“Belle Photographie”

CEBU, Philippines – On October 2 and 3, Montebello Villa Hotel was the venue of “Concours d’Elegance,” a car show presented by Performance and Classics Enthusiasts Club (PACE), Cebu’s premier car club. The event highlighted PACE’s 10th anniversary.

A “Concours d’Elegance,” which means “competition of elegance,” is a gathering of prestigious cars, dating back to the 17th century when the French aristocracy paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during summer weekends and holidays. Over time, these gatherings became a competition among automobile owners to be judged on the appearance of their cars.

The Manila Sports Car Club organized the first Concours d’Elegance in the Philippines in 1996. It is the basis for the recent Concours d’Elegance at Montebello Villa Hotel, the very first time of such an event happening in Cebu City. The event ran with a complementary competition on the side – the “Belle Photographie,” a photography contest on the car show proceedings.

The photography contest showcased the creative talents and photography skills of hobbyists, enthusiasts, amateur and professional photographers. In the professional category, the grand prize went to Ivan Langit, the 2nd prize to Rene Ybañez, and the 3rd prize to Angelo Miguel Sanchez. Jayden Villacin won the prize in the amateur category, while Jaypee Lañas, Michol Sanchez, Daneilmyr Cabahug, Murk Barillo, and Francisco Paares Jr. got consolation prizes.

The prizes consisted of cash, free stay at Montebello Villa Hotel, and dining privileges at the hotel’s La Terraza restaurant. The judges were Messrs. Jan Gonzales, Ariel Salupan and Kirk Tarona.