Sinulog Festival Queen vies for Reyna ng Aliwan crown

CEBU, Philippines — With that, Shaila Mae Del Mar Rebortera takes center stage as she brings the Sinulog Festival to the 2018 Aliwan Fiesta—an annual event that transforms the cities of Manila and Pasay into a melting pot of Filipino culture as it gathers the different cultural festivals of the Philippines through a dance parade and grand showdown with 17 contingents, float competitions for talented master craftsmen, as well as in the Reyna ng Aliwan Festival Queen pageant.

Organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) alongside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay, the event is also dubbed “The Metro Manila of All Fiestas.”

Shaila, a 22-year-old senior dental clinician at Cebu Doctors’ University, is Cebu’s bet to this year’s Reyna ng Aliwan competition. Defending the Cebu-held crown, she will be competing with 21 stunning ladies, each of them representing the respective festivals of their region.

“There is no specific game plan. I will be meeting Filipinos from across our country so I would just show them what a real Cebuana is. I think Cebuanas always stand out naturally in a crowd and we’ve got crowns from previous beauty queens that could back that statement up,” Shaila, who arrived in Manila Monday, quips in an interview.

The Talisay City native, who has prepared through her diet and exercise routines as well as in prayers, admit that she is worried about a few things, but she’s laid them all to the Almighty, and is simply setting her focus on getting better.

As a representative for the Queen City, the Miss CESAFI 2014 title-holder, and Mutya ng PRISAA Nationals 2015 first runner-up would be foolish not to feel any pressure. Cebu has bagged eight Reyna ng Aliwan crowns, two of which have been brought home by Shaila’s direct predecessors.

These winners have also moved on to represent Cebu in other stages: Reyna ng  Aliwan 2017 Marla Alforque, who is currently competing for Miss Philippines Earth; Cynthia Thomalla, who was hailed Reyna ng Aliwan in 2016, is currently in Egypt to represent the Philippines in Miss Eco International; 2013 Reyna ng Aliwan title-holder Jamie Herell won Miss Earth in 2014; Angeli Dione Gomez, who won the Aliwan title in 2012, was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International in 2013 and had also won Miss Tourism International 2013-2014; 2011’s Rogelie Catacutan was hailed Binibining PIlipinas Supranational 2015, and finished as one of the 20 semi-finalists in the international stage; the late Reyna ng Aliwan 2010 Rizzini Alexis Gomez was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism International in 2012 and was hailed as Miss Tourism International 2012-2013; Cebu’s first Aliwan winner—Sian Elizabeth Maynard who was crowned in 2009, was a Miss Philippines Earth top 10 semi-finalist in the 2010 staging of Miss Philippines Earth.

After winning the Sinulog Festival Queen title last January, Shaila was then sent as Cebu’s muse in the Aliwan Festival celebration. The 5’5” stunner knows, of all people, that she has very big shoes to fill.

“Of course! The pressure will always be there. I am representing Cebu and I would always want to represent Cebu well like the queens before me. I am just so glad that the previous festival queens are very supportive of me and have given me tips and advices for Reyna ng Aliwan,” Shaila says.

“I may be the only Cebuana candidate but a lot of good friends and loved ones have helped me carry the entire province of Cebu in the national arena. It’s a team play, really.”

Shaila had first wanted to become a singing attorney. However, her dreams have changed. Likewise, she did not see a career in the pageant circuit coming, but it is something that she has learned to love and enjoy. Shaila would like to become a cosmetic dentist or an oral maxillofacial surgeon in the future.

Apart from those goals, Shaila, who spends her time reading, travelling, boxing, and carrying out outreach programs, hopes to build her own foundation someday.

“I’d like to be able to create a foundation that gives away basic oral hygiene kits and teaches basic oral hygiene techniques to Filipinos specially those who live in rural areas,” she says.

The festival queen is also a travel enthusiast and would like to introduce to the Filipinos first the various culture and tradition that our country is enriched with.

“It is only when we understand and gain first-hand experience that we can appreciate the beauty of the diversity of our archipelago,” Shaila adds.

Shaila describes herself as someone who is more than determined to bring home the ninth Reyna ng Aliwan crown for Cebu. Although she had a hard time juggling her studies and pageantry, Shaila is focused on her latest endeavor. As a festival queen herself, she knows that the competition is more than just looks. Apart from dancing and smiling, and carrying the weight of complicated, extravagant and often heavy costumes, Shaila knows that she is uplifting something bigger.

“I believe they’re [Aliwan Festival]  looking for a woman who could embrace the diversity of our culture and traditions, be able to introduce this diversity among Filipinos so we can all experience our country first-hand and promote our country to the rest of the world. I am an adventurer myself who dreams of traveling in our entire country and I wish to influence other Filipinos to do the same,” Shaila, who will be wearing a Malayka Yamas costume, muses.

“A festival queen does not only carry Snr. Sto Niño in her dance but also in her heart. Her choices in life is guided by her faith and she must also be able to pass this trait on to other Cebuanos so we never forget the roots of our Christianity.”

Shaila also has a few words regarding the propensity of Cebuanos to veer away from the real meaning of the festival in this modern age –  dominated by rowdy street parties and excessive drinking.

“I think our government is already doing its best in setting boundaries so our celebration would not go out of hand. It is also great to have certain rules so that we be reminded of the true meaning of Sinulog. Again, Cebu needs a reminder to always keep Snr. Sto Niño close to our hearts wherever we go and no matter what we do. The festival queen does just that,” Shaila reasons.

Judged according to personality, beauty and poise, costume, and over-all impact, the Reyna ng Aliwan winner will take home P100,000, a trophy, and the title of goodwill and tourism ambassadress. The first-runner up, P50,000, while three second runners-up are granted each P10,000.

Tomorrow night, the candidates vying for the Aliwan Fiesta Festival Queen title will compete on the outdoor stage in front of the Aliw Theatre in the CCP complex, while the coronation night will follow at the Grand Parade on April 28. Photo by Yasunari Ramon Taguchi