini Alexis Gomez (reigning Miss Tourism International) in 2010, Rogelie Catacutan in 2011 and Angeli Dione Gomez 2012, Jamie Herrel in 2013 and Steffi Rose Aberasturi last year.  (FREEMAN)