Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar proudly staged a night full of glitz and glamour with its quest for a new queen last May 28, 2019, at its heritage collection houses in Bagac, Bataan.
Headed by Dr. Jerome Navarro of Recamadecos de los Santos Imagenes de Pulilan, an exhibit titled Ang Debosyon Kay Maria featuring 35 of most- sought after Marian pieces which came all the way from Pulilan, Province of Bulacan welcomed the guests before dawn at the Hotel de Oriente.
It was then followed by the night’s main event Lakambini ng Las Casas, a local beauty pageant, now on its second year that aims to pay homage to the fabled Carnival Queen pageant. Said historical beauty competition unconsciously sparked a beauty tradition that would last for more than three decades paving the way as to how modern-day beauty pageants in the Philippines are held.
“Living up to the mission of Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, we are dedicated to bringing the best of Filipino heritage and culture back to the consciousness of the modern world. Among our efforts is reviving the glory and pride of Manila Carnival Queens which greatly played a role in the Philippine history of local pageantry,” said Erwin Dona, Director of Marketing of Las Casas.
Nineteen-year-old Lakambini ng Balanga Trisha Martinez was a stunner in her Ferdinand Sayo gown as she was crowned Lakambini ng Las Casas 2018. Barely new to pageantry, she admitted that the numerous challenges in the competition made her win. The 5”8 mestiza beauty is currently in her sophomore year of Doctor of Medicine at the University of the East-Manila.
Eighteen-year-old Mariveles representative Christine Torres finished as Reina del Oriente. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Bagac native Alyssa Nojadera got the Reina Occidente title.
Special awards were granted to Alyssa Nojadera – Lakambini NLEX (Miss Congeniality); Trisha Martinez – Lakambini Fotographia (Miss Photogenic) and Lakambini Ruel Rivera (Best in Long Gown); and Christine Torres – Lakambini Victoria Skin Care Clinic (Best in Swimsuit).
This year’s board of judges were notable personalities including Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, Honarary Consul for the Republic of Angola Helen Ong, ABS-CBN News Anchor Ambet Nabus, Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation Inc. Board of Trustee Racquel Francis Garcia, Ms. Earth Philippines – Air 2017 Kim de Guzman, Region 3 Supervising Tourism Officer Criselle May S. Yambao, Ms. World Philippines General Manager Bessie Besana, New San Jose Builders Affiliates President MJ Yamomo, NCCA Sub-Commission on the Arts and Cinema Chairman Teddy Co, and Fashion Designer Association of the Philippines president Gil Gardana.
Event sponsors are NLEX, Jewelmer, Kagitingan Project, Fotographia, Victoria Skin Care Clinic, and Haute Couture fashion designer Ruel Rivera and Crossover 105.1 Manila.
The following day, May 29, newly-hailed queens paraded along with the other candidates in the festivities of Grand Santacruzan. This day was also celebrated with a mass and a grand parade that finished with a two-minute fireworks display at the Hotel de Oriente.
