Who will be 2018 Queen Quezon City?

MANILA, Philippines — The 24 official candidates of the 2018 Queen of Quezon City (QQC) were presented to the media last Oct. 9 at Novotel, Quezon City: Erwina Tirambulo of Talayan Village; Redj Daria Espinosa, Brgy. Tagumpay; Ehm-jay Buena Tuazon, Brgy. Loyola Heights; Terresa Caranzo and Samantha Garcia, Brgy. Bagong Silangan; Louise Manalo, Brgy. San Roque, Cubao; Avah Torres Pineda, Brgy. Pag-ibig sa Nayon; Angel Artita, Brgy. Bagbag, Novaliches; Shine Rodriguez and Jhade EllorinSoberano, Brgy. Bagong Pag-asa; Naomi Fontanos, Brgy. U.P. Village; Denine Palacio, Brgy. Mariblo; Keith Legara, Brgy. Talipapa, Novaliches; Casey Banes Paculan, Brgy. Piñahan; Scarlet Alcaraz and Yanyan Idalia, Brgy. Commonwealth; Andrea Justine Aliman, Brgy. Sacred Heart; Nica Kate Sapinoso, Brgy. San Roque, Cubao; Jhonna Castro, Brgy. Holy Spirit, Maria General, Brgy. Nagkaisang Nayon; Summer Lariosa, Brgy. Dioquino Zobel; Rami Hannash, Brgy. Sta. Lucia, Novaliches; Ghen Antolin, Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches; and Pamcee Vera Perez, Brgy. Gulod, Novaliches.

The pre-pageant will be held on Oct. 15 and the journey of the candidates will culminate in the coronation night on Nov. 10 at the University Theater, Diliman where the winner will receive P300,000 cash prize and three runners-up to be named Lady Equality, Lady Respect and Lady Pride and will each get P100,000. The aspirants will be judged based on beauty, intelligence, personality and readiness to embody the ideals of the LGBT community.

Quezon City under the leadership of Mayor Herbert Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and members of its council continues its endeavor to spread Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) awareness through the search for the next Queen of Quezon City. The city marked a big step in creating a gender-fair and gender-sensitive environment when it passed ordinance no. 2357 or the ordinance providing for a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in 2014 with its corresponding implementing rules and regulations.