Ms. Northern Samar is Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008

Ms. Northern Samar Sherylee Sustiger being crowned by
Ms. Earth 2008 Karla Henry

GANDA NG PILIPINA! The song performed by the candidates of this very prestigious pageant still plays in my mind for the caption truly captures the essence of the pageant. In one of the most celebrated pageants in recent memory, Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008 united Philippine Pageantry and crowned a worthy ambassador as its first Beauty Queen.

The winners

Representing the province of Northern Samar, Sherylee Sustiger bested 56 other hopefuls as she was crowned Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008 and won the top prize of P250,000 in cash, a house and lot plus other fabulous prizes which includes an STI scholarship. First runner up was the beauteous Ferina de Paz who represents Muntinlupa while Ms. Antique Emmerie Cunanan won second runner-up.

The Fabulous Production number of all candidates in their Cultural outfits

As I mentioned, it may perhaps be one of the pageants that united the most beautiful women in the Philippines in recent years. Turismo Pilipina is headed by Ms. International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman who is the Turismo Pilipina Charities Inc. President. TPCI also involves two other beauty Queens, Denille Lou Valmonte- Bb. Pilipinas International 2006 and Karen Loren Agustin- Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002.

Hans and Miriam talk to Denlle, Lara and Karen

Karen said that after talking and talking about a pageant like this they are very happy that it finally came to existence since they want to share to others the great experiences the three of them had when they once competed. The pageant is actually a nationwide search for the Filipinas who will be the official spokesperson of the Department of Tourism. Our country is in dire need of ambassadors who will promote the beauty of the Philippines and increase the tourism potentials of the Philippines.

Ms. Cagayan, Paula Joy Cusipag is Best in Swimwear.

Ms. Philippines Earth 2004 Tamera Sidzarto presents the award

The pageant was also supported by various beauty queens from other prestigious Philippine pageants led by Binibining Pilipinas World 2007 Maggie Wilson, Binibining PIlipinas International 2007 Nadia Lee Cien Shami, and BP 2007 2nd Runner-Up and now a television personality Abby Cruz. Binibining Piliipinas World 2002 Katherine Manalo-Hernandez. Mutya ng Pilipinas 2003 Jamie Liz Castillo, Ms. Philippines Earth 2004 Tamera Sidzarto, and newly crowned Ms. Earth 2008 Karla Henry who put the beautiful crown on Sherylee’s head.

Ms. Northern Samar is Best in Long Gown which was

presented by Binibining Pilipinas World 2007 Maggie Wilson

Besides Katherine (Binibining Pilipinas), Tamera (Ms. Philippines_Earth) and Jamie Liz (Mutya ng Pilipinas), other notable personalities who were also judges were Boy Abunda, Internationally awarded film maker Jeffrey Jeturian, Singaporean Beauty Queen Genecia Lou, Filipino billionaire Lucio Tan Jr., FDAP President Johnny Abad, Politicians Jennifer Ecleo Villaroman and Edgar Allan Ygona, MAPQI’s Ramona TY and my good friend who I discovered is the first Muslim Graduate of the Harvard Law school, Adel Tamano.

Gracious Hosts, Hans and Miriam

The event was hosted by one of the best duos to host pageants, Hans Montenegro and Miriam Quiambao. The pageant will be aired on ABC 5 on November 22, 2008 at 8:00 in the evening. Congrats to Lara and her team for a wonderful job of uplifting the Filipina beauty for Philippine tourism, truly the pageant personified the “Ganda ng Pilipina!”