I’ve been to Cagayan province numerous times as a visitor with friends. Having emceed a wedding, debut and even a rally event there, I also hoped to host a pageant just like how it helped me flourish my name and career in the industry. So thankfully, I had the opportunity to engage on such projects not just once, but twice!
On May 20, the closing of Santa Praxedes’ 16th Sarakat Festival was the Rimat ti Santa Praxedes (Lady of Santa Praxedes) beauty pageant. It was a resounding success and a great comeback after its 6-year hiatus. Before that night, the most recent to have been crowned with this title was way back 2017 who hails from one of its strong barangays, Cadongdongan. The winner was a student back then and now works in the Local Government Unit. What even amazed us all is that 2023 winner is already a three-straight victory or back-to-back-to-back win for the said barangay. Truly a beauty powerhouse of the humble town and we were also humbled to have made this event a grandiose one along with our project/team head Mr. Jansen Senica (also the designer of the abel attire/modern barong I wore that night) and directorship of Ton Ton Salva.
And on the 4th of June, I went back to the said province with Mr. Christian Espiritu’s team, particularly in the town of Claveria for their Lakay-Lakay Labig Festival and to host the preliminaries of its beauty pageant – Binibining Claveria. This has been one of the most anticipated events of the fiesta and northern Cagayan Valley as it has also been producing successful professionals and beautiful maidens on different fields.
Special thanks to the Mayor of Santa Praxedes, Hon. Esterlina Aguinaldo and Mayor of Claveria, Hon. Lucille Angelus Guillen Yapo, for having both Ilocos Norte teams to level up their excitement and celebrations! Hoping to see you again next year, Cagayenos!