EIGHTEEN-year-old Maricel Hiponia and Mark Anthony Estrada is this year’s Ms. and Mr. Philippines-CNMI.
The coronation held at Daichi Hotel capped the yearly fund-raising activity of the Visayas Mindanao Association of the CNMI.
The first runner-up award went to Jerusalem Malabanan and Rabbi Romero. Both are 14 years old.
Second runner up are Racquel Mendoza, 14, and Nigel Perry Cacdac, 15.
Third runner up are Angelee Maniacop, 14, and Renier Bognot, 17.
Fourth runner up are Sheryl B. Cruz, 15, and Marvin Cruz, 14.
Malabanan, the valedictorian of Grace Christian Academy, and Romero, a student at Kagman High School, impressed the crowd with their Tahitian dance performance that won them the Best in Talent award.
They also received the Best in Regional Costume and Mr. and Ms. Congeniality awards.
Romero and Hiponia won the Best in Formal Wear award while Estrada and Hiponia bagged the Best in Sports Wear award.
The Mr. and Ms. Visminda Spirit award went to Bognot and Maniacop.
Estrada and Malabanan were the most photogenic, while Marvin and Sheryl Cruz were the most telegenic.
Visminda President Nelida Atalig said $23,000 was raised during this year’s competition.
“The fund will be given to the Aksyon ng Sambayanan or Poverty Free Zone (which benefits) depressed areas in the Philippines,” Atalig said.
The judges were Public School System spokesman Robert Myers, Miss CNMI-International Christine Cunanan, attorney Yoon Chang, Marissa Punsalang, wife of Consul Macros Punsalang, and Gerald Salas, president of the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association. Salas chaired the board of judges.
Benedict Redulla was the host while Ernie Molina Jr. was the pageant director and choreographer.
