Marla Alforque, 2017 Sinulog festival queen was crowned this year’s Reyna ng Aliwan in colorful, glittering ceremonies recently.
Heavy favorite Apriel Smith, who was earlier named Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown, was first runner-up representing for the Utanon festival of Dalaguete, Cebu.
Jointly sharing the award for second runner-up were Arielle Jazmine Roque (representing the Tuna festival of General Santos City), Ma. Ahtisa Manalo (representing the Niyogyugan festival of Quezon Province), and Venisse Charm Costibolo (representing the Sangyaw festival of Tacloban).
It was the eighth time that a Sinulog festival queen won the Reyna ng Aliwan crown, and the first time that the province of Cebu had three entries to Aliwan Fiesta’s search for festival queen.
Alforque, from Carcar, is a BSE graduate who used to teach secondary school. She currently works in the legal division of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Cebu.
Alforque also took second place in the festival costume competition won by Patricia Kate Gonzales of Antipolo. Ahtisa Manalo was named Miss Photogenic, while Cherry Rose Fernandez of Bagui0 was voted by fellow candidates as Miss Friendship.