OLIVIA KAYE BANG-OA – A PAGEANT DREAM GIRL

By Rolando Rafael

The representative of San Gabriel, Olivia Kaye Bang-oa who is a towering beauty is also a Registered Nurse and was surely whisked into the limelight when she brought home the Mutia ti Turismo 2013 in the recently concluded Miss La Union Beauty Pageant. The “Mutia ti La Union” Beauty Pageant (Miss La Union Beauty Pageant) is an annual search among competing La Union beauties of 20 towns. It promotes extensively the tourism industry of La Union by showcasing the different products of the municipalities, the One Town One Product concept and is highlighted during the Town Costume Presentation. There is also the Electric Float Festival and finally the pageant chooses three winners, Mutia ti La Union, Mutia ti Turismo and Mutia ti Kalikasan.  This in essence is meaning of Olivia’s title.

Miss Bang-oa could have joined the Miss San Fernando City, La Union search and may have won in that pageant eventually representing the lone component city of the province because she fulfilled the requirements of the contest, having being domiciled in the city for quite a number of years on account of her schooling and taking her second residence. But moved with love and passion to represent her hometown, she participated in San Gabriel’s pageant instead and she won the right to represent the 4^th class municipality. During the Town Costume competition, her costume highlighted the broom making industry and thus she won the Best in Ecological Costume.

At Queentessence’ we predicted she would be a front-runner and truly we were not wrong. She said in a previous interview that she was very thankful she made it as a semi-finalist but she was much more grateful when she won the Mutia ti Turismo title (Miss Tourism). She was very resplendent throughout the pageant but she was at her best during the evening gown presentation where she won the Best in Evening Gown. Consequently, her designer also was adjudged the Best Designer that night. She also won the Most Beautiful Skin special award.

As featured previously, she is a graduate with Latin Honors (Cum Laude) at La Finns Scholastica (formerly La Union College of Nursing Arts and Sciences or LUCNAS) in San Fernando City. She said, the year long reign would be spent in being an ambassadress of goodwill in the promotion of tourism, local industries, environmental awareness and health. She will encourage the youth to be part of these activities in the betterment of the community.

We are happy for Miss Bang-oa’s success in the pageant but we wish that she set also her goals in the national arena by undergoing training for the Binibining Pilipinas. With her height, beauty, charms and wit, she has what it takes to be a Bb. Pilipinas winner. So my fervent wish – Go for it Olivia Kaye! Kudos and cheers!!!

Photo Credits: Jay Orros Photography, Airwind Bautista

KIMBERLE MAE PENCHON: A BEAUTY IN ITS TRUEST SENSE

By Rolando Rafael

Kimberle Mae Penchon, the new Mutia ti La Union 2013

Miss Agoo 2012 Kimberle Mae Penchon showed what grace under pressure should be during the pageant night for Mutia ti La Union 2013 held at the San Fernando City Plaza Auditorium to clinch the title. Her being a literally buff and being drawn to the theme of the novel Amistad may have proved her to be in good stead as many pageant watchers during that night she edged out the other contenders with her calm demeanor. 

In her town costume depicting Agoo's Dinengdeng Festival

Miss Penchon is not really new to the pageant and fashion world. As a student of  Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Baguio, this young beautiful lady traces her native roots in Barlig, Mountain Province. But since she had domiciled in Barangay Nazareno, Agoo, La Union, she was able to join the Miss Agoo Beauty Pageant in 2012, hence she was crowned the winner. Since she was also a student in Baguio, she was convinced to participate in the Miss Baguio City Beauty Pageant where she reigned supreme again last September 2012.

Kim as she is fondly called noted that in the Miss Baguio City Beauty Pageant has a relaxing atmosphere. Why? It is because most of the candidates were her contemporaries’ in other pageants she had joined in. When the Mutia ti La Union 2013 was officially launched, she was again not surprised to note that most of the candidates are her friends because she had competed with them one way or another in other pageants or they are studying in Baguio City and they meet each other more ways than not. Miss Aringay was once a co-candidate in the Miss Agoo Beauty Pageant. While Miss San Juan, Rosario, Sto. Tomas and Pugo are known to her because they are based in Baguio City as students. It is therefore not difficult to establish camaraderie among the candidates.

Winning Best in Swimsuit Award

She considers the Mutia ti La Union 2013 beauty pageant as a beautiful experience not only because she won the title but because all of the candidates have proven that they can rise up to the occasion and be glad and thankful of what was given to them. In a recent guesting at a Rotarian meeting, she posted in her status in her Facebook that the Mutia ti La Union winning beauties after being grilled by the Rotarians in a round table question and answer forum are not just “in and out” beauties but also about intelligence as well.

A confetti rains on while the new Mutia is being crowned 

With her winning most of the pageants she joins in, she is indeed a beauty in its truest sense.

Photo Credits: Airwind Zone, Facebook pics of Kimbeau Penchon, Matet Madrid-Ancheta

MISS AGOO CROWNED AS THE NEW MUTIA TI LA UNION 2013

A Back to Back Win 

It is another win for Agoo, La Union as their representative won the title of Mutia ti La Union 2013. In a glittering night of pageantry, Kimberly Mae Penchon repeated Aiyana Mickiewicz’ feat last year. Miss San Gabriel, Olivia Kaye Bang-oa was crowned Mutia ti Turismo while Miss Bacnotan, Rolyn Mae Pajarillo of Bacnotan was crowned Mutia ti Kalikasan. First runner-up is Miss Bauang, Mabel Verceles while second runner-up was Miss San Fernando City Kashmir Hernaez.

The Top 10 was completed by candidates from Aringay, San Juan, Tubao, Rosario and Balaoan. Queentessence almost correctly predicted the Top 10 as it placed Miss Bauang in the alternate choice in place of Miss Santol. Miss Tubao was however not in our list instead we placed Miss Sto. Tomas. That is 9 out 10 choices going to the semifinalist circle. We correctly predicted 4 candidates to the winning column. However, Miss Bauang was not in our radar column in the winners’ circle but she made it as First Runner-Up.

The final question given to the Top 5 was, “If we learn from our mistakes, then why we are afraid of committing mistakes?” Such a tricky question that will make the local pageant world talk about it for quite sometime.

The affair was attended to by Rommel Padilla, Jon Avila, Shamcey Supsup, Andrew Wolf and Chiz Escudero to name a few. Denise Laurel and Christian Bautista provided entertainment during the pageant.  It was hosted by Paolo Bediones and Shamcey Supsup.

The pageant is the culmination of a series of activities in celebration of the 163^rd Foundation Anniversary of the Province of La Union. 

Photo Credits: I-Biz, Halo-Halo Iloko, FB accounts of Kimberly Penchon, Olivia Kaye Bang-oa and Rolyne Mae Pajarillo.