The number 13 was a lucky number for a Filipina-Arabian candidate as she captured the crown and title of Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan on January 6 in Kalibo, Aklan.
May Juanico Adel Ahmed Salman, 21, from New Washington, Aklan bested 15 other candidates in a hotly-contested beauty pageant at ABL Sports and Cultural Center, one of the sidelights of the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival.
Pageant watchers actually favored candidate No. 13 Salman to snatch the title as she managed to stay on course in the preliminary pageant rounds to advance to the competition.
The reigning Ati-Atihan festival queen, who advocates feminism and a woman of great ambition, was also the “No. 13” applicant during the screening of Mutya screening of pageant organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) three months ago.
In the final round, she gave a brilliant answer in the “killer” question and answer interview.
Salman slayed the question “what is the most challenging journey as Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan candidate?” with this answer “the most challenging part is meeting the expectations of people...it has been fed in the minds that beauty queens must always be smart, poised and beautiful but a beauty queen has a lot more than just look beautiful...a true beauty queen is someone who can be an inspiration to many and of help to others, with or without the crown.”
During the grand finale, the 16 candidates competed in four categories – Production Number, Ati-Atihan Festival Costume, Long Gown and Swimsuit to earn their spots in the Top 10.
Salman proved “Number 13” was a lucky number for her after taking home the minor awards for Best in Talent for her Spoken Poetry, Best in Ati-Atihan Festival Costume and Best Ati-Atihan Festival Costume Designer, and the coveted title Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan.
Filipina-Italian first runner-up Eleonora Valentina Laorenza, 17, also from New Washington, Aklan, grabbed the Pioneer’s Choice and Save More corporate awards and the minor award for Miss Photogenic.
Second runner-up was Jazzine Mae Andres, 15, from Altavas, Aklan while third runner-up Gillian Christine Bartolome, 19, from Kalibo took home the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Long Gown minor awards.
Bartolome also won the City Mall Choice and Coca Cola corporate awards.
Fourth runner-up Khadine Kaye Hontiveros, 25, from Nabas, Aklan was also chosen Miss Petron.
Other corporate awards went to Harriette Panagsagan for Miss Air Asia, Ma. Andrea Paula Gabay for Miss Ocean View Resort, Camille Fate Santos for Miss Globe and Kimberly Joy Dalida for Miss Talk n Text Texter’s Choice.
Panagsagan also won the Best in Production Number minor award.
Other candidates who joined the competition were Eirene Mae Cuare, Honey Christy Bandiola, Janelyn Salido, Theodora Elizabeth Laorenza, Rose Fuerte, Cleorodizel Baruela and Rosebella Arbon.
THE JUDGES
The powerhouse judges selected first the Top 10 candidates before another set of elimination to determine the Final 5.
The judges were Miss Philippines United Kingdom 2015 Christa Borja, former Miss Philippines Earth-Air title holder in 2013 and current Miss Tourism Queen International Philippines 2016 Nancy Lee Leonard, Mr. Gay World Philippines 2016 and I AM Pogay grand winner ABS-CBN Showtime John Raspado, Mr. University of Santo Tomas 2015 and Mr. Teen Philippines 2014 Miguel Angelo Malvar and 2015 Binibining Pilipinas International Janicel Lubina.
Other judges were Kalibo councilor Juris Bautista Sucro, Mrs. Asia Philippines 2016 Dr. Helen Abayon-Mano, Miss Global Philippines 2016 and reigning Miss Global 2016 first runner-up Camille ‘CJ’ Hirro, Mutya it Akean 1987 Jerly Trance-Villaruel, 2016 Mr. Real Universe Philippines Virgilio Llego, Chief Executive Officer and president of Avita Philippines Jinnie Uy and model Ceres Calizo-Ledesma from Australia.
Event hosts were Rey Jason Gregorio, Allen Guillen and Miss Globe Philippines 2015 Toni Alyessa Jaafar Hipolito.
The performers were GMA Talent Center artist James Wright who sung Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars and I Feel it Coming by The Weeknd.
Melky Arboleda, Senior Vocal Broadway silver medalist and Senior Vocal Opera gold medalist in the 2016 World Championships of Performing Arts in Long Beach California, also performed Luciano’s Pavarotti Nessun Dorma and Don’t Stop Believin of Journey.
On the other hand, Kasafi Dance Ensemble transformed the stage with Ati-Atihan costumes of full-LED lights in a never-seen version of Ati-Atihan “Dance of Lights” to the beat of electric and techno music.
Outgoing Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan Michelle Dela Cruz also crowned her successor at the end of the competition. She was assisted by Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Jose Miguel Miraflores and Kalibo vice mayor Madeline Regalado.
NIGHT OF FASHION
Candidates worn the collections of home-grown fashion designer Jhong Sudlon of Arte de Mademoiselle.
The evening gown was inspired by the Aklan province's unparalleled beauty, from nature's scenery down to the colorful pageantry of the oldest festival in our country.
Sudlon said “the sunset, the landscape and the Ati-Atihan costume clashed together to create a fabulous long gown competition.”
Pink-black inspired spring-summer collections showcased the sexiest and sultriest movements of candidates in the production number.
Sudlon added he designed the swimwear of Ati-Atihan queens “to exude an illusion of sexiness between the body and the eye of the beholder while maintaining reality with the color white that symbolizes purity.”
The 7th edition of Mutya it Kalibo Ati-Atihan was presented by the municipal government of Kalibo, the Kasafi and the provincial government of Aklan.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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