Liloan Bet Wins 1st AAA Renaissance Cebuana 2018

A 26-year-old candidate from the northern town of Liloan, Cebu bagged the top crown in the First AAA Renaissance Cebuana 2018 during its coronation night held last Friday at the Capitol Social Hall.

Katherine Jumapao, a triathlete, bested 14 other bets from different towns and cities of Cebu Province, making her the first ambassadress of the Provincial Women’s Commission.

“This is my last shot of the title as I’m turning 27 this November. So, I’m really happy to have a girl’s dream of getting a crown,” Jumapao said.

The first runner-up award was won by Bogo City’s pride Debbie Maeh Site, while Tudela’s Cianza Pearl Gutierrez was declared second runner-up.

Jumapao, who is richer by P100,000 and received a roundtrip ticket for two to Hong Kong, among her other prizes, was crowned by Mrs. Jobel Davide, Cebu First Lady, and Elizabeth Quisumbing, the mother of Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing.

Site, who was crowned by Vice Gov. Agnes A. Magpale and Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña, went home with P40,000 cash, plaque, sash and a bouquet, while Gutierrez received P20,000 cash, sash, plaque and a bouquet, apart from her crown.

“More than the showcase of beauty, intelligence, talents and skills, all of you have the potential of becoming catalysts of change in your respective communities,” Cebu Gov. Hilario P. Davide III told the participants in his speech.

Image source: http://www.cebu.gov.ph

“She is an empowered woman who has assumed a role in society equal in dignity and responsibility to that of men–she is ready to unleash her strength,” was how Magpale described a Renaissance Cebuana. “She is the embodiment of charm and grace with a healthy body, mind and soul and lives a purposeful life.”

Katherine, the only daughter of Liloan Councilor Cocoy Jumapao, said she will promote grassroot sports as among her priorities to help the Cebu Provincial Government, particularly the PWC.

An advocate in sports, she said she is already training Grades 5 to 9 pupils with the basic techniques in volleyball and basketball. She has also been teaching advance skills to Grades 10 to second year high school students.

“I’ll be spreading awareness on women empowerment, and I want to focus on my program, which is education through sports,” she said.

Athletic, Academic and Artistic, which the triple As stand for in Renaissance Cebuana was launched on June 9, 2018, which kicked off with a marathon to test their perseverance.

This was followed by a quiz bee challenge last June 23 to measure their academic capabilities, before the Aug. 31 grand finale and coronation night that showcased the talents and intelligence of the candidates.

The marathon had over 700 participants, which were eventually trimmed down to less than a hundred contestants. Then the number was further reduced to 32 candidates who qualified for the next phase, where they had to record short videos to discuss their advocacies. These videos were posted on Facebook for a month for online voting. The results of the voting, plus their scores in previous rounds, resulted in the top final 15.

The top 15 are Syvil Jane Ancheta (Consolacion), Marjorie Bolutano (Carcar City), Hanna Mae Choa (Balamban), Killiaen Marie Ferrer (Daanbantayan), Ana Fe Isok (Pinamungajan), Kimberly Lumayag (Argao), Gretel Majorenos (Danao City), Weeklecia Manondo (Carcar City), Marvie Matura (Mandaue City), Lorielen Paglinawan (Tuburan), Wilpe Anne Papa (Alegria), Wella Jane Ybas (Carcar City), Gutierrez, Site, and Jumapao.

Some local chief executives and other elected officials graced the coronation night to cheer their respective candidates. They were Sogod Mayor Liza Marie Durano, Alegria Mayor Verna Magallon, Argao Mayor Stanley Caminero, Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, Tudela Mayor Erwin Yu and Vice Mayor Gremar Solante, and some councilors from various towns.

Former mayor Raymond Calderon was also around to represent Samboan Mayor Emerito Calderon, as well as Danao City Tourism officer Danny Roble representing Mayor Nito Durano.

Provincial Board Members Christopher Baricuatro, Raci Franco, Jerome Librando, Miguel Magpale and Jude Sybico also did not miss the opportunity to witness the first-ever competition that aims to promote the rights of women and highlight women empowerment in the Province of Cebu.

Davide and Magpale, who serve are chairperson and co-chairperson of PWC respectively, have been implementing and promoting the law protecting the rights of women and children against abuse and exploitation.

This is in line with their Six-Key Development Agenda, specifically law and order.

The other five key development agenda are health and social services; countryside development; education and technical vocational training; environmental protection, climate change and disaster risk management; and infrastructure development, tourism and investment promotion. (CEBU PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT)