Mister and Miss UNO-R 2013: A Special Tolentine Missosology Coverage

The newly declared Mister and Miss UNO-R 2013 Winners

with Father President Rev. Fr. Emeterio Buñao, OAR

It was truly a night of glamour and glitz for the 2013 Edition of the Mister and Miss UNO-R Pageant and Coronation Night. The whole stage was transformed into a spectacular sight at the delight of the enthusiastic audience who gathered in and filled the University Gymnasium as soon as the gates were opened. We had to enter the back gate of the gymnasium because there were still people queuing outside to get in before the program started. It was a good decision because when we entered we were surprised to see that all seats were already occupied.  After minutes of friendly arrangement, we managed at last to find three seats for the three of us near enough to catch a closer look at the candidates on stage and in the video screen. The venue was jam-packed with family, friends and supporters of the candidates. I’d also seen some familiar faces of faculty members and staff among the crowd. We waited for almost thirty minutes until the pageant finally started at around 8:00 in the evening.

A solemn prayer led by the Vice President for Academics, Fr. Jorge Peligro OAR opened the program, which was followed by a brief welcome and rationale remarks of the UNO-RSSGO President John Floyd Abrico.  

The candidates competed in six categories, namely: Production Number, International Costume, Fun Wear, Formal Wear, Question and Answer, and Professionalism. Two separate sets of judges were chosen to analyze the 16 candidates for Mister and Miss UNO-R. The overall criteria includes: Beauty (40%0, Intelligence (30%), Stage Presence (20%) and Personality (10%).

Before the pageant candidates went out the stage for their opening number, the winners of the Mister and Miss UNO-R 2012 were introduced for the last time, ending their presentation with a remark, “Who will be the next…?” Mister UNO-R 2012 Andee Veloso stammered and almost failed to remember his spiel which dismayed everyone in the crowd. But the ever stunning Miss UNO-R 2013 Korina Marie Gialogo was so quick to salvage the embarrassing scene with her very articulate and engaging chat.

Following the theme of this year’s pageant, “UNO-R to the World,” the production number with the candidates wearing their respective national costumes was fantastic. It’s wonderful to see the colorful and interesting costumes of the sixteen nations donned by the candidates. The national costumes featured in this segment were Dominican and Brazil (No. 1 Information Technology), Japan and China (No. 2 Nursing), Greece and Panama (3. Arts and Sciences), Thailand and USA (4. Engineering), Russia and Korea (5. Criminal Justice Education), Vietnam and Colombia (6. Education), India and Sri Lanka (7. High School), and Spain and Mexico (8. Business and Accountancy). The respective national costumes represented by all candidates were assigned to them by draw lots. 

Candidates wearing their respective National Costumes

The loud cheering crowd was screaming in excitement for their favorites as each of the candidates took the stage and introduced themselves. A pre-judging of the national costumes by a separate panel of judges was held last September 9. Immediately after the presentation, the Best Costume Designer was awarded to the College of Arts and Sciences (Mister) and College of Engineering (Miss) by Dean Jasmin Parreño.

Another fantastic part of the show was the Fun Wear. The African safari with a variety of wild animals dancing was the motif. Each candidate wore beautiful elegant tiger designed outfit as they danced to a la jungle themed music.  

Candidates in their Fun Wear

 For the Formal Wear presentation, the theme was Las Vegas. A typical Las Vegas dance number which featured the 2012 Mister and Miss UNO-R Winners preceded this segment. Female candidates wore royal blue gown with silver accents. The male candidates dressed themselves in a black-tailed tuxedo, white inner long sleeves and black bow tie. 

Candidates in their Formal Wear

The preliminary interview part asked all candidates anything about they wrote in their short bio submitted to the organizer. All candidates spontaneously and candidly responded to every question asked of them with confidence and grace.

Preliminary Interview

The fun and thrill increased as the winners of Corporate and Minor Awards were announced.

A. Corporate Awards

Mister and Miss Natasha

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ma. Melissa Garilva (CBA)

Mister and Miss Olive C

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Mister and Miss Placenta

Erwin Jay Jefferson Zinampan (CBA)

Nilsey Grace Briones (CAS)

Mister and Miss Creative Journey

Vincent Luis Villaflor (HS)

Marie Angela Madamesila (HS)

B. Minor Awards

Students’ Choice Award

Vincent Luis Villaflor (HS)

Marie Angela Madamesila (HS)

Mister and Miss Photogenic

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Mister and Miss Professionalism

Kevin Liboon (CoED)

Karyssa Mayores (CoN)

Mister and Miss Congeniality

Erwin Jay Jefferson Zinampan (CBA)

Karyssa Mayores (CoN)

Best in Production Number

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Best in National Costume

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Jellene Mae Roma (CoE)

Best in Fun Wear

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Best in Formal Wear

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Best Speaker

Erwin Jay Jefferson Zinampan (CBA)

Marie Angela Madamesila (HS)

The breathtaking part came when the Top 3 Mister and Miss UNO-R 2013 candidates were announced. As expected, those who were trending in the corporate and minor awards were included in the Top 3.

  

TOP 3 Mister UNO-R (in no particular order)

Juddson Keith Caballero (CAS)

Kevin Liboon (CoED)

Erwin Jay Jefferson Zinampan (CBA)

TOP 3 Miss UNO-R (in no particular order)

Nilsey Grace Briones (CAS)

Ernestine Lavilla (CoED)

Marie Angela Madamesila (HS)

And the most challenging part came—the final question. The male and female candidates were asked one separate question to answer.

For Mister UNO-R: “How can you link the theme of the U-Week 2013 Celebration with the University’s slogan, “Cradle of Excellence?”

For Miss UNO-R: If you’re given a chance to suggest a theme for next year’s University Week Celebration, what would it be? Why?

All of them were able to answer their respective questions. Some answers were straightforward. Others are quite eloquent and profound. But one thing was very sure, their answers would determine their final placement in the pageant.

The final moment came to reveal the real winners of the Mister and Miss UNO-R 2013. 

Congratulations to…

The pageant was hosted by Daisy Nonato and co-hosted by Abegail Bayona, Ma. Inez Benedicto and Carmina.

Generally, the whole pageant show was good and interesting except for some few things which I think need to be improved. The Synergy of San Carlos and Shermon Basa were very entertaining.

The following are some few things I suggest to improve for the pageant next year.

(1)  Simplify the Stage – The simpler, the beautiful. The stage is the most important arena where candidates can be given the chance to show and express themselves. It must not be too overcrowded to shift the focus from the decorations to the contestant themselves. From the many international and local prestigious beauty pageants I followed and watched, I’ve never seen a stage so overcrowded compared to what I’ve seen last night. The candidates were overcrowding the stage. And for one thing, a simpler stage would also mean maximizing the pageant budget and allocate it more to prizes of winners.

(2)  Invite excellent hosts. – The male host was not that very good. I could hardly hear and understand him. And the co-hosts must be more engaging to add more excitement.

(3)  Bring back the preliminary competition. This would help better analyze the candidates, choose the finalists better and avoid the dragging the program for long hours.

(4)  Accredit photographers for the pageant.

(5)  Provide Public Relations Officer to handle the dissemination of pageant information.

(6)  Set UNO-RSSGO Advocacies for the winning Mister and Miss UNO-R to embrace and work on during their reign.

(7) A good sound system is a must.

Photos Courtesy of Jee-Ar for Tolentine Missosology