REPRESENTING the Municipality of Sarrat, Precious Olay Neyra, 21, was crowned Miss Ilocos Norte 2019, besting 22 other lady candidates from the cities and municipalities of the province in a well-attended coronation night, May 8 held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
Neyra, a Sociology student of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, also bagged the Sirib Award, as she proved her wit in a series of interviews conducted days before the pageant.
In the final Q&A, Neyra was asked, “What is your dream for Ilocos Norte?” to which she answered fluently: “My dream is for us to be continuously on the top spot for tourism in the Philippines.
“I am going to do this by utilizing modern tools, such as social media, to showcase our beloved province and to tell people that we are unique not only because of our infrastructures and our heritage sites but also because of our people – the Ilocanas and the Ilocanos.”
Neyra will be the province’s representative in this year’s Eat Bulaga’s Miss Millenial Philippines, a pageant which aims to boost the tourism in the country. Previous representatives have done well in the said tilt, with Miss Ilocos Norte 2017 Dianne Lacayanga bagging the Miss Bayanihan Queen Award and Miss Ilocos Norte 2018 Trisha Aceret emerging as a semi-finalist.
Completing the winners are Miss Vintar, Zharina Kainah Leaño who was crowned first runner-up; Miss Bangui, Sophia Alexandra Tolentino, second runner-up; Miss Badoc, Elisha Faith Udarbe, third runner-up; and Miss Burgos, Erika Pedro, fourth runner-up.
This year’s selection committee was chaired by Ms. Ruby Rodriguez of Eat Bulaga. Other members were “That’s My Bae” contestant Kim Last, Dr. Harold Jay Baytec, Atty. Val Leaño Pascua, Ms. Mary Jane Leaño, Atty. Xerxes Garcia, Mr. Marlon Lapid, Atty. Bianca Pastor, Mrs Ana Carmela Ventura – Remigio, Mr. Mon Manotok, and Engr. Andy Durog. (Stewart C. Ocampo, PGIN-CMO)
