The most beautiful day of Summer in Zamboanga City has come! Inspired by the Flores de Mayo celebration, the City Government held the annual Festival de las Bellas y Flores, a competition of gowns, arcos and beautiful ladies last May 26, 2018. This year's theme is "Philippine Festivals" where each candidate represents the colorful celebration and spirit of an iconic festival in the country. Thirteen entries vied for the coveted top 3 spots per category. Here are the photos during the competition proper at Centro Latino, Paseo del Mar.

The backdrop of this year's Festival de las Bellas y Flores held at Centro Latino, Paseo del Mar


L-R: Hermosa Festival of Zamboanga City, Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag, Ilocos Norte,
and Lami-Lamihan Festival of Lamitan, Basilan


Lami-lamihan Festival of Lamitan, Basilan by Pio Hilario


Lamitan was derived from the phrase Lami-Lamihan which means a blend of Merry Making and Conference. The town was named by the first Spaniards from Isabela who explored this area. When the Spaniards arrived the Moros were celebrating the native festival. The municipality of Lamitan was founded in 1886 by the legendary figure Pedro Javier Cuevas popularly known as Datu Kalun. He was born in the town of Bacoor Cavite on June 9, 1846. (read more)


Zamboanga's very own, La Hermosa Festival or Fiesta Pilar


Zamboanga Hermosa Festival is held during the month of October in celebration of the city's patron saint, Señora La Virgen del Pilar.

Señorita Camille Quijano in a Pinky Josh gown inspired by Laoag's Pamulinawen Festival


The Pamulinawen Festival is held every first week of the February. The word Laoag means "the place of light or clarity" in Ilokano and now, Laoag City is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The festival corresponds with the Feast Day of Saint William the Hermit, which is the city’s Patron Saint.


Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte by Pinky Josh. Ms. Camille Quijano placed 3rd in the Prettiest Señorita Competition.


It highlights the city’s rich milk fish aquaculture industry in the province of Pangasinan
and in the country. (read more)


Bangus Festival of Dagupan, Pangasinan by Usni Sali. The Bangus Festival is an annual celebration in the city of Dagupan.


Angelica Baird wearing a Bryan Cabaddu gown inspired by the T'nalak Festival
of Koronadal, South Cotabato

The name of the festival was derived from T’nalak, a colorful abaca cloth created and woven by the women of the province’s T’boli tribe. The T’nalak fabric serves as the festival icon because it symbolizes the blending of culture, strength, and unity of the various ethnic groups living in the province. The T’bolis expressed everything they are in the T’nalak: their dreams, beliefs, myths and even their religion. Making use of the various geometrical patterns and the trademark red, black and white colors, the T’bolis weave the natural and the supernatural in the abaca strands of the T’nalak. (read more)

Ms. Angelica Baird was awarded 1st Place in the Prettiest Señorita category.


Angelique Natividad in Federico Navarro's "Es la Hora" inspired by Vigan's Binatbatan Festival.

Binatbatan Festival traces its roots from the abel weaving industry of Vigan which has been in existence even before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines. It comes from the word batbat, a pair of bamboo stick used to separate cotton pods that come from a tall tree called kapas sanglay. The word "kapas" from kapas sanglay means "cotton" in Ilocano (read more).


Kaamulan Festival of Malaybalay is a gathering of 7 hill tribes of Bukidnon. Kaamulan means "gathering" (read more).


Kaamulan Festival of Malaybalay, Bukidnon


Manggahan Festival of Guimaras, Iloilo (read more)


Manggahan Festival of Guimaras is a celebration of its rich culture and their feast of thanksgiving for having bestowed a rich land where delicious mangoes are grown (link).


Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan by Nicole Salih


This intricate tribal-inspired gown by Nicole Salih represents the rich culture of Aklan and it's famous festival, the Ati-atihan Festival. The feast is held annually in January in honor of the Santo Niño (Infant Jesus), concluding on the third Sunday, in the town of Kalibo, Aklan in the island of Panay, Philippines (read more).


Ati-Atihan Festival of Aklan by Nicole Salih won 3rd Place in the Gown Competition.


An intricate gown by Raustin Siocon inspired by the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte.


The Buyogan Festival of the coastal town of Abuyog, Leyte is celebrated each year on the 28th of August, where the locally known “buyog” or bees are the centerpiece.


Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte by Raustin Siocon. This creation ranked 4th in the Gown Competition.


The colorful and intricate "Kadayawan Festival" of Davao City by Geronie Labora worn by Señorita Shantara Suico


A celebration of good harvest, Kadayawan is a weeklong feast celebration in the City of Davao being celebrated every 3rd week of August as a thanksgiving for nature’s bountiful harvest, the wealth of culture, and serenity of living. From the word “madayaw”, a friendly greeting also used to mean good, profitable, superior, beautiful and valuable (read more).


Kadayawan Festival of Davao City by Geronie Labora won 1st Place in the Gown Competition.


Masskara Festival of Bacolod City by Vicky Go Tonggal


MassKara Festival is an annual festival in Bacolod City with highlights every fourth Sunday of October with street dancers in colorful costumes, masks and headdresses. Bacolod City invites you to the “happiest and most colorful festival in the Philippines” which will be a month-long celebration with concerts, food fests, street parties, and a lot of activities will draw thousands of visitors to the City of Smiles (read more).


Sinulog Festival of the Queen City of the South, Cebu City by Harold Ruste Bernabe. The Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, and is the centre of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines (read more).


The Top 3 winners in the Gown Competition: 1st Place - "Kadayawan" by Geronie Labora (center), 2nd Place - "Binatbatan Festival" by Federico Navarro (left), and 3rd Place - Ati-atihan Festival by Nicole Salih (right)

Here's the full list of winners:

ARCO COMPETITION:
1st Place - "Lami-lamihan Festival of Lamitan, Basilan" by Pio Hilario
2nd Place - "Binatbatan Festival of Vigan, Ilocos Sur" by Raymond Rabanal
3rd Place - "T'nalak Festival of Koronadal, South Cotabato" by Bryan Cabaddu

PRETTIEST SEÑORITA:
1st Place - Angelica Baird for "T'nalak Festival of Koronadal, South Cotabato"
2nd Place - Angelique Natividad for "Binatbatan Festival of Vigan, Ilocos Sur"
3rd Place - Camille Quijano for "Pamulinawen Festival of Laoag, Ilocos Norte"

GOWN COMPETITION:
1st Place - "Kadayawan Festival of Davao City" by Geronie Labora
2nd Place - "Binatbatan Festival of Vigan, Ilocos Sur" by Federico Navarro
3rd Place - "Ati-atihan of Kalibo, Aklan" by Nicole Salih

FESTIVAL DANCE:
1st Place - "Ati-atihan of Kalibo, Aklan" by Arena Blanco National High School
2nd Place - "Sinulog Festival of Cebu City" by Pasonanca National High School

Congratulations to all winners! They have all showed great craftsmanship, creativity, confidence and talent that is not only for Zamboanga City but can also be showcased throughout the nation and someday, in the international scene! Watch out for the next biggest fashion competition in Zamboanga this October, the Mascota de Zamboanga Competition, which is one of the highlights of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival. Like the Facebook page for news and updates. Vamos a Celebrar!