In focus: Binibining Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines — Fifty-four Cebuanas, one title at stake.

With six weeks more to go before the crowning of the first Binibining Cebu, we zero in on each candidate as we offer you a deeper look on what makes her tick, what lies behind the beguiling face and runway-ready physique, her aspirations not only for herself but for her community, and why her city, town or municipality should be among our must-sees.

In no particular order, get to know the Binibining Cebu 2017 candidates beginning with this dusky damsel bearing the sash for the town of Dalaguete.Don’t gasp now, but Binibining Cebu happens to be Lou’s 12th pageant foray. “It’s a pretty crazy number,” she admits. “Sometimes I even forget that I’ve already participated in so many.”

Call her persistent, determined or ambitious if you may, but Lou is a regular joiner simply because she loves the whole pageant shebang.

“I’ve always been a performer. I love the process of it all: the preparation, the excitement and the adrenaline that they bring while I’m on stage. I don’t think there’s any other way that makes me happy and fulfilled,” says the five-foot-seven OZAR model under the tutelage of designer Danny Booc.

Among Lou’s previous beauty tilt placements are Reyna ng Aliwan 2016 second runner-up, Miss Intramurals 2014 (at the University of San Jose-Recoletos), Miss Mandaue 2014, Miss Summer Queen 2013 first runner-up and Miss Catbalogan City Athletic Association 2008.

With 53 other finalists in contention, Binibining Cebu is unarguably her biggest competition to date.

“To be honest, knowing I’m competing against Cebu’s best of the best, and not to mention 53 of them, I feel more calm than anxious,” says Lou, whose mother is a government employee at the Department of Agrarian Reform, while her father is a businessman.

“I guess it’s because I have stopped comparing myself to the other candidates. The number of beauties in this pageant helped me to focus more on myself, creating a better version, rather than pointing out differences.”

Lou dominique A. Piczon

Lou shares that her experience and exposure as a Miss Mandaue title-holder has prepared her for her current quest for the Binibining Cebu crown.

“Miss Mandaue helped me in so many ways and getting noticed is very much one of them. It turned me into what I am now: more relaxed, mature, confident and disciplined, on and off stage. I have also learned how to handle the public and accept that I cannot please everybody. Moreover, it’s heartwarming to know that I have become an inspiration to young ladies who aspire to become beauty queens themselves.”

A fourth year Information Technology student at USJ-R, Lou explains that the idea to pursue her current course came during high school when she took an interest in an activity for their TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education) subject. They were asked to create a simple web page using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Since then, taking up Information Technology became an option for Lou.

“Although it wasn’t my first choice. Mass Communication was on top of my list, but circumstances then begged to differ,” adds Lou, who delights in travelling, reading novels, surfing the web and working out.

Lou is an aspiring web developer, but that’s a dream she’s putting on pause for the moment as she strives to carve a name in Philippine pageantry.

“I’m dreaming to become a household name in the pageant scene not only locally but internationally and this has an age requirement. I have to, at least try at an international title before I turn 26,” Lou points out.

Listing off the wonders of Dalaguete, a municipality best known for its abundance in agriculture, Lou boasts: “We produce vegetables, fruits, fish and crops like corn. In fact, we have been dubbed the Vegetable Basket of Cebu. Moreover, we celebrate Utanon Festival in February which is the form of thanksgiving for every year of bountiful harvest in honor of our patron saint San Guillermo de Aquitania.”

“In addition, one of the popular barangays we have is Mantalongon. Being a barangay 14 kilometers up the mountains brings cool climate even during the summer which has earned us the titles Summer Capital of Cebu and Little Baguio of Cebu. We are also popularly known as the home of the highest peak in Cebu, the Osmeña Peak which is appealing for hiking and the Dalaguete Beach Park in Barangay Casay, a very affordable public beach summer destination, rock formations, Obong Spring and the San Guillermo de Aquitania church, to name a few.”

On what assets she thinks she possesses that make her deserving to be named the first Binibining Cebu, Lou offers: “I deserve to be the ambassadress for Cebu because I embody the qualities of a Binibining Cebu who is passionate, God-fearing, kind hearted, fun-loving, outgoing and willing to go the extra mile to be of service to others. I am all that and more.” — VAB (FREEMAN)