CEBU, Philippines — Meaningful conversations and hearty laughter – that’s what went down when the Mrs. Cebu-Philippines 2019 candidates visited The Freeman newsroom where they bared their views on motherhood, pageantry, and why both worlds can actually collide.
Mrs. Cebu-Philippines is an avenue for mothers to pursue their dreams for a crown. The competition, which is looking for Cebuanas to take part in the Mrs. Philippines-International 2019 pageant, will be naming winners in the following categories: Mrs. Cebu-Philippines for those who are married; Miss Cebu-Philippines for single moms, separated or unmarried; and Elite Cebu-Philippines for married women between 45-65 years old.
Finalists for the Mrs. Cebu-Philippines category are entrepreneurs Dolores Alarin, Joceth Japitan, and Analie Molin; customer service expert Maria Theresa Jane Alolor; maitre d’hotel Catherine Antecristo; school teacher Elize Cacanog; TV/events host and senior marketing officer Cherryl Pelayo Dacua; maitre de maisson Easter Lane Pescadera; and event producer, host and singer Analou Ramnarine.
For Miss Cebu-Philippines, the contenders are private duty nurse Angel Cebuco; virtual executive assistant Yvonne Dale Fernan; sales consultant Jucil Marie Juntilla; medical representative and businesswoman Maria Cecilia Lopez; pastry chef Septy Magaspi; and operations manager Lubesly Tellidua.
Realtor Melanie Trani is the sole aspirant for the Elite Cebu Philippines category.
All the candidates shared that a huge part of why they signed up for the pageant is to boost their confidence. While many of us see our moms as the Wonder Woman of our lives – always strong and steady – little do we know about their struggles and sacrifices, which is why our Mrs. Cebu-Philippines candidates are doing their best to chase goals of self-development through the competition.
“Personal problems trigger us to put ourselves in the midst of hopelessness,” 28-year-old single mom Septy Magaspi said on why some moms lose confidence. “There are situations beyond our control that challenge us. As mothers, we have to focus and boost ourselves because to our children, we are the only mother they have. We have to be consistent in our day to day lives.”
For these moms, there is no greater reward than seeing their loved ones happy. That’s why they try their best to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. But that commitment of staying steady may take a toll on them.
For Jucil Marie Juntilla, 28, pageants do not only empower a certain demographic of women, but it has also the potential to reach people from all walks of life.
“Even though most women are empowered, we don’t have to stop there,” said Juntilla. “There are other mothers, women who are hiding, and have not been able to express themselves.”
While Mrs. Cebu-Philippines is essentially a competition, the candidates see it as a breather from the struggles of everyday life. They see the title as just a bonus to the prize of self-discovery and friendships gained.
“It’s not so competitive. We are moms, sisters, partners, wives so there are many things to talk about. The group chat just explodes of beauty tips. Even if it’s a competition, it’s [also] sisterhood,” said 39-year-old Miss Cebu alum Cherryl Dacua.
Apart from wanting to achieve their dreams, these ladies also want to inspire other women.
“There’s still hope,” said Melanie Trani, 54. “Each of us have stories to tell that will serve as an inspiration for all women whether married or single.”
Mrs. International 2017 Jee Candelasa said she decided to be at the helm of Mrs. Cebu-Philippines 2019 to further cement the place of the Cebuana in the pageant scene. She has taken delight in training not only aspiring beauty queens but also fellow moms to reach their full potential, saying that her Mrs. International journey changed her life for the better and that she would like to share the same opportunities to fellow Cebuanas.
“Your dream is a picture of possibility and you should never give up on it. Pursuing your aspirations will make you discover many things about yourself. We all should never lose our perseverance and never let obstacles hinder our way to success. You will cherish this memory in your heart forever. A strong heart and a prepared mind can turn a dream into reality,” Candelasa told her fellow moms.
The Mrs. Cebu-Philippines coronation night – which will feature a production number, swimwear competition, casual interview, long gown competition, and advocacy speech – is happening on September 1 at the Milan Hall of Mezzo Hotel. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Everlasting Hope Foundation and the Street Children Foundation of Cebu.
Winners will represent Cebu at the Tanghalang Haribon in Muntinlupa on December 15, where titles for Mrs. Philippines International, Miss Philippines International, and Elite Philippines International will be up for grabs.