Fifteen candidates competing for the Miss Puerto Princesa 2019 title and 10 candidates competing for the Binibinig Sexsi 2019 title faced the public in a press conference on Monday, February 4, 2019. They got a grilling from the journalists who tested their beauty of the intellect as they were all in possession of the beauty of the face and body.
They were quizzed about local and national issues such as what they think about lowering the criminal liability age, environmental issues, some tourism matter, health issue such as HIV/AIDS and also what are the candidates’ advocacies.
At the end of the conference, the members of the media chose Miss Puerto Princesa 2019 candidate number 5 Princess Julie Caabay of PSU-LHS and Binibining Sexsi 2019 candidate number 7 Mary Vanessa Tan of Bgy. Model as the “Darling of the Press” awardees.
Bb. Sexsi 2019 #7 Mary Vanessa G. Tan (Courtesy of the City Information Office)
Princess Jane Caabay, Miss Puerto Princesa candidate “Darling of the Press” awardee said that she is very grateful to win the award. “Sobrang happy kasi this is the first award and I didn’t expect it since all the candidates po is very precise po sa pag-answer, but then thank God has made his way and I am very grateful of it,” Caabay said.
Mary Vanessa Tan, Binibining Sexsi candidate “Darling of the Press” awardee, on the other hand said that she didn’t expect to win the award. “To be honest po hindi [ko inaasahang makuha ang award], kasi ang sabi ko kanina before po magstart, kung ano man pong tanungin sa akin, sasagot po ako with a heart, kung ano po talaga yung nararamdaman ko, at kung ano po talaga yung totoong opinyon ko,” she said.
The coronation night of Miss Puerto Princesa 2019 is on March 3, Sunday, at the City Coliseum while the coronation night for Binibining Sexsi 2019 is on March 2, Saturday at the City Baywalk.
Both competitions are part of the celebration of the 147th Founding Anniversary of Puerto Princesa and 15th Balayong Festival. The candidates from both pageants represent the different barangays, academe, institutions and non-government organizations within the city.