Stunning is perhaps not an exaggerated word to use to describe the night Ray Ann Claire Magno won as Bb. Bayambang 2017.

The 20-year-old girl from M.H. Del Pilar was crowned Bb. Bayambang on April 2 at the Public Auditorium in a pageant night that featured outlandish costumes, celebrity hosts Dianne Medina and Ramon Bautista, a distinguished panel of judges that included politician and TV personality Shalani Soledad-Romulo and actress Nadine Samonte, and a top-notch performer in the person of Jayson Dy.

The Public Auditorium stage was transported to some sort of fantasy land, aided in no small amount by technology. The pageant even had a customized theme, composed by town musicians Oscar Ora, Christopher Chan and Melanie Junio.

Ms. Magno is an alumna of Saint Vincent Catholic School and is currently taking up BA Communication in Saint Louis University, Baguio City.

On top of her score from the Pre-Pageant Night, she got the highest accumulated score from the judges of the pageant proper, which included entrepreneurs (among other things) Jaime Siybauco, Jorge Yulo, and Elo Quiambao, Myrna Hallare, Atty. Robert Leyretana (OIC Administrator, Land Registration Authority), Steve Sharpley, and Atty. Donna Manlongat.

Nineteen-year-old Divina Marie Villanueva of Bongato East was crowned Bb. Bayambang Tourism, while 24-year-old Riza Diego of Telbang was crowned Bb. Bayambang Charity. Amyriel Bautista of Bani was first runner-up, while Nicka Abegail Corpuz of San Gabriel 2nd was second runner-up.

Ray Ann Claire won P100,000 in cash prize, Divina Marie P50,000, Riza P30,000, Amyriel P20,000 and Nicka Abegail P15,000. The rest received P10,000 each as consolation prize.

The much-awaited Best in Costume award of P10,000 went to Amyriel Bautista, who strutted in a brown-and-beige gown which caught attention with its hoop that hovered behind like an outsized halo. The criteria for judging were creativity and originality (25%), poise and confidence (25%), complexity of costume (25%), and theme and authenticity (25%).

The other special awards handed out were:
Best in Casual Wear – Kaye Louise Garcia

Most Winsome Smile – Riena Jane Tillay

Ms. Vantage International – Ray Ann Claire Magno

Darling of the Press – Riza Diego

Ms. Congeniality – Riena Jane Tillay

Best in Swimsuit – Riza Diego

Best in Talent – Kimberly Maregmen

Ms. Red Cross – Angelus Ferrer

Ms. Just Skin – Louise Ann Calimlim

Ms. Ever Bilena – Ma. Liza Alvedia

Best in Evening Gown – Kaye Louise Garcia

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All minor titles had a corresponding P5,000 cash prize, except for Best in Costume and Best in Talent (P10,000).

In her welcome speech, Local Council of Women President Ms. Niña Jose-Quiambao underscored what the prestigious pageant was all about: the promotion of love for and service to Bayambang, to “search for an embodiment of that aim, which is a reflection of my better half’s (Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao) love for this town, which is beyond human understanding.”

The all-night spectacular was sponsored by Stradcom Corp., LARES, Exakt IT Solution, 1Document Corp., All Card, Subic Bay Yacht Club, and Pepsi Cola, among many others. (Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs Office)