RIYADH, 21 October 2003 — These are young Filipinas who not only their parents, but fellow OFWs as well, can be very proud of.
Smart, lovely and strong on family values, the Bicolandia ladies chosen this year in a Kingdomwide search to assist, promote and represent the humanitarian undertakings of Bicol Saro nin Riyadh (BSR) and affiliate organizations were feted over the weekend in a spectacular show attended by a cosmopolitan audience that filled the Liwasang Bonifacio hall of the Philippine Embassy to the rafters.
Proclaimed Bb. Bicolandia 2003 in glitzy ceremonies was Jennifer Bautista Benoza, a petite and sloe-eyed medical technologist from a large hospital in Riyadh.
Peach Meg Tanael, a sophomore in a prestigious International Philippine school in Riyadh and a Binibining Pilipinas in-the-making who aspires to be a lawyer-accountant someday, won the Bb. Mayon 2003 title hands down.
The other Bicolandia winners were Rosa Gerlee Hernandez, 1st runner-up; Candy Bacala, 2nd runner-up; Peach Meg Tanael, 3rd runner-up; and Anna Liza Tumali, 4th runner-up.
Selected by an eclectic panel of judges, the Mayon court of honor on the other hand was composed of Rosa Gerlee Hernandez, 1st runner-up; Anna Liza Tumali, 2nd runner-up; Charysse Laverna Macuja, 3rd runner-up, and Amina Ramos Trettin, 4th runner-up. Except for Trettin who is from Alkhobar, the rest of the winners are Riyadh-based.
Recipients of special awards were Chin Chin Macuja (talent), Meg Tanael (photogenic, best in national costume & evening gown), Mina Trettin (congeniality), Gerlee Hernandez (best in sportswear), Anna Tumali (best in casual wear), Khen Bacala (Daragang Magayon), and Jeng Benoza (Bb. Penafrancia).
The other contenders who represented Jeddah, Al Khobar and Riyadh were Jasmin Kabigting, Rhiza Sioson, Allyn Marie Carreon, Maria Glynda Celis, Lucille Quito, Miraflor Lawas and Raquel Destura.
Flush with the recent success of Bicolandia 2003, BSR vice-president Erwin Serrano said that a string of cultural shows and related projects had been lined up by the organization, in cooperation with like-minded groups and the Philippine Embassy, not only to entertain the Filipino community but to generate funds to expand the coverage of their humanitarian work.