Kim Ashly Alar secured her second crown in nearly three weeks as she bagged the Binibining Silangang Samar Turismo 2023 title at the Capitol Gym in Borongan City yesterday, Nov. 9.
The 21-year-old beauty from Brgy. Cabong was crowned Bb. Borongan last Oct. 20 and went on to represent the city in the provincial pageant that started Wednesday night and finished a little more than an hour past midnight the next day.
Alar also took home the Best in Earth Warrior Costume, Best in Talent, Miss PARC Ambassadress and Ms. Eloquence, an award she also claimed in the Bb. Borongan competition.
Jessica Deladia of Balangiga and Hernani’s Abigail Alluso placed first and second runners-up, respectively.
Alar made it to the Top 5 together with Deladia, Alluso, Mercedes’ Junarie Tanqui-on and Guiuan’s Kline Mychille Paraguya where they engaged in a free speech segment to express their advocacies and a written final Q and A.
In her speech, Alar said: “As a child, I always wondered what change I could bring to our community. Thus, I have used my love for the people, first aid and, of course, with tourism. Tourists love the idea of Eastern Samar since we are facing the Pacific Ocean. However, some of the things they think about is security. Thus, my project which I began year 2017 is about first aid. I have helped communities all over Eastern Samar by teaching them first aid. The most beautiful places here in Eastern Samar are at far-flung areas. Thus, for tourists to feel safe, the people are well-equipped with the knowledge of first aid. This knowledge assures our tourists that wherever they are here in Eastern Samar, they will be safe with the people. The people will share their talents for the people are hospitable, caring and worthy of the praise of the world.”
During the final Q and A, the Top 5 contestants wrote their answers prior to reading them. They were asked a common question: “Tourism often plays a vital role in connecting people from diverse backgrounds. How would you promote cultural exchange and understanding through tourism and what specific initiatives would you undertake as Ms. Tourism to foster this?”
“I will promote tourism through a multi-lingual approach. I will connect with multiple talents and come up with a literary and photographic means of promotion for the Estehanons,” Alar read.
In the preliminary Q and A, Alar displayed her award-clinching speaking skills as she answered the question “What steps can be taken to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in tourism for people with disabilities or special needs?”
“Oftentimes, tourism is an opportunity or a privilege given to people with normal bodies, with normal health. However, those with special needs are often forsaken. And as a psychology major, I believe that by applying the knowledge that I have in terms of taking care of those people and also by working with the departments in our local government, we can come up with the solution that will be inclusive, such as by providing signages, which would be easily available for them, also by teaching people how to use the sign language. By doing this and using the cumulative ideas of our society, we can create a more inclusive community that will be better for the tourism of Eastern Samar,” she said.
The other winners of special awards are Alluso, who won Best in Swimwear and Best in Philippine Terno, and General MacArthur’s Josh Gwendolyn Caranyagan, who was named Ms. Photogenic.
Meanwhile, Borongan City’s bet John Bernard Aboy secured a Top 5 finish and the Best in Barong recognition in the Ginoong Silangang Samar Turismo 2023 held at the Guiuan Plaza last Nov. 6.
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘦
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