Sillimanians dominate Miss Dumaguete

By DM Lorena V. Narciso

Two Sillimanians bagged major awards at the Miss Dumaguete pageant last Nov. 22.
Lorraine Kendrickson, second year information technology student, won the Miss Dumaguete 2013 title while Lalaine Iligan, third year economics student, finished as 1st runner-up.
Kendrickson said Silliman teachings helped her ace the pageant.
“The accumulated knowledge from elementary to college that I’ve got from Silliman University really helped me out. Were it not for SU, I wouldn’t know how to speak well. I wouldn’t know anything about anything,” she said. Iligan also said SU allowed her to be more open-minded.
“Silliman helped me to think outside the box when I look at issues, especially at the question and answer portion, and also in expressing and in formulating my opinions,” she said.
Kendrickson also thanked the Silliman community for supporting and “inspiring us to do good.” “I became more inspired to join because I found out that there is a room for implementing an advocacy. It’s cool and I can make a difference at the same time,” she said.
Iligan added that gaining friends and confidence are “two beautiful outcomes” of joining the pageant. “The experience was also a way of empowering women,” she said.
Because of an exclusive contract with the city government, Kendrickson said she does not have plans of joining the Miss Silliman pageant but she is “weighing out” possibilities of joining a national competition.
Kendrickson’s advocacy as Miss Dumaguete focuses on mobile education which she is planning to start by January 2013. “Instead of the kids coming to school in central locations, we can bring educational materials to them. That way, we can learn more about their real situation,” she said.
Aside from the major title, Kendrickson also garnered the following awards: Miss Photogenic, Miss Professionalism, Best in Production, Best Swimwear,Best in Gown, Best Speaker and Miss Coca-Cola Body.
Aside from Kendrickson and Iligan, three other Sillimanians joined the pageant: Sheela Bayon, Monette Guivelondo and Rosary Monte De Ramos.