Nicole Borromeo: Two 2019 crowns down, two more to go

CEBU, Philippines — The morning after Nicole Yance Borromeo’s crowning as the new Reyna ng Aliwan was also the first day of Miss Teen Philippines 2019 official activities. Barely a moment to breathe and bask in her victory, but the 18-year-old brushes it all off as “gratifying exhaustion.”

“No rest, today’s the first day of Miss Teen. Currently, I’m exhausted. I lack sleep but I’m coping pretty well,” she told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Nicole, hailed Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 Sunday night during the awarding ceremony of Aliwan Fiesta at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City, also happens to be a finalist to the returning Miss Teen Philippines search, representing Carcar City.

Nicole’s fellow Central Visayas finalists are Leigh Chanelle Ong for Alcoy, Karla Marie Frances Niere for Consolacion, Kylah Sanchez for Compostela, Olive May Sophia Bihag for Liloan and Kathyrene Kaye Rollins for Argao.

Yesterday, the pageant’s 32 candidates gathered for an orientation over lunch and had their medical check-up.

On May 8, Nicole will be back on stage at the New Frontier Theatre in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City hoping to nab her third crown for the year.

And what a year so far it has been for Nicole who was proclaimed Sinulog Festival Queen in January, clinched a finalist slot for Miss Teen Philippines 2019 in March, hailed the ninth Reyna ng Aliwan title-holder from Cebu last Sunday, is now on competition mode for yet another national pageant, and later on this year will also represent Cebu in Eat Bulaga’s Miss Millennial Philippines 2019 pageant.

Nicole – a Miss Silka Cebu 2017 title-holder and Miss Mandaue 2018 first runner-up – not only bested 22 other finalists from across the country for the Reyna ng Aliwan title, she was also chosen Best in Evening Gown (in a yellow princess-y frock by Mel Maria), Best in Swimsuit, Best in Festival Costume (designed by Orville Biongcog) and Miss White Rose.

During the Q&A, Nicole was asked: “Exactly 10 years ago, Sinulog first captured the Reyna ng Aliwan crown. Since then, Cebu has brought home the title eight times, including that of Angeli Dione Gomez who represented the Hinulawan Festival of Toledo City in 2012. How did you train for Reyna ng Aliwan and why do you think Cebuanas have had this advantage over the past decade?”

In a lengthy answer, Nicole first talked about how she prepared for the pageant, before citing the traits she thinks Cebuanas possess that made them dominate the annual competition.

“I have prepared for this pageant through mental preparation and physical exercise. But the most important thing I needed to prepare was my mindset because joining a pageant puts you in this platform where you are to be judged for everything that you are, for representing yourself and your province. You have that pressure to bring home the crown,” offered Nicole.

“A value that us Cebuanas have would be perseverance. We understand what it takes to win a crown and we’re gonna do our best to do so. We understand that crowns are not just made of rhinestones. Crowns are more than that – it’s about dedication, discipline, consistency, and most importantly, courage. And I’d like to say that I have the courage, Cebuanas have the courage to do this.”

Before her, Cebu representatives Marla Alforque, Cynthia Thomalla, Steffi Aberasturi, Jamie Herrell, Angeli Dione Gomez, Rogelie Catacutan, Rizzini Alexis Gomez and Sian Elizabeth Maynard have been hailed Festival Queen of All Festivals.

Nicole told The FREEMAN that she wished she didn’t “stutter so much, but I’m not perfect.”

In her Reyna ng Aliwan candidate profile, Nicole shared how she grew up shy but is now aiming to step out of her comfort zone.

“I’ve been into modeling and I’ve done runway, print ads and commercials. Being Sinulog Festival Queen allowed me to showcase my dancing as well as my faith,” she shared. “I am the new face of a jewelry company and I was on the cover of Moments, the first ever wedding magazine for Visayas and Mindanao. I enjoy drawing, listening to music and podcasts, baking, and exercising.”

Top pageant blogger Norman Tinio, who chaired the Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 judging panel, described Nicole as having all the makings of a beauty queen.

“She’s tall, beautiful and with a hint of class every move she makes. But more than these attributes, she articulates herself well. She thinks on her feet and can amuse you with many stories about different stages of her life leading to this participation in Reyna ng Aliwan,” said Tinio of normnannorman.com.

“You know she’s already 18 and a high school graduate at that. But during our preliminary interviews offstage, the young girl is not lost. She doesn’t pretend to be older and wiser. You can just feel that she grew up with happy memories and is looking forward to building more as an adult.”

Nicole’s Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 court is made up of first runner-up Aubrhie Cindyrelle Carpio of Bulacan’s Singkaban Festival (also a Miss Unique Smile awardee), while the three second runners-up are Leandrea Batingan of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan’s Tanglawan Festival; Alayyza Izzabelle Tolimao of Tupi, South Cotabato’s Agten Tufi Festival; and Roi Neve Comanda of Baguio City’s Panagbenga Festival.

Other awardees are Angelic Olmedo of Passi City, Iloilo’s Pintados de Passi Festival as Miss Friendship, and Kizia Jermaine Maligalig of Atimonan, Quezon’s Tagultol Fishing Festival as Miss Photogenic.

Cebu’s Float Competition entry, the IPI 60th Year of Sinulog Festival, placed second runner-up. The province, however, did not send a contingent to this year’s Aliwan Fiesta Street Dance competition.