A young Certified Public Accountant has won this year’s much coveted title as “Mutya ng Catarman 2018”.
From the beginning of the pageant, 22 year old Arriane Saldo Virtudes, candidate of barangay Molave, a Certified Public Accountant who completed her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree from San Beda College was already a crowd favourite and constantly drew the most applause in all their public appearances.
She bested 12 other equally beautiful and intelligent ladies who represented their respective barangays in the pageant.
Virtudes, who wore a silver fully beaded silhouette gown during the pageant night, impressed both the judges and the audience with her refreshing beauty and calm but confident personality especially during the question and answer segment of the show.
For the final interview round, the top 6 finalists were asked with the common question:
“If you will be crowned as the new Mutya ng Catarman 2018, how are you going to promote the municipality?”
Virtudes’ quick answer won her the title:
“I believe that the best way to promote our municipality is to develop and practice discipline among us; to keep the environment clean… Catarman a green place, because tourism here in Catarman, it has all the potentials; Catarman is the only town which has an accessible airport in Northern Samar.
So basically, most people will stay first in Catarman before they proceed to other towns in Northern Samar. We have to keep our town inviting and appealing, and how do we do that? By being disciplined enough to clean our surroundings; by being disciplined enough to reuse, recycle things; let’s not waste water; let’s plant more trees; and let’s save the environment because this planet is the only known planet to have life, and Catarman does not only belong to us, it also belongs to future generations, and the best way to promote this is to keep it living.”
For winning the Miss Catarman 2018 title, Arriane received a P100,000.00 cash prize, and will serve as the town’s Ambassadress of Goodwill during her reign.
Aside from the crown, she also won the major awards for Best in Evening Gown, Miss Eloquence, Best in Talent, Miss Congeniality, and Miss Ford.
Erah Mica Villa Bolos,24 years old, candidate of barangay Narra and a flight attendant at Qatar Airways won as first runner up; and Hara Shelle Danes Acompaniado, 21 years old and a Secondary School Teacher who represented barangay UEP Zone II was second runner-up.
The other candidates who did fairly well in the pageant include Nikki Jane G. Aliposa, 19 years old, student; Jinky L. Macaldo, 20 years old, student; Desiree Joyce P. Fernandez, 19 years old, student; Dana S. Gallo, 20 years old, student; Raquel A. Mendoza, 21 years old, student; Sheena Mae R. Norcio, 19 years old, student; Erica Amor C. Hermonesio, 17 years old, student; Jo Cresel S. Sanico, 22 years old, Internal Auditor at Axa Phils.; and Jeanne Cyril O. Vargas, 20 years old, student.
The esteemed personalities who served as panel of judges were: Asec. Marlon Fritz B. Broto (chairman); Atty. Paul A. Daza, former Governor of Northern Samar; Jane Maltbie P. Acebron, Mutya ng Catarman 2007; Dianara F. Ada, Mutya ng Catarman 2017 First Runner-Up; Cherry Pito, Manager, Mercury Drugstore, Catarman Branch;Rod Laurean Suan, former Mayor of Municipality of Allen; and May C. Laurio, Manager, BPI Family Savings Bank, Catarman Branch.
Actor and television host Bryan Termulo of ABS CBN serenaded the ladies during the coronation night that was held on August 24, 2018 at the Catarman Freedom Park.