In focus: Binibining Boljoon

CEBU, Philippines — It all looks glamorous on stage and on paper, but the sacrifice it entails in taking part in a grand beauty pageant and meeting other obligations is nothing to sneeze at.

Last September 24, Lersly took the Licensure Examination for Teachers in an exhausted and sleepy state. The night before was Binibining Cebu’s first pre-pageant event: the out of town-held Philippine Terno Competition.

This Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics graduate from the University of the Visayas-Dalaguete said she gave it her best shot despite the less than ideal physical condition she was in, and whatever the results, she knows “God has prepared something better for me.”

“It was really hard balancing my time,” says Lersly. “It came to a point that I skipped a review class once just to attend an important Bb. Cebu event. But during my free time, I spent hours reviewing important lessons especially in my major.”

If she does end up making the cut in the board exams, Lersly says she will pursue her dream of being a catalyst of change and make a difference in a child’s life by being a teacher.

As a Math major and a Cum Laude graduate at that, Lersly concedes that people do expect much from her and is afraid she might not meet expectations.

If she could create a formula for winning the Binibining Cebu crown, she says it would be HARDWORK + PASSION + DEDICATION - FEAR= CROWN.

No stranger to pageants, Lersly has had a chockfull of experience, with the following titles under her belt: Bolho Festival Queen 2012 second runner-up, Bb. Baclayan 2013 first runner-up, UV Lakambini 2014, UV Next Top Model 2014, Miss UV Intramurals first runner-up, Bb. Boljoon 2014 second runner-up, Miss UV Dalaguete 2015, Bolho Festival Queen 2015 second runner-up, Miss Teen Poblacion Alcoy 2016 second runner-up and Boljoon Mugna Sapot Queen 2017.

For Binibining Cebu, Lersly wants to be remembered as the simplest candidate, the one who doesn’t love to put on makeup because she believes that being simple makes her beautiful.

Aside from advocating for simplicity, Lersly is also passionate about the preservation of Cebu’s heritage, culture and tradition. “I will start from our small municipality of Boljoon. Since I will be a future educator, it will be easy for me to reach out to people especially the youth,” says this lass who enjoys drawing and playing basketball.

And what’s waiting for us to discover in her municipality of Boljoon? “Situated at the southern part of Cebu, Boljoon is known for our heritage, rustic and old-aged Roman Catholic church, the Nuestra Señora Patrocinio de Maria. It has been declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. It is also under consideration for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines as a member of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. People should also look for Dayhag Falls which is now sought-after among natives, local tourists, backpackers and travel bloggers.” (FREEMAN)