ILOILO City – The Iloilo Festivals
Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) committee handling Miss Iloilo 2020 is poised to
showcase a pageant with candidates whose qualifications meet the standards of
national and even international beauty pageants.
Miss Iloilo, which replaces Miss Dinagyang, will be held on Jan.23 at the West
Visayas State University Cultural Center.
Three major titles are at stake – Miss Iloilo 2020 who will represent Iloilo in the Bb. Pilipinas, Miss Iloilo World who will be supported in her journey to join and win Miss World-Philippines, and Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2020 who will represent Iloilo in the Miss Aliwan.
“As an Ilonggo, I like us to move
further and beyond Iloilo and Panay so we can also promote our place,” said
Kevin Piamonte, Miss Iloilo 2020 pageant director.
Miss Iloilo is not “just a beauty pageant,” stressed Piamonte.
“If you look at beauty pageants sa national and even sa international level, candidates have social responsibility. That is what we want in Miss Iloilo. This is not just about walking on the ramp and wear the crown but actually helping human beings, fellow Ilonggos for that matter,” he said.
Candidates will be encouraged to have
advocacies and social projects that have positive impacts on the community,
said Piamonte.
But it all starts with having the right candidates.
The height requirement is at least 5’6”, literally a tall order for Ilonggas, and Piamonte admitted it may be tough to find many local girls meeting this. He thus appealed for everyone’s help to scout for tall potential pageant bets.
Miss Iloilo candidates will undergo
master classes on make-up, posture and social etiquette, among others, added
Piamonte. A trainer from the Bb.
Pilipinas will be tapped.
Candidates must be between 17 to 25 years old, with Ilonggo linage.
Submission of applications and requirements is from Oct. 1 to 31.
The final screening is on Nov. 9.
Applicants will be trimmed down to 12 final candidates.
Screening committee head Rhea Peñaflorida said they are tapping universities and colleges.
Major title winners will get P60,000 cash prize each and an international tour package.
The first runner-up and second runner-up will take home P20,000 and P15,000 cash prizes, respectively./PN
