THE NIGHT was turning out pretty right until Alex Soncio announced that this year will be his last year directing one of the most glamorous beauty pageants in the Philippines – Miss Iloilo Dinagyang (MID).
“Tito Alex,” as what his candidates and clients fondly call him, has been hosting the pageant for seven years. In those years, he dedicated his time, money and effort bringing MID into another level of glam and grandeur.
“Sa mga ginaubra mo dapat ara gid ang passion. Hands-on gid ko na tanan about sa Miss Dinagyang,” Soncio tells Panay News. “This (MID) is my legacy to Iloilo City.”
According to Soncio, no one – aside from him and his executive secretary – knew about the announcement he made in front of the judges, audience and production staff on Jan. 20 – MID 2018’s coronation night.
The announcement has saddened the crowd, especially pageant enthusiasts who witnessed how MID improved over the years under Soncio’s tutelage.
Soncio said he wanted to “uplift” MID so much that he ventured out in Manila to find sponsors.
The budget given by the city government is not enough that is why he needs to outsource, Soncio added.
Soncio said he was “90-percent sure” of letting MID go because he is “not getting any younger anymore.”
As much as he loved what he is doing, Soncio said the stress that comes with it risks his health.
“Ma-miss ko gid tanan about sa pag-direct ko sang Miss Iloilo Dinagyang,” he lamented. “Pero at least subong pwede na ako kalakatlakat, pwede na ako kabulubakasyon.”
Soncio added, “Halin sang pag-host ko daan, wala na gid ko ka bakasyon. Wala ko New year. Wala ko Christmas. Puro work na lang para mapanami ang Miss Dinagyang. From October gid na until January.”
“Also, no love life – zero,” Soncio quipped.
Kidding aside, he says he wants to focus on managing his rental shop along General Luna Street in Iloilo City.
“Bal-an mo naman hindi man Miss Iloilo Dinagyang ang akon bread and butter. Kis-a akon mga customer gasunggod na kay indi ko mabaton,” he shared.
But Soncio vowed that he will give any support that he can offer to the next director of the MID.
“Whoever replaces me as the Miss Iloilo Dinagyang director, kailangan ya gid mag-focus and maging honest. Most importantly, I hope na palanggaon ya gid ang Miss Iloilo Dinagyang parehos sang pagpalangga namon,” he said./PN
*A version of this article first appeared on page 12 of the Panay News’ print issue on Jan. 28, 2018.
