Sinulog Festival Queen ’09

The Search for the Sinulog Festival Queen 2009 was one of the highlights of the annual Sinulog festivities which was attended by more than 5,000 spectators at the fully-packed Cebu Sports Center and beamed live on local TV.

The festival queen search is not a beauty pageant – the contest selects the most graceful and lovely lead dancer of a Sinulog dance contingent participating in the street and grandstand performances during the Grand Sinulog Parade.

Chosen as this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen from among 23 candidates was 15-yr-old Iris Mae Liganay, lead dancer of Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.

As festival queen, 15-year-old Liganay received P30,000 cash, a jewelry set and a 21-inch flat screen television set, among other prizes. Liganay also received two special awards: Miss Careline and the Miss Casino Femme.

Liganay wowed the crowd and judges in her pink costume and headdress, above, which made her easily stand out from the rest of the contestants.

Liganay’s victory reinforced the growing belief of out-of-town candidates seemingly dominating the Sinulog festival queen competition.

First runner up (above) was Arianne May Briones of Tribu Karatong, Dulag, Leyte.

2nd runner up was Alfe Marie Nathaniel Uy, of Pakol Festival, Sta Catalina, Negros Oriental.

The 23 candidates danced with the Karanaza Performing Arts of Danao City and the University of Cebu dance company in a production number that opened the three-hour competition.

After a the usual introductory spiels, contestants were each required to do a three-minute production number with her back-up dancers and instrumentalists, and later, a solo dance performance.

Members of the board of judges included Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry (above), designer Salvador Malto, Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and Power Dance Company founder Douglas Nieras.

Sinulog Festival Queen ’09 results:

• Queen: Iris Mae Liganay, Tribu Sinanduloy, Tangub City, Misamis Occ.
• 1st runner up: Arianne May Briones, Tribu Karatong, Dulag, Leyte
• 2nd runner up: Alfe Marie Nathaniel Uy, Pakol Festival, Sta Catalina, Negros Oriental
• 3rd runner up: Chelo Mae Timtim, Siloy Festival, Alcoy, Cebu
• 4th runner up: Rothamae Verano, Abellana National High School

View the photogallery (42 photos): http://callezaragosa.com/SinulogQueenLRGallery2/index.html

©Photos by gerryruiz of calle Zaragosa productions

~ by gerryruiz on 2 February 2009.