Police Senior Insp. Marjorie Manuta was named the first Sangyaw Queen in the annual Sangyaw Festival recently in Tacloban City.
With 260,000 votes, Manuta was crowned on June 26 by Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, Sangyaw Foundation President Ma. Lourdes Anido, and crown sponsor Richard James White at Patio Victoria.
Manuta will act as the city’s Ambassadress of Goodwill.
A mother of four with one child afflicted with lupus, Manuta wants to create a lupus advocacy team in Tacloban and use 60 percent of her prize money to refurbish a Tacloban City Police Office room.
“The team will be a support group that would assist the physical and emotional challenges of having a lupus patient in the family,” said Manuta, who has mastered how to manage the illness of her child through research and actual practice.
Marjorie is a hands-on mom to her four children. She offered her award to daughter Nicole, the one who has Lupus. Also, she previously headed the TCPO’s Police Community Relations group.
“[Nicole] has monthly checkups, laboratory tests, maintenance. I shoulder all the expenses. I prepare her food every day. No sugar, I only use honey. I also rarely give her milk to keep her digestive system healthy,” said Manuta in Filipino.
Gonzales-Romualdez noted it was the Philippine National Police’s year to shine in the Sangyaw Festical, as PO1 Ayra Pacencia was also named PNP Ganda Police winner.
“I am so proud of our police officers, especially the women who are not only brave but smart and beautiful,” the mayor said.
Lilian Estorninos, vice president of Eastern Visayas State University, was first runner-up for Sangyaw Queen, followed by City Department of Education representative Necitas Galora, women’s club contestant Rose Orejola, and Lourdes Enerlan.