‘Warm Albay’ homecoming for Val

Four days after she won 2014 Miss World-Philippines (on Oct. 12), Valerie “Val” Weigmann received a “warm Albay” welcome when she accepted an invitation from Albay Gov. Joey Salceda and his chief of staff, lawyer Carol Sabio. It was the first official trip for Val who was accompanied by Cory Quirino (Miss World Philippines national director), the MWP secretariat, and Caloy Buendia and Gerry Diaz of Aces & Queens (the group that trains beauty queens before they compete abroad, as well as  prospective beauty contestants).

Reported Gerry (a BDO executive), “The rains that greeted us upon our arrival at the Legazpi Airport did not dampen the enthusiasm of the welcoming parties and the Albayanons that lined up the streets in a two-hour motorcade around Legazpi City and Daraga. Notwithstanding the heavy rains, Val chose to continue with the entire route of the motorcade.”

During a courtesy call, Albay Vice Gov. Harold Imperial and the other provincial officials presented to Val a resolution recognizing her achievement for winning the title representing Albay. Val’s mother is from Albay.

“Even before the Miss World Philippines finals,” said Gerry, “Val already expressed her intention to visit the Mayon evacuation centers. And she got her wish when she visited two evacuation centers at Upper Malabog in Daraga and Camalig North in Camalig. It was very heartwarming to hear the children cheering and screaming in Upper Malabog even before Valerie got off the van.”

Valerie had a short book reading session for the children in the two evacuation centers, followed by the gift-giving. She read a book about importance of families eating together since it fosters open communication and oneness of the family.

Val also graced the re-launching of the Jasmine Restaurant of The Oriental Hotel and the meet-and-greet with the beauties of the Albay Pageant Academy. Valerie gave them tips on how to prepare for a beauty pageant. She also visited the Cagsawa ruins.

Gov. Joey said Val’s victory further affirmed the province’s standing as the “Venezuela of the Philippines.”

“She has further boosted Albay’s attraction as a tourism destination, as the land of beauty,” commented Gov. Joey.

 Val is Albay’s 63rd beauty titlist in the long line of pretty lasses that paraded through the past 31 years. Only last April, the province celebrated the twin victory in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant of Yvethe Marie Santiago (Supranational) and Marianne Bianca Guidotti (International).

Val was crowned by Miss World 2013 Megan Young, the first Filipina to win the international title, and whose footsteps she hopes to follow when she competes in the Miss World 2014 tilt in London on Dec. 14.

Gov. Joey noted that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has declared Albay as the Philippines’ fastest-growing tourist destination. It has posted a sustained tourism growth, leaping by 47 percent in 2012, and 66 percent in 2013. After a flat first quarter performance, it registered another 52 percent growth in the second quarter of this year.

Albay’s tourism is reported to have grown from 8,700 foreign tourists in 2007 to 339,000 in 2013. It has been the venue of many international conferences this year, among them the 26th joint meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for East Asia and the Pacific and its Commission for South Asia, and the UNWTO-ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change, last May.

Since 1980 when Agapita Sigue of Legazpi City was crowned Miss National Red Feather Philippines, the province has been producing beauty titlists, including 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman; 1999 Miss Universe first runner-up Miriam Quiambao; 2010 Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj; 2010 Bb.Pilipinas-International Dianne Necio, who also won the People’s Choice and Miss Internet Awards in the 51st Miss International Pageant in China; 2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas Jane Banares; (the late) 2009 Bb. Pilipinas-International Melody Gersbach; and 2012 Miss Tourism World Meryl Angeline King.

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