Miss Baguio crowns her mom before goodbye

BAGUIO CITY – Trizha Bartolome Ocampo’s win as Miss Baguio 2018 was not just a cause for celebration to her, it was her mother’s too who dreamed of seeing her win the crown.

Trizha’s mom passed away with a smile in her lips, five days after her coronation.

“She promised me she will not spend money because 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, drove 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 Barangay San Roque in the pageant, bested 19 other beauty tilt contestants.

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.”

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.