Cheers and applause reverberated within the posh ballroom of The Peninsula Manila Hotel as 18-year-old Tourism Management student Kristine Micah Malicsi was crowned as this year’s Miss Aviation Philippines. Malicsi, the youngest among the candidates, bested 13 other hopefuls for the grand title in the prestigious search for the most captivating woman in the Philippine aviation and tourism industry.
The Lyceum of the Philippines University student-beauty queen wowed the audience with her standout confidence and energy, making her win the Miss Sassy Award as well during the pre-pageant at Camaya Coast in Bataan.
Pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo is optimistic that Malicsi will be a great embodiment of the aviation-tourism industry. “We are excited to have Kristine as our new Miss Aviation Philippines. With her good looks, confidence and wit, she will represent the aviation-tourism industry well.”
Joining Malicsi in the winning circle were 1st runner-up Reichelieu Emory Santos, a student pilot from Leading Edge International Aviation Academy; and 2nd runner-up Trizia Abaya, a Development Communications student from the University of the Philippines. Santos also bagged a special award as Miss Camaya Coast, while Abaya was awarded Miss Body Beautiful and Best in Catwalk.
Miss Aviation Philippines is the annual search that brings together the most beautiful and charming Filipinas from different sectors in the industry. The pageant, now on its third year, aims to inspire the youth to pursue a career in aviation, empower the women in the industry, and support the country’s tourism initiatives.
“We’re very proud to have a lot of beautiful and smart women who are eager to represent the country’s aviation and tourism industry,” enthused Cabrera-Quimpo. “We hope that through the Miss Aviation Philippines pageant, we will inspire more people to pursue a career in aviation and better appreciate the women’s significant role in the industry.”
Judging the event were Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 Sherry Lou Villaseñor, Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2012 Joyce Pascual Agsaway, Solane Mother of the Year 2013 Jessie Lou Lucero, pageant blogger and former beauty queen Joyce Ann Burton, Air Force Maj. Gen. Raul del Rosario, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla and Camaya Coast president Goody Ilagan.
The pageant, which coincided with the annual Aviators Ball, was attended by some of the country’s aviation luminaries headed by Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta event director Capt. Joy Roa, Capt. Meynard Halili and Capt. Amado Soliman, Jr. The international delegates of the 20th PIHABF and diplomats were also in attendance, including Sri Lankan Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja, Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno, Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur, Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena Villaseñor and German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski.
As ambassadors of major aviation-tourism events and activities across the country, Malicsi and her entourage made their first public appearance at the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga on February 11 to 14.