The rain poured suddenly a few hours before the Mutya ng Batangan 2011 began. The sky was dark yet the stage where the new Mutya ng Batangan will be crowned was all set. People started rushing towards the venue while the Mutyas came face-to-face early in the closed-door pre-judging.
Lights were off as the 26 candidates took their spots for the grand opening number. The program commenced a few minutes before 9pm. The crowd cheered as the Mutya ng Batangan 2011 candidates danced for their opening production number. The ladies were clad in Batangas costumes made of ingenious materials; the look of each depicts the identity of the town they represent.
Winning the first special award – Best in Batangas Costume – is Miss Tanauan, Vania Valiry Vispo.
The program was hosted by host/actor Bobby Yan, former Mutya ng Pilipinas Christine Caballero, PIO Head Jing Segismundo, and Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste.
For a grand production, notable personalities from the pageant and fashion industry comprised the board of jurors. First on the list is one of the young and in demand fashion designers of the country, Veejay Floresca; beauty queen, Binibining Pilipinas 2010 candidate, Roanne Aguilar; Teen Queen of Asia & Oceania in Miss Global Teen 2010, Mariella Castillo; Mutya ng Pilipinas – Tourism 2008, Jam Charish Libatog; model/actress and beauty queen trainor, Wilma Doesnt; renowned fashion designer and pageant director, Rene Salud; former beauty queen and lifestyle show host, Cory Quirino.
Of course, this event would not be possible without the mother of our province, Governor Vilma Santos-Recto. The governor went on stage to express her gratitude to everyone who supported the pageant.
While waiting for the girls to change into their swimwear, hosts Bobby Yan and Christine Caballero did a roll call of the towns being represented by the Mutya ng Batangan 2011 candidates.
Then came the highly anticipated swimsuit portion. The girls were wearing pink two-piece bikinis and they were all gorgeous in their own rights.
New set of special awards and two major awards were given after the swimsuit segment. Miss Calaca, Beverly Jan Magpile, won the Ms. Congeniality award while Miss Balete, Kathleen Gomez, won as the Miss Photogenic. The first two major awards, Best in Swimsuit and Best in Talent, were bagged by Miss Tanauan City, Vania Valiry Vispo, and Miss Batangas City, Mary Rosebel Monique Fajardo, respectively.
To break the on-stage tension, a dance number from Crew Mechanix and Aligma left the crowd startled with their precise stunts and moves.
The candidates went back on stage, this time in their casual wear sponsored by Get Laud. The fashion show was done for the girls to express their fashion personality. And the Best in Casual Wear award went to Miss Tanauan City, Vania Valiry Vispo.
Another set of special awards were presented. Ms. Startoll is Miss Sto. Tomas, Mary Rose Pujanes while People’s Choice, which was determined through the online poll in WOWBatangas.com Facebook Page’s Mutya ng Batangan app, is Miss Batangas City, Mary Rosebel Monique Fajardo. Miss Tanauan City got another special award as she was named Ms. Pink Water. Miss Balete got her second special award for the night – she won the Ms. Ever Bilena award.
The most elegant part of the pageant night happened right after a few more spiels from the hosts and the viewing of the AVP which showed the Mutya ng Batangan 2011 Candidates Activities. The candidates were all dazzling in their evening gown. Different cuts, different hues but they all exuded confidence and grace. Miss Batangas City won as Best in Long Gown.
In this part, the girls were serenaded by balladeer and actor Guji Lorenzana.
The last set of special awards was given after the end of the long gown competition. Ms. Avon is Miss Taal, Valerie Hope Torrano. Miss Suncellular is Miss Tingloy, Rhacia Wena Bagos. Because Suncellular is generous enough, they had runners-up for this sponsored award. The Ms. Suncellular runners-up are Miss Tanauan City (Valiry Vispo), Miss Cuenca (Jazzy Rose Sañez), Miss Laurel (Golda Meir Enriquez), Miss Padre Garcia (Shiela Mae Autor), and Miss San Jose (Carmina Marcaida).
Aside from Ms. Congeniality, the pageant also has the Ms. Personality and this award went to Miss Lemery, Reinel Matanguihan. Two more sponsored awards were given away and those were Ms. Cebuana Lhuiller which was won by Miss Tanauan City and Ms. Moringa 02 won by Miss Sto. Tomas.
The girls went back on stage in their Milk and Co. outfit. The special award given by Milk and Co. went to, again, Miss Tanauan City. She bagged 6 of the special awards.
Then the dreaded announcement of the Top 10 finalists came. And they are: Miss San Jose (Carmina Marcaida), Miss Cuenca (Jazzy Rose Sañez), Miss Tingloy (Rhacia Wena Bagos), Miss Tanauan City (Vania Valiry Vispo), Miss Talisay (Anne Janelle Carasig), Miss Lipa City (Erika Fae Casanova), Miss Sto. Tomas (Mary Rose Pujanes), Miss San Nicolas (Cristine Angel Alvaira), Miss Padre Garcia (Shiela Mae Autor), and Miss Balete (Kathleen Gomez).
The Top 10 finalists went on stage one by one to explain the image presented on the LED screen. They had 60 seconds to tell something about the image assigned to them and so after about two hours, this was the second time their voices were heard. Some explained further, some gave short straightforward statements.
The Top 10 finalists were cut down to the Top 5 and they are: Miss Balete, Miss Sto. Tomas, Miss San Nicolas, Miss Padre Garcia, and Miss Tanauan City. The girls picked the name of the judges straight from Bobby Yan’s “JC Buendia” jacket.
Kapuso artist and the country Prince of RnB, Jay-r, came up on stage to sing for the audience and to serenade, this time, the Top 5 finalists.
Juliana Kapeundl, Mutya ng Batangan 2010 did her final walk. It was nice to see how Juliana transformed from last year’s pageant. Now she’s an even more gorgeous young lady who proved that she truly deserved the crown in 2010.
Before the awarding of this year’s winners, plaques of appreciation were given to the municipal and city mayors of Batangas. And then we’re down to the past minute of the pageant.
It was past around 1am when the Mutya ng Batangan 2011 winners were announced.
Here are the final results:
Mutya ng Batangan 2011 – Miss Sto. Tomas, Mary Rose Pujanes
1st Runner-Up, Mutya ng Turismo – Miss Tanauan City, Valiry Van Vispo
2nd Runner-Up, Mutya ng Kalikasan – Miss San Nicolas, Cristine Angel Alvaira
3rd Runner-Up – Miss Balete, Kathleen Gomez
4th Runner-Up – Miss Padre Garcia, Shiela Mae Autor
Congratulations to all the winners and to the rest of the candidates who all did their best to represent their hometown.
This has been Mutya ng Batangan 2011 now signing off.
Here are some of the event photos. More pictures to be posted tomorrow.
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