Wearing a yellow evening gown, Cebu City’s Nicole Yance Borromeo clinched three of the special awards during the Reyna ng Aliwan pre-pageant night on Friday, April 26 in Pasay City. | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO /Rabie Pogoy
CEBU CITY, Philippines – – Sinulog Festival Queen 2019 Nicole Yance Borromeo won three out of six special awards during the pre-pageant night of Reyna ng Aliwan 2019 held in front of the Aliw Theater in Pasay, Metro Manila on April 26, Friday.
The 18-year-old Cebuana beauty queen bagged Miss White Rose, Best in Swimsuit, and Best in Evening Gown awards.
Rabie Pogoy, the manager of Borromeo, said that he is both happy and surprised with the results especially that he finds all the other 23 candidates pretty.
“I did not expect this to happen. But I also believe that when it (award) is for you, it is really for you no matter what happens,” he told Cebu Daily News Digital in a phone interview.
Pogoy is also happy with Borromeo’s performance on Friday night.
“(I was) especially (proud) with the question and answer, I am so proud of her. Although she is a shy type of girl, she is really smart,” he added.
Other candidates who took home special awards were Kizia Jermaine Maligalig of Tagultol Fishing Festival (Miss Photogenic), Angelic Olmedo of Pintados de Pasi Festival (Miss Friendship), and Aubrhie Carpio of Singkaban Festival (Miss Unique Smile).
The pre-pageant had four segments which consists of festival costume, swimsuit, evening gown, and question and answer round.
The coronation night is slated on April 27, Saturday evening in front of the Aliw Theater.
Reyna ng Aliwan is one of the activities in Aliwan Fiesta, a gathering of cultural festivals in the Philippines every April.
Borromeo is representing Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival after winning the Sinulog Festival Queen 2019 crown last January.
She is the successor of Sinulog Festival Queen 2018 Shaila Rebortera who finished second runner-up in Reyna ng Aliwan 2018.
Cebu City’s Sinulog Festival has produced Reyna ng Aliwan winners in the past years like Marla Alforque (2017), Miss Eco International 2018 Cynthia Thomalla (2016), Steffi Aberasturi (2014), Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell (2013), Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2015 Rogelie Catacutan (2011), and Miss Tourism International 2012 Rizzini Alexis Gomez (2010).
Borromeo recently completed her senior high school education at the Cebu Doctor’s University
(CDU).
Titles under her belt are Miss Silka Cebu 2017 and Miss Mandaue 2018 first runner-up.
Aside from Reyna ng Aliwan, Borromeo is expected to represent the City of Carcar in the Miss Teen Philippines 2019 on May 8 in Manila. /celr