MANILA, Philippines - Eight-year-old Ma. Venice Rose Lee Cristobal paid a courtesy call on Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando (right) at the Provincial Capitol a few days after she came back from Singapore with the 2015 Mini Princess International crown. The girl is from Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy, Bulacan, the only child of Federico and Ma. Rosario Cristobal. She’s in grade three at the Trillana Academy in Hagonoy.
Trained by Resty Egrubay, Venice placed first runner-up to Jahnea Rei Cabanting in the 2015 Mini Princess Philippines contest. For some reason, Jahnea wasn’t able to compete in the Singapore event, so Venice took over. Zwe Thurein (far right with Venice) of Myanmar was named 2015 Junior Mini Prince International.
Venice’s prizes included US$1,500 cash, crown and scepter worth US$3,000, all-expenses-paid trip to affiliated countries and P40,000 worth of scholarship grant from Gilmore Productions, producer of the local pageant. She bested contestants from Asia-Pacific countries also including Myanmar, New Zealand, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.