Montaño wins Miss Leyte Pintados 2005 title

By ROCHELLE A. DELOS SANTOS
June 28, 2005

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte - In a regionally known beauty pageant of fourteen candidates with a remarkably weak production values, Ma. Leslie B. Montaño of Tacloban City was crowned Miss Leyte Pintados 2005 on June 28, 2005 at the HRDC in Tacloban City. Leslie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benedicto Montaño and a student of the Leyte Normal University.  Her previous awards were from Miss Mannequin Asia contest and 2nd Runner-up in the Miss Tacloban 2003 beauty pageant.

In winning this prestigious title, Miss Montaño received a cash award of P30,000.00, a trophy plus a sash and bouquet. She was also selected as the Best in Swimsuit, Best in Gown, Miss Samsung, Bb. Bayantel,  and Ka Greenwich awards.

The first runner-up was Rhenelle Mae O. Operario of Tacloban City who received a P15,000.00 cash prize, a trophy plus a sash and bouquet. Miss Operario was likewise first runner-up during the search for Miss Philippine Eastern Visayas 2005 held recently this year. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nilo Operario and a student of the Leyte Colleges.

April Ann A. Reyes also of Tacloban City won the second runner-up award. She received a P10,000.00 cash prize, a trophy plus a sash and bouquet. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Reyes and a student of the Leyte Normal University.

Other finalists were Danica Ika N. Singzon of Tacloban City and Fatima M. Basul also of Tacloban City. Miss Basul won the Miss Photogenic and Miss Dermablend awards.

Joanne L. Daquipil of Baybay, Leyte won the Miss Talent award with a cash prize of P5,000.00, a trophy plus a sash and bouquet. She was also chosen as Miss Pepsi Diet. Kristin B. Fabella of Tacloban City was adjudged Miss Congeniality while the Globe Texters Choice award goes to Aiza B. Molina of Tanauan, Leyte.

The seven judges of the night were Engr. Shenee Gae Gayas, account manager of Globe Telecom from Cebu City; Marianne Oñate, wife of Asian Spirit chairman Noel Oñate; Elaine Coyle of NRG Glow Records from London, England; Pamela S. Uy, owner of Unified Realty from Makati City; Abigail P. Uykim of Gleen Marketing Inc.; Eliseo Cruz, sales department head of BayanTel Eastern Visayas; and Isabel Garcia, an interior designer from Baguio City.

The criteria for judging were based on poise and personality (30%), physical beauty (30%), communication ability (30%) and professionalism (10%).

U.P. Tacloban professor Stephen Lagarde was the main host of the show with Tisha Veloso and Miss Leyte Pintados 2004 second runner-up winner Frannie A. Makabenta.

Among known personalities present during the pageant were Leyte governor Jericho Petilla, congresswoman (Leyte first district) Remedios Petillla, Tacloban City mayor Bejo Romualdez, Tanauan mayor Roque Tiu and PIA regional director Olive Tiu.

The choice of Miss Montaño seems likely to be well received. The show started late at 9:30 in the evening of June 27 and ended 1:30 in the morning of the next day.

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