18-YEARS OLD, 26-YEARS OLD AMONG 18 MS. BAGUIO CANDIDATES

August 11, 2023 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

An 18 year old incoming college student and a 26 year old education graduate and now a law student are just two of the 18 candidates of the Ms Baguio 2023 during the press presentation of candidates recently at the Venus Parkview Hotel. “I guess this will be my last I was supposed to join last year,” said Mericar Togana, who represents Asin barangay who declared that she is a woman, “phenomenally.”

“I wish I could help promote business which is one of the industries of our barangay,” said Togana, who was first runner up in the Ms. Cordillera Autonomy last year. At 5’4”, Togana is dwarfed by the youngest participant, Janah Rhyl Lomidao, who at 18 is a recent graduate of senior high school from the University of the Cordilleras. Lomidao, who represents another big barangay, Loakan
Proper is towering at 5 feet 10 inches, and wants to dream big, and “pray bigger”.

A volleyball player, she is a taekwondo champion in the Region I Athletic Association. A consistent honor student, Lomidao loves to participate in community activities. The winner, which will be
named on Baguio Day, of the Ms Baguio pageant could well be among the most empowered as they all see themselves as “strong” and can express their minds. The candidates are a mix of Baguio’s indigenous and lowland blood where some are veterans of beauty pageants not just here but in other Cordillera provinces but also in Region I.

“ I do hope to make good in my last attempt,” said the resident of Asin, whose one of its more popular sons, Virgilio Hilario, married the first Ms. Universe, Armi Kuusela of Finland. Pigeon Lobien THE 18 candidates of Ms Baguio during the press presentation last August 4 at the Venus Parkview Hotel.

PML