After nearly quitting, law stude wins Mutya ng Taguig 2018
Back-to-back victory
She almost quit leading up to coronation night, but Rein Hillary Carrascal ended up besting the 26 other contenders for the Mutya ng Taguig title on April 23 to become the winner of Mutya ng Taguig 2018.
“To forgive is a noble act and when you forgive you will have the chance to be truly happy,” she said during the final question-and-answer round of the pageant at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City.
“That’s why no matter how bad someone treated me, I will not be able to not forgive them, because being able to forgive others is what truly makes you happy.”
She was responding to the question: “What is the one thing you will never forgive a co-candidate for doing to you?”
With her response, the 20-year-old law student gave Central Bicutan its second consecutive win at the yearly pageant. She succeeded Lovely Lamptey, who in her winning answer last year narrated her struggles with bullying.
She takes home the crown, P50,000 in cash and the opportunity to represent Taguig City in official functions.
Carrascal reached the Top 15 with a Best in Swimsuit award, adjudged at the pre-pageant event at Taguig Lakeshore Hall by personality development coach Bem Sababad and actors Steven Silwa and Jojit Lorenzo. At the Swimsuit and Evening Gown portions of pageant night, she gave a solid performance before a star-studded panel of judges: model Mica Tuaño-Fuentes, photographer Raymund Isaac, designer Adante Leyesa, celebrity manager and Miss World Philippines franchise owner Arnold Vegafria and show biz icon Pops Fernandez.
At the Top 15, she aced the casual interview, where she admitted she almost quit the pageant because of the pressure, but decided “to face her fear.” She made it to the Top 10 to answer the final question, asked by Tuano-Fuentes.
Carrascal faced tough competition from some heavy favorites, many making it all the way to the ultimate round with her. Among them were Corrine San Pedro of Napindan, Jobelle Pajanel of Pinagsama, Ramona Leila Maniego of Western Bicutan and Ma. Katrina Llegado of Bagumbayan.
Ending up just behind her in the rankings was dark horse Aurea Mae Realo of North Daang Hari, winner of Best in Evening Gown.
Closing out the Top 5 were Napindan, Bagumbayan and another dark horse, Rachelle Japay of South Daang Hari.
Japay also bagged the Best in Talent award with her cheerleading skills. Antoneth Velarde of New Lower Bicutan was announced Miss Photogenic. People’s Choice went to Tanyag’s Mary Jane Enojosa. Airish Joy Rivera of South Signal Village took Miss Friendship and secured a place until the Top 10.
It was a glitzy program but organizers and judges gave the ladies an intense mental workout throughout. Even the Evening Gown portion had each express insights on topics such as friends, family and community.
In the casual interviews, first runner-up Realo said she had dreamt 10 years ago to be a Mutya ng Taguig. At the final round, when Riyeza asked her to explain Taguig’s slogan, “Dream Big, Think Big,” she thanked the government for offering free tertiary education at Taguig City University.
Vegafria asked Napindan’s representative and eventual second runner-up for her opinion on the idea that millennials were impatient. She replied that impatience and other characteristics should be considered a matter of individuals instead of generations. She added that upbringing would be a crucial influence on anyone’s attitude.
At the casual interview and final question rounds, candidates turned up with thoughts on love, the millennial generation, social media and bullying, among others. The candidates were mostly students, some even working part-time.
Asked about their impressions on the 27 candidates in between rounds, Isaac reminded the contestants to prioritize their studies before thinking about a career in beauty pageants or show biz. Fernandez, for her part, said they should pursue their dreams as “a dream will not become a reality if you don’t pursue it.”
FILIPINO VERSION
Back-to-back na panalo
Law student wagi sa Mutya ng Taguig 2018
Halos sumuko na siya sa laban bago pa man ang coronation night, subalit lumabas na wagi si Rein Hillary Carrascal sa katatapos pa lamang na Mutya ng Taguig 2018 noong April 23.
Tinalo ni Rein ang iba pang 26 na magagandang kandidata ng Mutya.
“To forgive is a noble act and when you forgive you will have the chance to be truly happy,” wika ni Carrascal sa final question-and-answer portion sa ginanap sa Marquis Events Place, Bonifacio Global City.
“That’s why no matter how bad someone treated me, I will not be able to not forgive them, because being able to forgive others is what truly makes you happy.”
Ito ang mahusay na sagot ni Carrascal sa tanong na: “What is the one thing you will never forgive a co-candidate for doing to you?”
Sa sagot niyang iyon, nasungkit muli ng 20-anyos na law student at tubong Central Bicutan and pangalawang magkasunod na panalo ng barangay sa taunang pageant. Sinundan ni Carrascal si Lovely Lamptey, na nanalo noong isang taon dahil na rin sa mahusay niyang sagot kontra bullying.
Nauwi ni Carrascal ang korona at ang P50,000 na cash. Bibigyan din siya ng pagkakataon na i-represent ang Taguig City sa mga official function ng lungsod.
Bukod sa korona, si Carrascal ay umabot sa Top 15 na may nakuhang Best in Swimsuit award, na iginawad sa pre-pageant event sa Taguig Lakeshore Hall ni personality development coach Bem Sababad at mga artistang sina Steven Silva at Jojit Lorenzo. Sa Swimsuit at Evening Gown portions naman, nagbigay siya ng solidong performance na ikinamangha ng mga star-studded panel of judges kasama sina model Mica Tuaño-Fuentes, photographer Raymund Isaac, designer Adante Leyesa, celebrity manager at Miss World Philippines franchise owner Arnold Vegafria at show biz icon Pops Fernandez.
Sa Top 15, pinamangha ni Carrascal ang mga manonood sa casual interview, kung saan inamin niya na halos sumuko na siya sa laban sa Mutya dahil sa tindi ng pressure, subalit nagdesisyon siya na harapin ang pagsubok at iwaksi ang takot na nadarama. Sa pagpasok sa Top 10 para sagutin ang final question, ang katanungan ay itinanong ni Tuaño-Fuentes.
Hinarap ni Carrascal ang mabigat na pagsubok sa patimpalak dahil sa ibang mga kandidata na lumilitaw na paborito, ang iba ay nakapasok na rin sa ultimate round kagaya niya. Sila ay sina Corrine San Pedro mula sa Napindan, Jobelle Pajanel mula Pinagsama, Ramona Leila Maniego mula Western Bicutan at Ma. Katrina Llegado mula Bagumbayan.
Ang isang dumikit sa kanya sa ranking ay si Aurea Mae Realo ng North Daang Hari, na nagwagi sa Best in Evening Gown.
Nakapasok sa Top 5 ang mga kandidata mula Napindan, Bagumbayan at ang isa pang dark horse na si Rachelle Japay ng South Daang Hari.
Nakuha rin ni Japay ang Best in Talent award sa kanyang cheerleading skills. Si Antoneth Velarde ng New Lower Bicutan naman ang ginawaran bilang Miss Photogenic. Ang People’s Choice award naman ay napunta kay Mary Jane Enojosa ng Tanyag, samantalang si Airish Joy Rivera ng South Signal Village ang nakakuha ng Miss Friendship award at nakapasok ng puwesto sa Top 10.
Naging maayos at disente ang pagpresenta ng mga kandidata subalit matindi ang mental workout na inilatag ng mga hurado. Kahit ang Evening Gown portion ay kinailangan ng mga kandidata na maglahad ng mensahe para sa kaibigan, pamilya at komunidad.
Sa casual interview, ang first runner-up na si Realo ay naglahad ng kuwento na sampung taon na noon nang pinangarap niyang maging Mutya ng Taguig. Sa final round ay tinanong naman si Riyeza na ipaliwanag ang slogan ng Taguig na “Dream Big, Think Big,” at pinasalamatan niya na rin ang Taguig City government sa libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo na ibinibigay sa Taguig City University.
Nagtanong naman si Vegafria sa kandidata ng Napindan at eventual second runner-up sa kanyang opinyon sa katanungan kung ang mga millennials ay maiksi ang pasensya sa maraming bagay. Sagot niya: Ang pagiging maiksi ang pasensya ay isang kaugalian na hindi lamang ng isang henerasyon kundi kaugalian ng isang katauhan, hindi ito naka-ekslusibo sa pagiging millennial. Malaki ang papel ng mga magulang sa pagpapalaki ng mga anak upang maisaayos ito.
Sa casual interview at final question rounds, ang mga kandidata ay nagbigay din ng pahayag sa pag-ibig, millennial generation, social media, bullying, at iba pa. Ang mga kandidata ay halos mga estudyante, ang iba ay mga nagta-trabaho ng part time.
Naglahad naman si Isaac sa kanyang impresyon sa 27 na kandidata at pinayuhan ang mga dalaga na unahin ang edukasyon bago sila sumabak sa show biz. Wika naman ni Fernandez na abutin nila ang kanilang pangarap dahil may kasabihan na “a dream will not become a reality if you don’t pursue it.” ###