SANTA RITA, Pampanga — “We want to bring back the glory days of Santa Rita in the pageant world.”
Eyes on the prize for pulchritude, Mayor Reynan Calo officially launched the Mutya at Ginoo ning Santa Rita 2026 on April 13 at the Alviz Farm here. The pageant is part of the month-long Pyestang Balen celebrations themed “Bayung Sta. Rita, Balen Ning Pag-asa” which will culminate on May 22, the feast day of the town’s patron saint.
Calo, who also serves as this year’s overall fiesta committee chair, led the presentation and sashing ceremony along with his wife Louella Calo, municipal administrator Dr. Earl Tongol, tourism consultant and pageant committee head Andy Alviz, information officer Rikki Vallido, co-chair municipal treasurer Myla Capulong, and steering committee heads councilors Kim Cosme and Roy Galang.
“We will have a modern pageant blended with tradition,” said the director-writer-choreographer and theater maven Alviz of Miss Saigon fame, noting that this year’s edition will integrate Kapampangan cultural preservation through music and fashion. He disclosed that an all-Kapampangan musical scoring is expected throughout the program, alongside the participation of recognized Kapampangan designers who will headline the runway segments.
The presentation itself already presented a sneak peek with the candidates wearing Pidayit by Philip Dizon Torres and Alviz FarmWear.
Following are the barangays and their mutya candidates:
Becuran – Ethel Garcia
Dila-Dila – Michelle Raven Rivera
San Agustin – Ghieyanne Nicdao
San Basilio – Jamaille Anne Manio
San Isidro – Kristin Clare Mariano
San Jose – Tricia Dizon
San Juan – Kim Lara Andrea Mariano
San Matias – Ashley Nicole Reyes
Santa Monica – Izzy Pineda
San Vicente – Sienna Natylee San Pablo
The ginoo candidates present during the launch were:
Dila-Dila – Earl Miguel Pineda
San Agustin – Prince Troy Manalo
San Basilio – John Mico Calilung
San Isidro – Nicko Mariano
San Jose – Charles Valencia
San Juan – Michael Dela Cruz
San Matias – Jemuel Santos
Santa Monica – Larry Baluyut
San Vicente – Patrick Lawrence Dela Torre
Preliminary events are set on April 24 at SM City San Fernando Downtown, where candidates will don local costumes and undergo closed-door interviews—a segment organizers say will weigh heavily on wit and substance.
Leading up to coronation night, candidates will also take part in outreach activities, brand visits, and rehearsals—exposures designed to prepare them for higher-level competitions.
The coronation is scheduled on May 19 at the Plaza Covered Court. Contributed photos
