Wynonah Buot
So, how did the grand coronation night of the Miss Cebu 2015 go? Let us borrow the words of newly crowned winner Wynonah Van Joy Buot who had this to say when asked to liken herself to a flower:
“I would be a rose because I believe that there is always beauty in imperfection.”
That in a nutshell described Cebu’s annual night of glitter, glamour and of course, a dozen stunning Cebuanas who were vying to become the city’s next ambassadress of beauty, grace and substance.
On a night that had its fair share of thorns in the form of minor production miscues and a performer forgetting the lyrics of a song, beauty still shone through. But none possessed it more than Wynonah who went for the win in more ways than one.
In fact, the 20-year old “Iskolar ng Bayan” hoisted the University of the Philippines Cebu’s flag up high once again, a year after fellow UP Cebu alumnus Cheriemel Diane Muego won it all. Clad in a bright-red terno by Harley Ruedas, the statuesque stunner made it more of a coronation than a competition as she swept all the special awards last Wednesday evening.
After claiming the Best in Fun Wear as well as the Miss Ayala Fiesta Island awards during the pre-pageant night last weekend, Wynonah added the Miss Friendship, Miss Photogenic, Kapamilya Star of the Night, and Best in Evening Gown to her impressive haul, giving credence to the pre-pageant buzz of her being tipped to win it all.
Proving that she was more than just a pretty face, Buot provided the coup de grace during the final question and answer portion. Asked who she would bring as guests if she were to host a dinner with Pope Francis, Wynonah confidently quipped:
“I would take with me the students of Cebu because I believe that our students are our hope and our future and Pope Francis is the hope of our country. Therefore we can talk about how we can strengthen, unify and share love and respect so that we can encourage our citizens to take part and make change here in our society.”
It was an answer that proved to be prescient of her standing out from the remaining quintet as the other four members of the top five chose “street children” as their answers to the penultimate question.
“I would take an ordinary street child to go to dinner with him because personally I know what hope and inspiration can do to a person. And even if it’s just one child that gets to talk to him, I know that it will change that child’s life. Because I believe that Pope Francis is a catalyst for change and he will bring a new era of religion to all of us,” said first runner-up, Maria Genefe B. Navilon, a Mass Communications graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Completing the Miss
Cebu 2015 court were second runner-up, Aivy Mae R. Castro, an Accounting student at the University of Cebu; third runner-up, Lucena Rose Magdadaro, a Nursing graduate from Velez College and fourth runner-up, Domenic L. Reynes, an Architecture graduate from the University of San Carlos.
Right before the announcement of the runners-up and the new Miss Cebu (from left): Domenic Reynes, Wynonah Joy Van Buot, Ma. Genefe Navilon, Aivy Mae Castro, and Lucena Rose Magdadaro. (CDN PHOTO/ GERARD PAREJA)
Staying true to the night’s theme “Revving Up Cebu,” the pageant put the audience’s senses through their paces with a dynamic mix of high-energy dance and song numbers performed by local talents such as Monica Sacay, Jem Cubil, Jimmy Marquez, the SM Philharmonic Orchestra and GMA Kapuso star Tom Rodriguez.
Kapuso star Tom
Rodriguez serenades the ladies. (CDN PHOTO/ GERARD PAREJA)
The pageant also featured creative couture handcrafted by Cebu’s most prominent fashion designers. For the opening number, the Miss Cebu beauties wore “Pusô-inspired” creations by designers Alejandro Godinez, Barbie Alvez, Peewee Senining, and Rey Villegas and “Modern Maria Clara” creations by Yvonne Quisumbing, Brian Aloquin, Protacio, and Edwin Ao.
The glamorous evening gowns featured the “Red Terno” as interpreted by Albert Arriba, Jun Escario, Ditas Rodriguez, Wendell Quisido, Philipp Tampus, OJ Hofer, William Manahan, Dino Llorren, Arcy Gayatin, Ren Manabat, the aforementioned Harley Ruedas and Marichu Tan, who was named Best Evening Gown designer.
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