Eighteen candidates have competed for the crown of Reyna ng Aliwan 2023 on Friday night, July 14, at Aliw Theater, Pasay City, Manila as it is the second day event of the grandest festival, the Aliwan Fiesta.

Different questions were given by the respective board of judges during the Q and A portion, but which answer do you love the most?

Here’s how each of the candidates responded to their questions:

Erika Maie O. Sawma, Antipolo Maytime Festival

My biggest fear would be losing a loved one, because it’s like losing your backbone, your support system, and what I’m doing to overcome it is accepting the fact that life goes on and that you must be strong and strive to be better, thank you.

Denice Allen Ayon, Panagbenga Flower Festival

One tradition that our family follows is that we eat together at our dining table, we put our phones down, and this is how we bring ourselves closer to each other— we open ourselves to stories that happened in our one-day things and I see this as a beauty that I would encourage to the youth so they would be able to strengthen their relationships not only with their families but help in improving other interpersonal skills and relationship with other people. Thank you.

Doreen Pagcu Ahuja, Dayang Dayang Festival

First of all, my festival is Dayang Dayang Festival and Dayang Dayang Festrival means the princess—and with this, it helps to appreciate and tell to the Philippines, that we appreciate our culture we show the world not only in our country, that us Filipinos we have a heart, we have the mind, kindness that never ends, and humbleness and as we are Pasay City, we known for the Aliwan fiesta, the Dayang Dayang fiesta and now for being the travel city of the Philippines. It helps us reach like woah we are this part, for being thankful in little things. Now we have a high technology it helps the tourism to build more relationships to other culture in the Philippines.

Kiarra Liane E. Wellington, Sinulog Festival

To be a modern woman is to be empowered, because empowered women inspire and motivates other women. She is someone who sets goals on how to remote—well of course our Aliwan Festival—to showcase our diversity in our culture and heritage but not just only that, but our tourism as well–and not only just for the Philippines but everywhere around the world.

Niña Athena S. Ariza, Sangyaw Festival

Ever since I joined beauty pageant my advocacy is about raising environmental awareness. If I would to make a Tiktok video it would be a video showcasing how to protect and nurture our environment because I believe that without our environment we cannot exist, we cannot leave, and it is our role and our responsibility to take care of it for this is our legacy to the next generation. Thank you!

Mariela Bianca Q. Acob, Tan-ok ni Ilocano Festival

The perfect color that suits my personality is my gown, which is color blue. Color blue—color blue represents a lot of meaning because one of the highlights in Ilocos Norte, they love color blue. And because of this color, we were able to create our essence such as nabilen stonger, naandor, resilient and the last one natan-ob, we are great, we come for the greater home, which is the Ilocos Norte and these three essences are the perfect meaning of the color blue. Thank you.

If you would give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be and why?

If I were to give myself an advice is to be confident, diligent and to be determined, this is what defined us, it makes us who we are right now- it would be something that would be encouraging and promoting who we are and celebrating what we are. Thank you.

How different would the world be if it were ruled by women?

Para po sa’kin Unity and integrity and respect dahil hindi lang po kami basta kami mga babae kundi maging loyal and stronger, kaya namin lahat hindi lang ang mga lalake kundi kaya din ng mga babae.

If you could break one rule or societal norm what would it be and why?

If I could break one rule in society or norm that would be-on how—being pag hindi pagiging pantay pantay ng tingin ng bawat isa, because we know a lot of people will discriminate woman just because they think that didn’t do what man can do, as I want them to be seen as, is as strong like everyone can be.

What trait makes a Reyna ng Aliwan?

I believe that a true Reyna ng Aliwan queen, is someone who bares innermost responsibility, and safeguard organization reputation, and preserving its people and community and of course an empowered Reyna ng Aliwan queen is someone who doesn’t stop achieving her dreams no matter how many people doubted her, because I grew up in world where my kind of skin, my kind of color was never considered to be beautiful, I was told that I don’t deserve to join a beauty pageant, that I won’t win in any competition, I was discriminated and I was put down, but because I was surrounded by the people who always motivates me that I can do it, I am now here in Reyna ng Aliwan stage continuing achieving my dreams and proving myself to the people who doubted me, that my skin color will never be a hindrance for me to achieve my dreams. And as a candidate, I stand here to give a message to all the young girl and women that they should surround yourself with the people who appreciate you for who you are and who will encourage you to chin up, walk taller and be better, and don’t stop dreaming no matter people would put you down. Instead show yourself, prove yourself to them and let them know that they were wrong.

In your opinion, paano maiiwasan ang sexual harassment?

First of all, I would like to say, It is not the way women dress, that’s why there sexual harass I would like to say– they should practice to be more respectful to women. After all, women are the ones who raised us, who gave us life, who gave us joy, who gave us confidence, who gave power, who gave us life to live. So, for me, I just want to say please respect women. They should know that women run the world. Women are the future, women are powerful.

Who celebrity in the world do you love the most and why?

For me the celebrity that I admire is Lea Salonga because aside that she exudes purity and confidence, I believe that she is a woman who represents herself with confidence, grace and power, because she was able to represent herself not just in local stage but also on the international stage. And as an Aliwan candidate, I can be just like her even though I am not a singer. Because as an Aliwan candidate, we do not just to entertain but we became true to ourselves and pure to ourselves.

If you could choose any superpower like x-ray vision or the ability to fly or time travel, what would it be and why?

The super power I would choose would be the power The power to spread positivity to the people that made it —and aside from that I would like to this this amazing opportunity to not only be the symbol of all festivals but to also give the title purpose in that manner. I would say that the woman that has gone through life strugglers, I am flawed but I am standing here in front of all of you and I am proud to be representing my town and hopefully the Aliwan fiesta to the whole of the Philippines and the world.

Why did you go into pageantry?

I am joining pageants not for fame or for fortune–if so, am doing this for self-experience and fulfillment. And I wanted to represent my city Himamaylan and I believe that this is high time that my city needs to be represented and be recognized in a much wider scope and I think that it is imperative that you know your purpose why you’re joining pageants. And I believe that Aliwan Fiesta has been an avenue for all of the Festivals here in the Philippines to be given our chance to be recognized and be celebrated, And I wanted inflict positive change and be the positive influence to other people and change their opinions for the better.

Polyanna Martina B. Manalo, Anihan sa Ambling Festival

My dream vacation is to travel the beaches here in the Philippines- of course I want to travel and feel the beauty of the Philippines and it is nice to see and visualize when I met my other candidates, I knew that were from different places and it made me want to see it, and this Aliwan Fiesta is great opportunity to showcase that Philippines is beautiful, that Philippines is rich not only in natural resources but also in culture.

Ghenezza Marie Mueller, Udyakan Festival

I am a shy person in real life, I am also an introvert that’s why I love books, I don’t know if that correlated with each other, but the last book I read and I am still reading is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tole and in this world today, it can be so easy to get distracted by noise, the negativity, and in this book, I learned the power of focusing on the now. I remind myself always especially in Reyna ng Aliwsan that I will never be my 24 years old again, I will never have this moment again that I'm standing here in front of you and I am given the opportunity and the chance to not come here as candidate no. 17 but to be here and represent the hundreds of thousands of Kabangkalanos who are watching right now and who are really thankful for this opportunity. and that is why I’m also right here, because I believe that Aliwan Fiesta is celberation of islands whether it’s big or small, it’s about the celebration of cities, municipalities, and LGU’s whether they are known or unknown just like ours. And that is why I am here I am grateful again, and I am just here basking in front of your eyes.

What hobby do you have and how did you get into this hobby?

When I was young, I remember I trained for years in dance sport, I also joined the theatre as well as the radio and TV broadcasting team of my previous school. I’ve always wanted to exert myself in extra calicular activities because I want to make an impact and purpose in my life and I wish as a Reyna ng Aliwan to have an impact of raising awareness in cultural tourism. This destination, places, beautiful ladies, and festivities does not only inform us their community’s customs and traditions and helps us enhance long term sustainability which is the aim of Aliwan Fiesta in order to increase national integration and economic empowerment of the Philippines that I would really proud and humble to accept.

Which Star City attraction did you enjoy most and why?

Yesterday’s event –we come to the—we visit star city tourist attraction- at yung tumatak talaga sa’kin is yung ‘star horse’—seahorse which is parang biking, I felt that hindi ko na po siya uulitin because nahulog po yung kaluluwa ko but is a very good experience as a first timer but-a second timer— that been in Star City, I’m encourage you guys to visit the star city and experience the seahorse.