Beauty Queen’s Daughter Is Miss Cebu 2016

Gabrielle Raine Abellana Baljak, 19, proved good looks, intelligence, wit and charm run in the family as she followed the footsteps of her mother.

This after she emerged triumphant as the Miss Cebu 2016 during the Coronation Night held yesterday January 13 Wednesday at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Cebu Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

The local television host and radio disc jockey who attended the Cebu International School brought the second crown in their family. About 30 years ago, her mother, Merce Abellana was crowned Miss Cebu Tourism 1986 (Cebu’s Five Prettiest) now known as Miss Cebu.

On her pageant debut, Baljak who was the crowd favorite throughout the competition impressed not just audience but most especially the judges during the final question and answer portion.

“As a proud Cebuana, I would tell her to visit Cebu, it is where the heart sings. Cebuanos have a genuine passion, we love to share and we care about our people. Miss Colombia is gorgeous and confident, but during that night she has too much confidence and sometimes that goes the other way,” Baljak who was the candidate number 9 underscored in the final question and answer portion.

She added that coming here to Cebu, I will show to Miss Colombia on how to learn to enjoy simple things in life because Cebuanos are happy no matter and that’s what makes Cebu, truly where the heart sings.

The top 5 candidates were asked the same question one-by-one while other finalists wore headsets with loud music. The final question which was crafted by the board of judges in the afternoon prior to the pageant goes, “If you could talk to the reigning Miss Colombia to convince her to visit Cebu, what would you tell her?”

Miss Universe Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez was crowned as Miss Universe 2015 for only about five minutes after host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced the wrong results. Miss Universe Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was the pageant’s real winner.

Meanwhile, Baljak also bagged the Best in Evening Gown and ABS-CBN Kapamilya Star of the Night special awards.

Her court included Tracy Maureen Perez as 1st runner-up, Shaila Mae Rebortera as 2nd runner-up, Merl Gayo as 3rd runner-up, and Felina Joyce Lim as 4th runner-up who also won the special awards as Miss Friendship and Miss Photogenic.

Aside from sashes, plaques and bouquets, the top 5 winners all won a free trip abroad and cash prizes.

Baljak brought home P100,000.00 cash plus an expensive personalized crown named as “Kaugmaon” which symbolizes the bright future of Cebu, and an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas Nevada, in the United States of America.

The 12 beauty-and-brain-packed-in-one candidates were judged by actor and TV and events director Rowell Santiago, stage designer and author Gino Gonzales, fashion photographer and top model Joanne Bitangcol, president and chief operating officer of Robinsons Land Corporation Frederick Go, and fashion legend Christian Espiritu who served as the chairman of the board.

Miss Cebu this year celebrates its 32nd year as a pageant that continues to present to the world the true beauty of a Cebuana and a search for the city’s spokesperson. The pageant is one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog celebration.

Furthermore, the city government here in collaboration with the Cebu City Tourism Commission and Cebu City Tourism Foundation Incorporated alongside with this year’s various sponsors, stakeholders and supporters were behind the huge success of the Miss Cebu 2016. (Cebu City Public Information Office PIO/Greggy Jiggs P. Senados)