Miss Cebu 2009

Comments

1. alvin says:

   January 1, 2009 at 11:21 pm

   hi
2. Ariel Allera says:

   January 6, 2009 at 3:59 pm

   Friends,

   Miss Cebu has always been one of the biggest events in town to look forward to each year. This year’s pomp and pageantry will take place come January 14 (Wednesday night at at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino’s Pacific Grand Ballroom… to be telecast live on Studio 23.

   Two of the aspirants are members of A.D. Models Philippines (managed by friend Dexter Alazas), the same agency that takes care of Miss Earth Karla Henry. They are Candidate #12 Kris Janson and Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). Both are equally gorgeous yet qualified to be crowned as Miss Cebu 2009.

   One of the special awards to be given out during the coronation night will be Miss Internet (or something like that). Hence, I’m inviting as many people as far as this generic message goes to vote for the one candidate who deserves the award more than the others. I’ve talked to most of the girls, and while every one is entitled for the title, there’s one who stands out on account of her platform to make the most of her reign by teaching young Cebuano women the essence of body image (read: so that they should stop worrying about their weight, size, height, color, and whatnot). With that alone (among many others), we bet she should win not only the Miss Internet special award but, of course, the most coveted title of Miss Cebu 2009.

   I’m talking about Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). She’s currently a Dean’s Lister at the Center for International Education on her Business Management studies. Not only does she have the wits, the brains, the smarts and the gift of gab, but more importantly, she has a very passionate heart. Her sunny disposition makes her stand out amongst the girls; her fluency bespeaks her spirituality in that she talks with a lot of sense and substance as a by-product of her pure thoughts and pacific emotions.

   Now, with all of the above, why can’ t she be the next Miss Cebu?

   Anyhow, there are voting booths at SM City and at the Ayala Center which you can utilize for free.

   To vote through Globe, text VOTE(space)FOR(space)MSCEBU(space)ISA and send to 2278.

   To vote using the internet, kindly go tohttp://www.cebucitytourism.com… and follow the links leading to Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva “Isa” G. Eguia.

   I guess, the safest or easiest way to get to the link is by simply copying the URL below and pasting the same in the address bar:

   http://cebucitytourism.com/ms_... l?contestant=9

   Thank you very much. Rest assured, Michelle Iva Eguia is going to make a perfect Miss Cebu should we give her the chance to prove her worth. May God bless us all!

   Sincerely,

   Ariel Allera
   laraduttallerariel@yahoo.com
   Publicist, A.D. Models Philippines
3. Ariel Allera says:

   January 7, 2009 at 10:14 am

   Friends,

   Miss Cebu has always been one of the biggest events in town to look forward to each year. This year’s pomp and pageantry will take place come January 14 (Wednesday night at at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino’s Pacific Grand Ballroom… to be telecast live on Studio 23.

   Two of the aspirants are members of A.D. Models Philippines (managed by friend Dexter Alazas), the same agency that takes care of Miss Earth Karla Henry. They are Candidate #12 Kris Janson and Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). Both are equally gorgeous yet qualified to be crowned as Miss Cebu 2009.

   One of the special awards to be given out during the coronation night will be Miss Internet (or something like that). Hence, I’m inviting as many people as far as this generic message goes to vote for the one candidate who deserves the award more than the others. I’ve talked to most of the girls, and while every one is entitled for the title, there’s one who stands out on account of her platform to make the most of her reign by teaching young Cebuano women the essence of body image (read: so that they should stop worrying about their weight, size, height, color, and whatnot). With that alone (among many others), we bet she should win not only the Miss Internet special award but, of course, the most coveted title of Miss Cebu 2009.

   I’m talking about Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva Eguia (Isa). She’s currently a Dean’s Lister at the Center for International Education on her Business Management studies. Not only does she have the wits, the brains, the smarts and the gift of gab, but more importantly, she has a very passionate heart. Her sunny disposition makes her stand out amongst the girls; her fluency bespeaks her spirituality in that she talks with a lot of sense and substance as a by-product of her pure thoughts and pacific emotions.

   Now, with all of the above, why can’ t she be the next Miss Cebu?

   Anyhow, there are voting booths at SM City and at the Ayala Center which you can utilize for free.

   To vote through Globe, text VOTE(space)FOR(space)MSCEBU(space)ISA and send to 2278.

   To vote using the internet, kindly go to http://www.cebucitytourism.com/ms_cebu_2009 and follow the links leading to Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva “Isa” G. Eguia.

   I guess, the safest or easiest way to get to the link is by simply copying the URL below and pasting the same in the address bar:

   http://cebucitytourism.com/ms_cebu_2009/candidates.html?contestant=9

   Thank you very much. Rest assured, Michelle Iva Eguia is going to make a perfect Miss Cebu should we give her the chance to prove her worth. May God bless us all!

   Sincerely,

   Ariel Allera
   Publicist, A.D. Models Philippines
4. Ariel Allera says:

   January 9, 2009 at 6:24 am

   MISS CEBU 2009: Who will be the 25th loveliest Cebuana?

   By Ariel Allosada Allera
   ariel_allera@yahoo.com

   The Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino will experience an illustrious night of glitz and glamour, pomp and pageantry, as past Miss Cebu beauties witness the quest for their 25th successor, the young lady whose crown will be relinquished by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard.

   Celebrating its Silver Anniversary, the Miss Cebu continues to search for no less than the most exceptional lady that best defines the authentic characteristic of what a lovely Cebuana is, and how she lives up to her platform to make Cebu an even more captivating city both to come by and to live in.

   For 25 years, this pageant has maintained its world-class production that can allegedly never even be compared with any of the major national beauty contests in Manila, much less its high-end presentation of its official candidates to spectators walking on the red carpets — consistently, quite a number of whom are members of Cebu’s elite. Because the event is one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog festivity, a lot of tourists from both overseas and other parts of the country are customarily expected to come and watch.

   To be telecast live on Studio 23 at 8:00 PM on January 14 (Wednesday), the 2009 Search for Miss Cebu (spearheaded by Cebu City Tourism Commission) will likewise pay tribute to Cebuana beauties who, in their respective current fields of endeavor, have made an exceptional mark, thus giving us Cebuanos 25 years (and beyond) of reason to be proud of our heritage. One of these is Miss Cebu 2006 second runner-up Karla Henry, the very first Filipina to have captured the Miss Earth crown, so far the one and only Cebuana to have won an international beauty title.

   This year’s roster of candidates holds a promise of another exemplary lady who will serve as an ambassador of goodwill, a spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, a voice of Cebu to the world.

   Twelve equally smart and charming candidates are vying for this year’s Miss Cebu crown and the Silver scepter as a token of her being the 25th loveliest Cebuana.

   Candidate # 1 Ana Coritha Desamparado
   Birthdate: May 16, 1990 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 108lbs. School: University of the Philippines

   Candidate # 2 Sheda Lynn Dusaban
   Birthdate: October 10, 1988 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Cebu Institute of Technology

   Candidate # 3 Christine Tan
   Birthdate: December 1, 1983 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Cebu Normal University

   Candidate # 4 Nadia Claire Urbino
   Birthdate: December 20, 1989 Height: 5′4″ Weight: 90lbs School: University of San Jose-Recoletos

   Candidate # 5 Tara France Oliver
   Birthdate: October 5, 1988 Height: 5′4 1/2″ Weight: 102lbs School: University of San Carlos

   Candidate # 6 Ethel Bitoon
   Birthdate: November 23, 1984 Height: 5′5″ Weight: 109lbs. Company: LEXMARK Research & Development Corporation

   Candidate # 7 Phoebe Kaye Fernandez
   Birthdate: November 16, 1987 Height: 5′5 1/2″ Weight: 105lbs. School: University of San Carlos

   Candidate # 8 Kimberley Therese Burden
   Birthdate: September 7, 1989 Height: 5′6 1/2″ Weight: 120lbs. School: Cebu Doctors’ University

   Candidate # 9 Michelle Iva “Isa” Eguia
   Birthdate: March 28, 1988 Height: 5′7″ Weight: 110lbs. School: Centre for International Education

   Candidate # 10 Angela Grace Alibanon
   Birthdate: April 26, 1988 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 120lbs. School: Cebu Doctors’ University

   Candidate # 11 Rizzini Alexis Gomez
   Birthdate: August 29, 1990 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 118lbs School: University of Cebu

   Candidate # 12 Kris Tiffany Janson
   Birthdate: December 21, 1989 Height: 5′8″ Weight: 118lbs. School: University of San Carlos
5. eyes and ears says:

   January 18, 2009 at 7:16 am

   The recently concluded Miss Cebu 2009 Search is not exempt from intrigues. Pageant experts can’t help commenting that the organizers could’ve made things better had they invited judges who had the trained eyes for poise and bearing or people whose credibility could not be questioned. It doesn’t matter whether one of the judges was a former supermodel, for she alone was not enough to have made a contribution in coming up with an intelligent decision at the end of the night.

   A lot of the winners of Best in Gown are obviously not worthy of their award. An intelligent judge will always bear in mind that they’re going to choose the one girl who’s got the most class and elegance, the best style and carriage, but then most of them are biased for reasons either political or personal.

   How could Rizzini have won the award this year when, obviously, she didn’t carry her gown quite well? She looked as though she was travelling hard. Many have talked here and there: Is it because she was wearing a Cary Santiago or the latter’s name is a hotstuff in Manila that she was chosen for the award? We don’t want to think that the judges were dumb, do we? The award should’ve gone to Kris Tiffany Janson because she was regal from head to toe.

   Last year’s Best in Gown should’ve been Kirstie Babor because she displayed such an opulent style and was carrying her gown with so much elan. Two years ago, it was Joan Kristine Uy who glided best as if trained by Osmel Sousa in Venezuela. In 2006, Angel Luzano stood out among her co-candidates despite the gown; she knew how to walk, didn’t she? Who can argue that during the 2002 Miss Cebu Search, it was Melanie Ediza who should’ve been awarded Best in Gown because she’s the most sophisticated of all the candidates?
6. tubmangal says:

   January 29, 2009 at 4:31 am

   I think the organizers corrected their mistakes on that same night. Basin nakalimot si Kimberly nga gi-proclaim pud cya nga winner as Texters’ Choice; cguro that was when their team approached the organizers’ table, expressing their unpleasant surprise at Kris’s winning the award. Well, they had every right to do it, but then OA ra kaayo sila. Ila jung gipadako ang issue bisag gamay rajud kaayo and there was no fiasco that took place in the first place. Ingna lang nga dili sila kadawat nga 2nd runner-up ra si Kimberly Burden. They themselves should’ve known that their bet did not even stand out from the very start. Dako kaayog lawas murag lady wrestler, dili kahibalong mulakaw, dili kahibalong mo-project, baduy mo iningles nga taga SciHi man kaha siya. Mao nay pang Miss Cebu? Shame on their team. Now, nakasabot namo nganong OA ra kaayo mo? Faeta. Stop na kay Kris Janson is wearing her crown with inborn class and elegance, not to mention her grace under pressure. Bye, mga dahumira!
7. guest says:

   February 1, 2009 at 3:40 pm

   eyes and ears is entitled to express his opinion.but i do believe this person is someone who knows these girls he mentioned thats why he wanted them to win “the award”. kris janson and joan kristin uy are lucky to have a friend like you. ( yes i know who you are basing on the girls you wanted to win this award.obvious ang common denominator)

   all these “complaints” is so irritating already. pwede stop na?

   the pageant is over na bai.

   angal pajud mo na the judges were really credible. natalie glebova for an instance.and mostly were fashion editors and designers. kabalo jud na cla sa ila gibuhat.

   I’m not taking sides here but complaing because you dont find the judges credible is not a good idea. maayo na to cla mamili. their credentials and experience cannot be questioned.
8. guest says:

   February 1, 2009 at 3:45 pm

   eyes and ears is entitled to express his opinion.but i do believe this person is someone who knows these girls he mentioned thats why he wanted them to win “the award”. kris janson and joan kristin uy are lucky to have a friend like you. ( yes i know who you are basing on the girls you wanted to win this award.obvious ang common denominator)

   all these complaints are irritating

   the pageant is over na bai.

   angal pajud mo na the judges were really credible. natalie glebova for an instance.and mostly were fashion editors and designers. kabalo jud na cla sa ila gibuhat.

   I’m not taking sides here but complaing because you dont find the judges credible is not a good idea. maayo na to cla mamili. their credentials and experience cannot be questioned.
9. Ariel Allera says:

   February 12, 2009 at 5:19 am

   FRIENDS, THIS PARTICULAR WRITE-UP CAME OUT IN SUNSTAR DAILY YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 11. I THOUGHT I MIGHT REPOST IT HERE IF YOU WANTED TO SEE THE ORIGINAL VERSION. I WAS RIGHT, THEY’RE GONNA CHOP IT DOWN BECAUSE IT’S TOO LONG FOR AN OPINION PAGE. THERE ARE PARTS YOU WOULD’VE WANTED TO READ (OR I WOULD’VE BEEN HAPPIER FOR YOU TO READ), ESPECIALLY MY REACTION TO AND COMMENT ON BASELESS ALLEGATIONS. AT ANY RATE, I’M THANKFUL TO SUNSTAR DAILY FOR THE SPACE. MAY THIS ENLIGHTEN SOME PEOPLE’S MINDS. GOD BLESS, CEBU!

   The Glitch and Glamour: Burdened by ‘the beauty & the best’ of Miss Cebu
   By Ariel Allera
   Pageant Coach, A.D. Models Philippines
   Style Scribe, StyleFirm

   This is in reaction to myriad scuttlebutts around the Miss Cebu 2009 controversy , as though not only pageant fanatics but also the people in general have been feasting on the topic based on what they’ve heard on radio, seen on T.V., let alone read in the papers. It’s quite burdening to note that some came up with reports, both written and spoken, as if they were missologists who knew much about pageants and the ropes.

   It stems from just one minor award given out during the selection cum coronation night held last January 14 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. The award in question is Globe Texters’ Choice, which went to Kris Tiffany Janson. While such must’ve gone to Kimberley Burden, because the latter was in the lead on the survey, it’s not in any way Janson’s fault that her name was called. The spectators present at the venue, not to mention the televiewers who were watching the event live on Studio 23, didn’t have any inkling to whom Globe Texters’ Choice award was supposed to go.

   No less than Kris herself was quite taken aback on the spot, because the latest she’d heard about the poll was that it was Kimberley who was leading. Matter of fact, when she was proclaimed the winner, she was hesitant to come forward, until she was completely sure it was her name having been called out by the host. Janson’s supporters were as surprised at the announcement, thinking that maybe, just maybe, her votes had surpassed Burden’s at the eleventh hour.

   Kris Tiffany Janson’s bagging the Miss Cebu 2009 crown at the end of the night had nothing to do with the special awards she had garnered prior to the coronation, as well as those she had acquired several nights ago when the candidates were first presented to the public in a fashion show held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. Quite a number of Miss Universe delegates ended up as winners without any special award in the first place. We can only wish that, before anyone dared to write something about this, they should have followed on prestigious pageants like Miss Universe, as religiously as they keep themselves abreast with current issues…so that they would’ve known that Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan didn’t get any special award before her crown was relinquished by Puerto Rico’s Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe 2006), who wasn’t awarded with any trophy or whatever prior to her coronation. Canada’s Natalie Glebova won the Miss Universe title in 2005 despite her not getting any minor award. The three successive years had our country’s delegates (2007 Bb Pilipinas Anna Theresa Licaros, 2006 Bb Pilipinas Lia Andrea Ramos, 2005 Bb Pilipinas Gionna Cabrera) winning the Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively; however, they were unplaced in the final slot. In 1999, Miriam Quiambao won as Clairol Herbal Essences Style awardee and Spain’s Diana Noguera got both the Best in Swimsuit and the Best in Gown special awards, but then Mpule Kwelagobe eventually edged them out by wearing the Miss Universe crown on her way back home to Botswana.

   For 25 years now, Miss Cebu organizers have maintained their opulent taste in choosing the right people with the trained eyes for beauty, the keen ears for the sensible brains to match. Unfortunately (read: addressed to the ones who pretend to know something), this search doesn’t have a swimsuit competition. The fact that Janson was adjudged Miss Cebu would mean no more than that the judges saw her potentiality to be Cebu’s next official ambassador of goodwill, spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, voice to the world. Kris was indisputably a stand-out amongst everyone’s bet—what with her lovely face, her vibrant personality, her classy style, her regal carriage, her good breeding, let alone her no-nonsense answer to the final question. Any intelligent audience can attest to all of the above.

   How could they question the credibility of judges Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales and Katrina Holigores? Now, some people are making insinuations that both judges must’ve accounted a lot for Kris’s victory because she had been in one of Tweetie’s and Katrina’s modelling workshops in FTV-Philippines. Dear friends, Metro Magazine’s Katrina Holigores was judging only the Best Fashion Designer (Oj Hofer) as well as the Best in Evening Gown awards (take note: the latter went to Rizzini Alexis Gomez). Isn’t it shallow?

   The pageant is not just for anybody who comes to the Cebu City Tourism Commission Office and goes through the process with at least a five-feet-four stature, a beautiful face, a well-curved body, a fair-complected skin, a mind that contains her canned answers to hackneyed questions. The commissioners aren’t a dumb bunch of organizers who will give the last slot to whoever can fill in the blank. Which is why a string of screenings are completed before the list of official candidates is finalized. It is downright ridiculous that, after all, it seems easy for some to say that Kris Tiffany Janson had not undergone the screening process before she was enlisted as one of the 12 official candidates to the 2009 Miss Cebu Search.

   It was about 2:00PM on January 29 (Thursday) when Kris and I were together in Ayala Center, en route to Starbucks, where we were supposed to sit down on our interview for my entertainment article, when we received a text message from Dexter Alazas (her mentor, managing director of A.D. Models Philippines and StyleFirm) saying that there was a formal complaint to be filed against them for violating a pageant rule that prohibits the candidates’ parents, handlers, and agents from being present in any official pageant activity. It was later stressed that Dexter attended the press conference at the Cebu City Hall and also the Miss Cebu pre-pageant night at the Fuente Osmena Circle.

   Dexter had just arrived from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, together with Jam Charish Libatog, fresh from her victory at the Mutya Ng Pilipinas pageant the night prior. Being last year’s Miss Cebu 2nd runner-up and another Cebuana who just did Cebu proud, Jam was brought straight to the Cebu City Hall where a press conference was being held for the Miss Cebu 2009 candidates, hosted by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard, attended by Libatog’s fellow runners-up from the previous year and, of course, members of the press. Dexter’s presence that evening was highly regarded because, for one, he’s the manager of Jam’s and, on the other hand, he’s a fashion columnist of The Freeman newspaper and so he had every reason to participate in the so-called question-and-answer taking place in the room. Was that hard to understand?

   True, Dexter was also present at the pre-pageant night held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. And why wouldn’t he be? He’s the one who designed and provided for all the 12 red evening gowns that the candidates were wearing at the finale of the fashion show. Is this harder to understand?

   Anyhow, Kris and I then decided to just go straight to CCTC office where Dexter was awaiting. We couldn’t help laughing up our sleeves because, how could Kris have been enlisted as official candidate if she hadn’t passed through the screening? We were all just watching the video that contains the file of that said screening where Kris’s first runner-up Rizzini Alexis Gomez was with her, standing before a panel of commissioners who were interviewing them. It wasn’t in any way intended as a special screening for Kris and Rizzini, because there were two other girls scheduled to undergo such but didn’t show up for school reasons, because the list of official candidates was not finalized yet, because the last two applicants (Kris and Rizzini) were not difficult to fill in the blank. And w hat do they mean Kris failed to submit her curriculum vitae? There was the official Miss Cebu application form which every aspiring candidate filled out as a prerequisite for the screening. If that’s what they mean, maybe it’s time they knew its definition and the difference between the two.

   Somehow, when thoughts are clouded with sour grapes, the mind becomes restless over nothing more or less than false accusations, a by-product of sheer envy and pure jealousy. Please bear in mind, this is not addressed to the Burdens. It doesn’t carry a wisp of insinuation for anybody following on the controversy, for we believe that hate is too great a burden to bear it injures the hater more than it injures the hated. William Shakespeare wrote, “A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; But were we burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain…”

   Instead that we keep pulling the strings of Kris Tiffany Janson or try to lift the precious 25th Miss Cebu crown from her head, why don’t we support the lovely Cebuana in her cause so that, together, we make Cebu go over with a bang in the next 25 years… and beyond?
10. Ariel Allera says:

    February 12, 2009 at 11:29 am

    FRIENDS, THIS PARTICULAR BULLETIN CAME OUT IN SUNSTAR DAILY YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 12. I THOUGHT I MIGHT REPOST IT HERE IF YOU WANTED TO SEE THE ORIGINAL VERSION. I WAS RIGHT, THEY’RE GONNA CHOP IT DOWN BECAUSE IT’S TOO LONG FOR AN OPINION PAGE. THERE ARE PARTS YOU WOULD’VE WANTED TO READ (OR I WOULD’VE BEEN HAPPIER FOR YOU TO READ), ESPECIALLY MY REACTION TO AND COMMENT ON BASELESS ALLEGATIONS. AT ANY RATE, I’M THANKFUL TO SUNSTAR DAILY FOR THE SPACE. MAY THIS ENLIGHTEN SOME PEOPLE’S MINDS. GOD BLESS, CEBU!

    The Glitch and Glamour: Burdened by ‘the beauty & the best’ of Miss Cebu

    By Ariel Allera

    Pageant Coach, A.D. Models Philippines

    Style Scribe, StyleFirm

    This is in reaction to myriad scuttlebutts around the Miss Cebu 2009 controversy , as though not only pageant fanatics but also the people in general have been feasting on the topic based on what they’ve heard on radio, seen on T.V., let alone read in the papers. It’s quite burdening to note that some came up with reports, both written and spoken, as if they were missologists who knew much about pageants and the ropes.

    It stems from just one minor award given out during the selection cum coronation night held last January 14 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. The award in question is Globe Texters’ Choice, which went to Kris Tiffany Janson. While such must’ve gone to Kimberley Burden, because the latter was in the lead on the survey, it’s not in any way Janson’s fault that her name was called. The spectators present at the venue, not to mention the televiewers who were watching the event live on Studio 23, didn’t have any inkling to whom Globe Texters’ Choice award was supposed to go.

    No less than Kris herself was quite taken aback on the spot, because the latest she’d heard about the poll was that it was Kimberley who was leading. Matter of fact, when she was proclaimed the winner, she was hesitant to come forward, until she was completely sure it was her name having been called out by the host. Janson’s supporters were as surprised at the announcement, thinking that maybe, just maybe, her votes had surpassed Burden’s at the eleventh hour.

    Kris Tiffany Janson’s bagging the Miss Cebu 2009 crown at the end of the night had nothing to do with the special awards she had garnered prior to the coronation, as well as those she had acquired several nights ago when the candidates were first presented to the public in a fashion show held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. Quite a number of Miss Universe delegates ended up as winners without any special award in the first place. We can only wish that, before anyone dared to write something about this, they should have followed on prestigious pageants like Miss Universe, as religiously as they keep themselves abreast with current issues…so that they would’ve known that Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan didn’t get any special award before her crown was relinquished by Puerto Rico’s Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe 2006), who wasn’t awarded with any trophy or whatever prior to her coronation. Canada’s Natalie Glebova won the Miss Universe title in 2005 despite her not getting any minor award. The three successive years had our country’s delegates (2007 Bb Pilipinas Anna Theresa Licaros, 2006 Bb Pilipinas Lia Andrea Ramos, 2005 Bb Pilipinas Gionna Cabrera) winning the Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively; however, they were unplaced in the final slot. In 1999, Miriam Quiambao won as Clairol Herbal Essences Style awardee and Spain’s Diana Noguera got both the Best in Swimsuit and the Best in Gown special awards, but then Mpule Kwelagobe eventually edged them out by wearing the Miss Universe crown on her way back home to Botswana.

    For 25 years now, Miss Cebu organizers have maintained their opulent taste in choosing the right people with the trained eyes for beauty, the keen ears for the sensible brains to match. Unfortunately (read: addressed to the ones who pretend to know something), this search doesn’t have a swimsuit competition. The fact that Janson was adjudged Miss Cebu would mean no more than that the judges saw her potentiality to be Cebu’s next official ambassador of goodwill, spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, voice to the world. Kris was indisputably a stand-out amongst everyone’s bet—what with her lovely face, her vibrant personality, her classy style, her regal carriage, her good breeding, let alone her no-nonsense answer to the final question. Any intelligent audience can attest to all of the above.

    How could they question the credibility of judges Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales and Katrina Holigores? Now, some people are making insinuations that both judges must’ve accounted a lot for Kris’s victory because she had been in one of Tweetie’s and Katrina’s modelling workshops in FTV-Philippines. Dear friends, Metro Magazine’s Katrina Holigores was judging only the Best Fashion Designer (Oj Hofer) as well as the Best in Evening Gown awards (take note: the latter went to Rizzini Alexis Gomez). Isn’t it shallow?

    The pageant is not just for anybody who comes to the Cebu City Tourism Commission Office and goes through the process with at least a five-feet-four stature, a beautiful face, a well-curved body, a fair-complected skin, a mind that contains her canned answers to hackneyed questions. The commissioners aren’t a dumb bunch of organizers who will give the last slot to whoever can fill in the blank. Which is why a string of screenings are completed before the list of official candidates is finalized. It is downright ridiculous that, after all, it seems easy for some to say that Kris Tiffany Janson had not undergone the screening process before she was enlisted as one of the 12 official candidates to the 2009 Miss Cebu Search.

    It was about 2:00PM on January 29 (Thursday) when Kris and I were together in Ayala Center, en route to Starbucks, where we were supposed to sit down on our interview for my entertainment article, when we received a text message from Dexter Alazas (her mentor, managing director of A.D. Models Philippines and StyleFirm) saying that there was a formal complaint to be filed against them for violating a pageant rule that prohibits the candidates’ parents, handlers, and agents from being present in any official pageant activity. It was later stressed that Dexter attended the press conference at the Cebu City Hall and also the Miss Cebu pre-pageant night at the Fuente Osmena Circle.

    Dexter had just arrived from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, together with Jam Charish Libatog, fresh from her victory at the Mutya Ng Pilipinas pageant the night prior. Being last year’s Miss Cebu 2nd runner-up and another Cebuana who just did Cebu proud, Jam was brought straight to the Cebu City Hall where a press conference was being held for the Miss Cebu 2009 candidates, hosted by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard, attended by Libatog’s fellow runners-up from the previous year and, of course, members of the press. Dexter’s presence that evening was highly regarded because, for one, he’s the manager of Jam’s and, on the other hand, he’s a fashion columnist of The Freeman newspaper and so he had every reason to participate in the so-called question-and-answer taking place in the room. Was that hard to understand?

    True, Dexter was also present at the pre-pageant night held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. And why wouldn’t he be? He’s the one who designed and provided for all the 12 red evening gowns that the candidates were wearing at the finale of the fashion show. Is this harder to understand?

    Anyhow, Kris and I then decided to just go straight to CCTC office where Dexter was awaiting. We couldn’t help laughing up our sleeves because, how could Kris have been enlisted as official candidate if she hadn’t passed through the screening? We were all just watching the video that contains the file of that said screening where Kris’s first runner-up Rizzini Alexis Gomez was with her, standing before a panel of commissioners who were interviewing them. It wasn’t in any way intended as a special screening for Kris and Rizzini, because there were two other girls scheduled to undergo such but didn’t show up for school reasons, because the list of official candidates was not finalized yet, because the last two applicants (Kris and Rizzini) were not difficult to fill in the blank. And w hat do they mean Kris failed to submit her curriculum vitae? There was the official Miss Cebu application form which every aspiring candidate filled out as a prerequisite for the screening. If that’s what they mean, maybe it’s time they knew its definition and the difference between the two.

    Somehow, when thoughts are clouded with sour grapes, the mind becomes restless over nothing more or less than false accusations, a by-product of sheer envy and pure jealousy. Please bear in mind, this is not addressed to the Burdens. It doesn’t carry a wisp of insinuation for anybody following on the controversy, for we believe that hate is too great a burden to bear it injures the hater more than it injures the hated. William Shakespeare wrote, “A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; But were we burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain…”

    Instead that we keep pulling the strings of Kris Tiffany Janson or try to lift the precious 25th Miss Cebu crown from her head, why don’t we support the lovely Cebuana in her cause so that, together, we make Cebu go over with a bang in the next 25 years… and beyond? (ariel_allera@yahoo.com)
11. juan says:

    March 1, 2009 at 10:45 am

    To: Miss Kris Tiffany M. Janson,

    Guess you’re having a real baptism by fire. This is your first time, made it with an astounding success, and, now, confronted with countless controversies. But if you get through this, you’ll get through anything.

    I’m one of the many observers from all over the world. You could say, we’re your newly acquired fans. We’re not interested in vote count or whatever politics behind the scene.

    Also, as somebody pointed out in another site, they owe you an apology, too, for making the mistake. In effect, the apology was biased. Taking you for granted.

    The consensus among us is that nobody deserves the crown better than you. Miss Burden is certainly a far cry from you. As someone put it: she has the body of a wrestler; not to mention badoy mag-ininglis. Miss Gomez is much closer to you.

    If promoting tourism is the main objective of the pageant, then, paramount consideration should be given to our feedback. We are Cebu’s prospective tourists.

    Besides, we’re the ones who packed up our few wordly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. Sending money. Helping Cebu’s ailing economy.

    The issues didn’t come to me as a surprise, though. Not unusual for one’s catapult to fame and glory to bring about envy and jealousy. Made one vulnerable to intrigue. Remember the mighty Julius Caesar? At a tender age, he attained power. What subsequently happened were conspiracy, and, eventually, assassination. Remember his last words? “Et tu, Brute”? So, be warned.

    Just follow what your heart says and you will never be lost.

    From,
    A Distant Admirer
12. juan says:

    March 1, 2009 at 10:46 am

    Just want to point out that whoever apologized to Miss Burden should also make a similar apology to Miss Janson. Otherwise, it won’t look good on her. People might suspect that there was a conspiracy to make her win. An apology made to Miss Janson will tell the world that she has nothing to do with the mistakes made.

    Whatever, I’m sure everybody’s not terribly in love with this controversy. Bad publicity. Bad for Cebu’s tourism business. Definitely, won’t help Cebu’s ailing economy. The economic downturn has a much greater impact on poor nations than on rich ones. So, when will this fighting end?

    The attack is now against individuals. Not against the system. As such, it’s no longer after justice. It’s seeking revenge.

    The pageant is not a perfect system. There’s always room for improvement. Bringing out its imperfections to help institute reforms is a brilliant idea. But personal vendetta is pitifully childish. Plain arrogance and selfishness. Most disgusting is withdrawing. No spirit of camaraderie. Satisfies her ego? Only humiliates her further.

    As Pres. Obama said, “the time has come to set aside childish things”.

    Yes, it’s now a mess. Why? Because someone, with a wrestler’s body (I didn’t say this), wants to be beauty queen. Had this happened, I’d still call Cebu paradise – a paradise of freak women. And I’d invite everybody to watch the next Cebu pageant – the greatest freak show on earth.
13. ariel allera says:

    March 9, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    (THIS PARTICULAR ARTICLE CAME OUT IN THE FREEMAN DAILY A FORTNIGHT AGO. I’M POSTING IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO WEREN’T ABLE TO GRAB A COPY OF WHICH. THANKS AND GOD BLESS!)

    MISS CEBU 2009: God’s Will and Kris’s Grace
    By Ariel Allosada Allera

    Despite controversies and all the hullabaloos Kris Tiffany Janson is beaming her reign as the 25th most beautiful lady Cebu has recently enthroned. To date, the 19-year-old Management Accounting Carolinian has been wearing her illustrious crown as gracefully as she made a stride towards her crowning moment during the Miss Cebu 2009 Search a few weeks ago.

    “What an experience it has been. I’m still quite surprised at the thought of being Miss Cebu, since I never ever dreamed of joining a beauty contest, although my grandmother used to tell me as a little girl that I should be a beauty queen when I grow up,” Kris recalls.

    Prior to the pageant, Kris admitted to not being inclined to pivoting on the world of pageants, although her sweeping background in modelling would have triggered the decision to give it a shot. She thought, should she join the prestigious Miss Cebu, she might as well make up her mind for the next year’s search. She discloses, “Some inner voice was telling me that it’s God’s will for me to join, that it’s going to be the right time, that I should go out there and encourage others by my example to believe in themselves.”

    Divine intervention, that is.

    True to her word, the first-time candidate shone on the pageant night, and eventually outshone the seasoned some. “I couldn’t believe my confidence while I was on stage, but I knew that God was taking charge of every moment, because I was in a state of grace. All along I never doubted His power to help me cast my fears aside,” the God-fearing Cebuana beauty testifies to her faith.

    Kris may be classified as Cebu’s most bankable print-ad model, as well as one of the city’s most favorite runway mannequins, but then she’s not one to vaunt her feats. A member of a devout Catholic family and a student of a train of Catholic learning institutes from grade school to college (viz: St. Benedict Childhood Education Centre, Sacred Heart School-Jesuits, De La Salle University, University of San Carlos), it will just be a piece of cake to tell that Kris has breeding, her faith in God is firm, and her humility is such that she’s one to keep a low profile no matter how many billboards she’s on, or how many times people have seen her in glossies, or the many prominent runways she’s catwalked on.

    During the “L’Amore Bridal Fashion Show” one weekend, the 2009 Miss Cebu Kate Mossed the Style Lounge of ParkMall in the Reclamation Area, together with her colleagues at A.D. Models Philippines, donning the exquisite creations of Cebu’s top couturiers. Kris wowed the crowd as the latter oohed and aahed at the beauty queen and the supermodel wannabe who was strutting the venue in a Dexter Alazas.

    “I enjoy modeling. My highest goal here is to become a Ford Supermodel, like my fellow A.D. model Verns Buckley who was blessed enough to penetrate the international scene. In the meantime, I want to concentrate on my responsibilities as Miss Cebu 2009, which I’m enjoying a lot. I would like my reign to be uniquely enriching not only for me but also for every Cebuano,” Kris explains.

    Hence, how would Kris Tiffany Janson like to be remembered amongst the 25 Miss Cebus? “Well, every one of us would’ve worn our respective crowns as beautifully as we would’ve lived up to our title uniquely,” she retorts graciously.

    A Miss Cebu’s reign embodies a year-round itinerary of commitments, all for the good of Cebu and its people that proudly put Kris in the forefront as an emissary of goodwill. But as far as her personal crusade is concerned, the altruistic young lady shares, “My mentor Dexter Alazas and I are working on a campaign which we fondly call ‘Trash to Cash,’ wherein we’re going to turn scrap fabrics into dolls, design clothes to be made of fabric combinations and patchworks, recycle other alternative garments for livelihood. We’re going to talk the Clothes for Life Foundation into supporting us in this cause.”

    “Trash to Cash” is aimed at putting into the public domain, particularly the Cebuano populace, its inspiring and feasible alternative to respond to the current global economic crisis which, apparently, is unravelling at great speed.

    “I take it as part of my platform being Miss Cebu 2009 to somehow make a difference in the lives of everyone. As a model, this particular project is my way of reciprocating all the perks that I get in the fashion industry. And because we’re all affected by the international economic system, I believe it’s a good response. By the way, who says it’s impossible to remain stylish during times of economic harship? After all, it’s fun to be a recessionista,” the responsible yet sensible Cebuana justifies, as gracefully as she tunes in to that voice within her where she finds the divine confidence to live out her reign to the fullest. (laraduttallerariel@yahoo.com)
14. Inday sa Dabaw says:

    March 15, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    I’m one of the many people in Davao who have been observing the Miss Cebu pageant with great interest. In my own opinion, Miss Janson was indeed the better candidate. She deserved the crown. It was only unfortunate that they mistakenly announced her name as Texter’s choice (which, I suspect have been mostly Familia Burden’s choice–haha! nagsayang pa talaga kayo ng pera!).

    What I really don’t understand is, what justice do the Burden Family (especially-the STAGE MOTHER), want? The committee have already publicly apologized (mistakes happen!). They have already awarded the prizes she deserved. At the end of the day, HER DAUGHTER WILL NEVER BE MISS CEBU. The judges didn’t think so, at least. (For me, Miss Kim was never pretty- sorry!). She wasn’t even first runner up. So, if Miss Janson is ever stripped of the crown, it’s Rizzini who will be the one to take over, not Miss Burden.

    Do the Cebuanos really want to spend millions to stage another event as prestigious as the last just so they can announce the rightful Texter’s Choice? Huh? As if the pageant wasn’t extravagant enough! (Think about Cebu’s street children please!)

    Dr. Burden, you are only putting your daughter in the spotlight that she doesn’t need. This is only bad publicity for her. She was never that pretty, physically. Maybe she’s a good daughter, a good student. But just let her be. Stop being such a stage mom. I noticed, Kim never voiced her opinion to the public about what has happened. It was always you. Why won’t you just let her stand with her own two feet?

    Think about it.
15. Ervhy Cejas says:

    October 5, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    Kris is really a great friend