By Shiela Mae Butlig
Correspondent
IT was literally a Cinderella story for the Misamis Oriental beauty.
Cinderella Faye Obeñita, the 25-year-old Tourism Department worker of the Capitol, won over the judges of Miss Intercontinental 2021 by citing the importance of being a “woman of substance” rather than just a marvel of beauty.
She bested 71 other candidates from across the globe. Obeñita is the first Kagay-anon to win the title.
“I have learned here in Miss Intercontinental that a woman should possess the power of substance and I believe I am that woman because that is an essence of a modern-day Miss Intercontinental that we are living in a world wherein it's very hard to survive, and as Miss Intercontinental, I would like to be that source of hope, that source of inspiration, on the true power of beauty and that is felt in the kindness of hearts and the sincerity of our loving actions,” Obeñita told the judges at the final question and answer portion of the prestigious pageant, yesterday at Sharm El Sheik Museum in Egypt.
Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano, who supported Obeñita all the way, is beyond grateful for the 25-year-old employee of Capitol’s Tourism department.
“I am beyond grateful and proud that our very own Cindy Obeñita, who works as a Senior Tourism Operations Officer in the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental won the Miss Intercontinental 2021 title. Her victory is something worthy to be shared by all Misamisnons, and the whole Philippines in general. I am optimistic that she will continue to be our tourism ambassadress, promoting the Province of Misamis Oriental to the whole world,” Emano’s statement reads in part.
Capitol Tourism Department head Atty. Jeffrey Saclot, who served as her mentor, accompanied Obeñita to Egypt.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Jay Roa Pascual, the chairman of Cagayan de Oro City Council’s committee on tourism has rooted for Obeñita to win the crown.
Pascual said that they will be passing a resolution to congratulate Obeñita for giving pride to Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.
“We are very proud of Cindy and we are really rooting for her and grabe ang gi-agian ni Cindy para sa pagdaug and dakong kalipay gyud para sa Cagayan de Oro nga nakuha gyud ang crown para sa Miss Intercontinental,” Pascual said over a radio interview said.
For his part, the city’s second district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez congratulated Obeñita for winning the prestigious title.
“Obeñita truly deserves to win the crown because of her beauty, brains, and character. I have personally known Cindy from way back,” Rodriguez’s statement reads in part.
The rest of the court of the Miss Intercontinental 2021 are:
1st Runner Up: Mexico
2nd Runner Up: England
3rd Runner Up: Seychelles
4th Runner Up: Canada
5th Runner Up: Colombia
