BEAUTIES AND THE BEST. Beaming at the city’s harvest of pulchritude – first-ever Ms. Mabalacat City Arlyn Anunciacion (3rd from left)) and her court: Misses Antonio, Leonardo, Gueverra and Fernandez – is Mayor Morales.
Photo by Ric Gonzales
MABALACAT CITY – Arlyn Anunciacion of Barangay San Francisco was seven-years-old when she left Pampanga to live in New York, USA.
Three years ago, Anunciacion went back to her home-city to accomplish two of her foremost dreams in life:
One she achieved just past midnight Monday where she was crowned the first-ever Miss Mabalacat City at the jampacked plaza of Xevera Subdivision here.
The other winners are: Laurene Leonardo, 1st runner-up; Narane Gueverra, 2nd runner-up; Jessie Lyn Fernandez, 3rd runner-up; and Mary Rose Antonio, 4th runner-up.
“I had always dreamt of joining – and winning – beauty pageants,” Anunciacion announced. “”I entered the competition knowing I can win. This is the biggest so far.”
With a beauty crown on her head, along with the prize money of P50,000 and other gifts, the other dream to pursue – as vigorously, if not more – is to be a nurse. Anunciacion is taking up Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF).
Her beaming mother, Teresita, with copious tears could only exclaim: “I am very proud and happy.”
“I have eight children and all of them are my treasures,” she added Teresita. She disclosed that Arlyn is the second to the youngest.
Dionisio “June” Magbalot, chairman of the Miss Mabalacat City committee, said “I am speechless but I am glad with the outcome.”
“We want to improve after every event. We want to correct our lapses,” said Magbalot, whose theme in the pageant was promoting Mabalacat as gateway to the top destinations in the world.
Under Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, the northern town of Pampanga was declared a component city late last year.
Morales, who was joined by his wife Nina in awarding the winners, said “in my book, all of you are winners.”
He added that “it’s easy to quit but to accept the challenge is already a victory itself for all the candidates.”
Popular hair stylish James Cooper said “it’s a great show and I enjoy coming here in Mabalacat.” He said it was his third straight time to act as judge in the annual competition.
“And they treat us all well,” he added. Among the other judges are Richard Cepeda and Renee Salud.
Television drama star Richard Yap serenated the 17 candidates with three songs, wowing the audience.
