Our generation has consistently had access to so much information on the internet. Now a lot of people may see this as a bad thing because maybe we’ll spread bad news to other people. However, I believe the contrary. Our generation, with this knowledge, has the ability to empathize with people all across the globe, and as a Cebuana, I hope that I can embody this quality and use it if you allow me to be your Miss Cebu 2022. Thank you.”
And, with that response in the question-and-answer portion of the pageant, Gabriella Mai Carballo sealed her fate and bested 11 other candidates to be crowned Miss Cebu 2022 Quincentennial Queen.
This is not to say, though, that all the rest were run-of-the-mill. In fact, it was a rather daunting task as a member of the board of judges to select the ones who would rightfully hold court — all of them were winners in my book — but, at the end of the day, only one of them could be crowned queen.
The Miss Cebu 2022 Quincentennial Pageant is particularly significant in some ways. This was its much-awaited comeback after an absence of around six years and after, of course, the relaxation of COVID-19 guidelines with the government’s mass vaccination program and decrease in the number of cases worldwide, not to mention the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
The pageant theme was Quincentennial Cebuana as Cebu was still celebrating its role in the 500th anniversary of the circumnavigation of the world and the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines.
It is also worth mentioning that the Alert Level Status of Cebu City was decreased to Level 1 on the same day the pageant was held.
The pageant took place at the historic Plaza Independencia in the bustling Queen City of the South, Cebu City, face-to-face and not virtual, still with strict compliance with minimum public health standards, which is why the event was strictly by invitation only.
Cebu, both the city and the province, is known for women who are not only beautiful but are also intelligent and talented. Thus, the response to the call to become Cebu City’s next ambassador to the world was both passionate and heart-warming.
Karla Henry, newly minted spokesperson for the Cebu city mayor and herself a beauty queen titleholder of Miss Earth 2008, the Philippines’ first, graciously hosted the event with much aplomb and sophistication, together with actor Tony Labrusca.
“Miss Cebu is the start of us going back to normal,” she mentioned onstage. Aside from being spokesperson, Karla is also the executive director of the city’s sister cities program.
Joining Gabriella Mai’s court were Dannika Anne Ocampo, first runner-up; Ciairha Jenyne Monsanto, second runner-up; Christine Marie Aberiona, third runner-up; and Karla Marie Frances Niere, fourth runner-up.
Joining me on the board of judges were Joel Santos, president of the Thames International Business School; Mark Bumgarner, fashion designer; Emmalyn Vano Alcantara, businesswoman and founder of Ambassadore Health Care; and Jack de Mesa, a former fashion model, now a successful entrepreneur.
The pageant and the awarding to the winners were graced by no less than the dynamic City Mayor Michael Rama and by City Tourism Commissioner Philip Rodriguez.
Miss Cebu 2022 is expected to push not only for Cebu tourism but also for other advocacies.
My heartfelt congratulations to the winners, and especially to Mayor Rama, the inimitable Philip Rodriguez, Tourism chair Jocelyn Pesquera, Tourism Commissioner Beth Orellano, and former Miss Cebu Kris Jansen, for this new batch of ambassadors that would well promote the city to the world. Padayon!