Panaad sa Negros Festival Hinoba-an town beauty wins Lin-ay sang Negros crown

BACOLOD City , Philippines  — Lin-ay sang Hinoba-an Ann Marie Malayo was crowned Lin-ay sang Negros 2011 during a four-hour pageant at the Panaad Stadium in this city yesterday evening, which was among the highlights of the 18th Panaad sa Negros Festival celebration.

Malayo, 19, who also won Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit, bested 23 other candidates in a competition of beauty, brains, elegance, wit, poise and bearing. She was crowned by Senator Jinggoy Estrada and the governor's wife, Dr. Marilyn Marañon.

Completing Malayo's court were first runner-up winner Angela Joy Johns Lin-ay sang Cadiz City, who also won the special award Miss New Placenta, and second runner-up Mary Catherine Abayon, the Lin-ay sang Bacolod, who also bagged the Best in Talent, and the special awards Lin-ay sang SM Department Store, Miss SunStar Readers' Choice and Miss Energy Development Corporation.

Malayo won P60,000 in cash and a one-year full college scholarship, Johns took P40,000 cash and a one-year 75-percent college scholarship, and Abayon got P20,000 cash and a one-year 50-percent college scholarship.

Other minor awards winners were: Lin-ay sang San Carlos City's Janine Eborda (Miss Congeniality), Lin-ay sang Kabankalan City's Joy Magielen Jontillano (Miss Photogenic), Lin-ay sang Talisay City's Frances Keith Torres (Best in Festival Costume), Lin-ay sang Candoni town's Jessa Costelo (Muse of the Media).

For the special awards, the winners were: Lin-ay sang Binalbagan (Ms. Fit 'n Right, Ms Extract, Miss Island Living Channel, and Negros Navigation Princess); Lin-ay sang La Carlota City's Belle Regine Chavez (Miss Gandang Index), Lin-ay sang Candon town's Jessa Costelo (Miss GMA Kapuso, Miss Olive-C, and Miss SM City Bacolod); Lin-ay sang Victorias City's Saiphil Nipales (Miss SuperFerry); and Lin-ay sang Hinigaran town's Quelch Ann Federez (Miss Globe).

Judges of the pageant were model Mikael Daez, beauty queen Barbara Salvador, Dr. Mae Panes, and tourism officers Leo Nilo Agustin and Ben Jimena.

The Lin-ay sang Negros 2011 beauty pageant was hosted by local talent John Arceo and 2006 Bb. Pilipinas World Ana Maris Igpit.