GABRIELE RAINE BALJAK (MISS CEBU FACEBOOK PAGE)
TV host and radio DJ Cebuana Gabriele Raine Baljak was crowned as this year’s Miss Cebu 2016, besting 11 candidates for the crown.
Joining her court are 1st runner-up Tracy Maureen Perez, 2nd runner-up Shaila Mae Rebortera, 3rd runner-up Merl Gayo, and 4th runner-up Felina Joyce Lim.
Baljak, who was candidate no. 9, also bagged Best in Evening Gown and ABS-CBN Kapamilya Star of the Night awards.
Meanwhile candidate no. 5 Felina Joyce Lim won minor awards Miss Friendship and Miss Photogenic.
Baljak was cheered by the audience for her answer to the question of how she would convince Miss Universe Colombia to visit Cebu.
“As a proud Cebuana I would tell her to visit Cebu it is where the heart sings. Cebuanos have genuine passion: we love to share and we care about our people. Miss Colombia is gorgeous, but she has too much confidence and sometimes that goes the other way. Coming here to Cebu, Miss Colombia will learn to enjoy simple things in life because Cebuanos are happy no matter and that’s what makes Cebu, truly where the heart sings,” she said.
The Best Evening Gown designer was Jun Escario, who dressed Candidate no. 10, Bea Clarisse Raboy, as chosen by Christian Espiritu, fashion legend and chairman of the board.
This year’s Miss Cebu 2016 is promoting the province as a unique tourist spot, a mix of the best places with a long history and colorful culture.
A new crown named “Kaugmaon” now rests on Baljak’s head, artfully crafted to represent Cebu as a place of beauty, culture, history and solidarity.