Cancer patient’s daughter wins Miss Baguio 2018

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – “She promised me she will not spend money coz she is aware of my medical needs.  And yet she faced her battle with dignity, pride and strength and confidence… she was in emotional turmoil for several weeks and yet, she made it!”

From her sickbed, Lilybeth Bartolome proudly posted this message over social media as a tribute to her daughter Trizha Ocampo’s winning the Miss Baguio 2018 last Oct. 7.

Touched by the family’s story of struggle and strength, Sonny David Ticwala, head of the Sonny T. Productions which organized the event, shared the post and her admiration for Trizha.

“As what her mother who has been battling cancer for many years now said, Trizha went independent, did not employ any handler, did all her make-ups on her own, drover herself to the pageant with her tote bag and a small make-up table hanging on her left shoulder and still won,” Ticwala said.

Trizha, a 24-year old University of Baguio Mass Communications graduate who represented San Roque barangay bested 19 other beauty tilt aspirants during the pageant night.

In her own post, she dedicated her victory to her mother whom she described as “my Queen, my source of strength, confidence and wisdom, my reason to do my best in everything I do, my number 1 fan and the reason why I’m who I am today.”

“I’d be lucky to be at least half as great as she… Stay strong.  We got this,” she wrote.

Aside from the top plum for which she won a cash prize of P50,000, Trizha brought home the Darling of the Press and Best in Swimwear awards.

It was her third time to join the pageant while two other winners were also second-timers.

“They keep on coming back proving that the tilt has been handled with integrity and credibility,” Ticwala said.

Ticwala said this year’s Miss Baguio edition was special as the production is marking its silver anniversary in the business.

To commemorate this milestone, Ticwala adopted silver as motif for the production, stage and even in the gowns of the participants and waived the ticket fees for the public.

                Completing the Miss Baguio court were Neeve Comanda, a 19-year old senior high school graduate from the University of the Cordilleras who was adjudged Miss Baguio Tourism; Chelsea Claro, 20, Tourism student of UB, Miss Baguio Liga ng mga Barangay; Ivylou Borbon, 19, St. Louis University Tourism student and the reigning Miss Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB), 1st runner-up; Belle Belle Belsa , 21, UB Psychology students, 2nd runner-up ; Olive Virador, 20, UB Hotel and Restaurant Management student, 3rd runner-up; and Xiannia Trinidad,17, UB senior high school student, 4th runner-up.

Chaserylle Know-Well Sison copped the Miss Charity award.

Comanda also clinched the Best in Evening Gown, Miss Photogenic and Miss Yamang Bukid titles.

The other special award winners were Dani Agustin, Miss Friendship; Stephanie Disu, Best in Creative Cordilleran Attire; CJ Olive, Glamour Girl; ORille Rish Gashiel, Miss Talent; Ezra Hesekiah, Crowd’s Favorite;  Kristine Billy Tabaday, Eros Goce Choice Award and Miss Pretty Me; Karyl Collene Tolentino, Miss Anytime Fitness.

               The top three winners received cash prizes of P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 respectively while the four runners up got P15,000 each 

All the seven winners  also got beauty treatments from Pretty Me (P20,000 worth for the top three and P10,000 worth for the runners up), gift packs from Globe Telecom and beauty treatment from Skin Deep Aesthetic and Academy.

All candidates will receive plaques of appreciation from the City Mayor, scholarship from Providence Polytechnic institute, gift packs from Yamang Bukid Healthy Products, gift certificate from Beauty Lounge Hair and Nail Salon, framed picture from Baguio Frame Em shop and ELX Photography, framed picture from Eroz Goze Photostudio, gift certificate from Anytime Fitness, casual wear from King George Bueno, swimwear from Albert Alberto, jewelry from One Jewelry Art and gift pack from Robys Pick Crafts.