By: Shiela Mae Butlig
Lars Pacheco representing the Municipality of Jasaan in the recently concluded Queen of Misamis Oriental 2020 was crowned winner of the said pageant besting sixteen lovely candidates on Friday night at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
During the question and answer portion, each candidate was asked the same question “If you will win the crown (Queen of Misamis Oriental) how will you influence your fellow LGTBTQA+ members in promoting Misamis Oriental?” Each candidate answered their best but Pacheco captured the hearts and minds of the judges through her conviction, as well as the crowd by urging members of the LGTBTQA+ to help in promoting the provinces’ tourist destinations before others.
Pacheco shared her thoughts about the people of Misamis Oriental, that they should be proud of who they are and what they can offer locals and visitors recalling the many tourists destinations and rare wildlife that are innate to the province such as the Philippine Sailfin Lizard, Sagpulon falls, and the Agutayan White Island to name a few.
“The people of Misamis Oriental are very, very hospitable. The government of MisOr envisions to be the leading eco-tourism destination in the near future, why not? We have a lot to offer to tourists, we have numerous waterfalls such as Sagpulon falls, we have Agutayan white island, and always remember that we should be proud again because we are the keepers of many endangered species such as the Philippine sailfin lizards.
What made the crowd even more in a frenzy is when she urged fellow LGBTs: “I would like to say to everyone most especially to the LGBT community that is watching right now before you promote Boracay, Palawan, Baguio, promote your own. Always remember that we should love our own,” Pacheco concluded.
She also expressed her thanks to Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente "Bambi" B. Emano and the people behind him for their hard work and effort in making the event possible and successful.
“This gathering would not be possible if it wasn’t because of the hard work of the Governor, and the effort of all the people behind the success, that is something that we should be proud of,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco was followed by Elly Canillo of Naawan, Llanie Lagarve of El Salvador, Kathy Fox of Salay, and Kirk Popiolek of Tagoloan respectively. The Queen of Misamis Oriental 2020 is the last activity of the weeklong celebration of the 7th Kuyamis Festival in the province.
Pacheco brings home a crown, sash, and 30 thousand pesos and a chance to present the province in the national pageant.
More photos here
