By Genno Gabriel Rabaya and Paul Ray Donaire | August 31, 2023
Both Miss Silliman and Mr. Hibalag bets from the Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ICLS) took home this year’s crowns together.
Alyssa Ordoñez, a third-year BS Medical Technology (MT) student, was crowned the 77th Miss Silliman on Aug. 26 at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex.
Her win marked the first time a Miss ICLS was crowned Miss Silliman.
Meanwhile, Kairos Daron, a second-year BS MT student, won Mr. Hibalag 2023 during the coronation on Aug. 27 at the Ravello Ballfield.
When he was announced as Mr. Hibalag, several social media users called it a “back-to-back” win and lauded ICLS for bagging both campus-based pageant crowns.
First Miss Silliman from ICLS
Aside from her historic crowning as Miss Silliman, Ordoñez also bagged the Best Speaker award.
When asked what made her join the pageant, she said, “I saw the need for the community especially when it comes to my own advocacy, which is emphasizing preventive healthcare to the underserved communities. Because of that, I was also able to carry it out as Miss Medtech.”
On her win, Ordoñez added, “I always considered the number 7 to be my lucky number. I’m candidate number 7 in the 77th Miss Silliman. I don’t know, maybe that manifested [itself].”
Among the ten contenders who joined Ordoñez in the Royal Court, four received titles: Kara Mari Aljas from the Medical School as the Cover Girl, Khyla Shane Acab from the College of Nursing as the Headline Girl, Kirsty Haniela Panes from the Institute of Rehabilitative Sciences as the first runner-up, and Leira Camille Ronato from the College of Business Administration as the second runner-up.
This year’s theme was “Immersing in Filipina Fortitude, Cultivating a Legacy of Global Transformation.”
The return of the ICLS spotlight
Daron became the second holder of the Mr. Hibalag title from ICLS after Juri Ochotorena won the title last 2015.
He also bagged the following minor awards: Best in Talent and Best Speaker.
During the pageant, Daron focused his advocacy on promoting health literacy among senior citizens on topics of hypertension and ischemic attacks, limiting his scope to residents of Barangay Looc, Dumaguete.
“This advocacy of mine also conducted health screening initiatives such as blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose screening, and urinalysis,” he said.
Daron also said that he “couldn’t believe” that ICLS bagged both the Miss Silliman and Mr. Hibalag crowns.
“Truly, it is a humbling experience and at the same time a fulfilling one. I strongly believe that Alyssa and I gave our all and poured our hearts out in our journey and we’re simply happy to have been given the chance to represent our college,” he said.
Among the eight contenders, two joined Daron in the Royal Court: Miguel Zerna from the SU College of Nursing Association as the first runner-up and Genno Rabaya from Kapanungan sa mga Mass Communicators as the second runner-up.
