Masbate contingent lead dancer is Festival Queen

Graceful movements and beauty favored the lead dancer of Placer, Masbate who was crowned 2016 Sinulog Festival Queen last night.

It’s a back-to-back win for Tribu Himag-ulaw, which won the same title last year.

Cynthia Thomalla, a tourism student, also bagged most of the minor awards. Last year, Placer’s lead dancer  Julienne Hazel Penserga won the same title.

Cynthia Thomalla, lead dancer of Tribu Himag-Ulan from Placer, Masbate province is crowned 2016 Festival Queen of the Sinulog. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

During the awarding ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center last night,  the lead dancer of Carcar City, Marianne Hernandez, was first runner up.

Hernandez, a former Cebu Daily News employee, was also awarded Best in Runway.

Ceydney Basalo of Don Sergio Memorial National High School was second runner-up. She also won Miss Casino Femme, first runner-up in Best in Runway and Best Solo Performer.

Hyra Desiree Betito from Asturias town was named third runner-up. Betito was also named Miss Novellino and ranked second in Best in Runway.

Reignna Azucena Mondoy of Catbalogan, Samar was named as the fourth runner up and awarded Best in Group Performance.

Thomalla’s other awards  were  SM Sinulog Festival Queen, Miss Photogenic, Miss Kokuryo Cosmetics, Miss OLX Philippines, Yamaha Rev Queen, Miss Sun, Miss Lecit-E and Miss BHI and Best in Group Production presentation.

She earlier won as  Miss Mandaue 2015 1st runner up.

Other candidates this year were Cecile Mae B. Grupp from Panglao, Bohol who won as Miss Globe Telecom, Shayne Maxilom of Tuburan (Miss Manulife and Miss Pepsi), Einee Shaine Erquita of Tangub City, Zorena Oral of Apas National High School, Diana Therese Mesorada of Lanao del Norte and Hannah Kyle Castro of barangay Pasil.