The stars aligned for a prestigious night as Mr. Chester Ken Delima from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS) and Ms. Kyla Moneque Juntilla from the School of Teacher Education (STEd) were crowned this year’s Mr. and Ms. BiPSU.

With a jam-packed crowd cheering for the crown hopefuls, Mr. Delima and Ms. Juntilla won the favor of the judges, securing the most coveted titles for their schools and besting the other 16 candidates.

This year’s Mr. and Ms. BiPSU pageant featured two major events: the Preliminary Competitions held on August 28, where candidates participated in a nerve-wracking question-and-answer series, a school uniform portion, and a grand production number; and the Coronation Night, where the 16 hopefuls competed in various categories, including Regional Attire, Swimwear, and Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana competitions.

Defining moment

This year’s pageant marked a significant turning point as both winners brought the crowns home to their schools after years of waiting. SNHS’s Mr. Chester Ken Delima, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student, ended the nursing department’s winning drought, bringing home the first-ever Mr. BiPSU crown for SNHS. His victory also ended the School of Engineering’s (SOE) three-year streak of consecutive wins.

Meanwhile, STEd’s standout, Ms. Kyla Moneque Juntilla, a 19-year-old Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) student, brought the crown back to the teachers' school after an eight-year wait. As the daughter of Mr. BiPSU 2005, Jesus Villaruel, Ms. Juntilla proved that beauty pageant success runs in the family.

Both Mr. Delima and Ms. Juntilla showcased how a perfect physique can be complemented by charm, each securing three special and minor awards. Mr. Delima captivated the audience throughout the pageant, winning Best in Uniform, Best in Swimwear, and Best in Barong Tagalog. Ms. Juntilla, embodying boldness and grace, won Best in Production and Best in School Uniform, along with the sponsored Ms. Jusa's Healthy Body special award.

The Next Royal Step

The newly crowned Mr. and Ms. BiPSU 2024 are set to represent the university in the Search for Mr. and Ms. SCUAA VIII 2024 in December. 

When asked about his preparations for the upcoming SCUAA pageant, Mr. BiPSU 2024 mentioned that his preparation will be multifaceted, focusing on both personal growth and his advocacy.

“Maybe I will prioritize my health by maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in rigorous training to address my weaknesses,” he said. “I think this will not only enhance my physical well-being but also bolster my mental clarity and resilience.”

Meanwhile, Ms. BiPSU 2024, who was also crowned Bb. Lubi-lubi Festival Queen 2022, expressed confidence in joining the region’s biggest beauty and brains competition. “To get ready to represent BiPSU in SCUAA, I will work on staying physically fit, improving my skills, and staying mentally strong,” the beauty queen said. “I will make sure to show pride in BiPSU in everything I do.”

Additionally, according to the Vice President for Student and External Affairs and head of the pageant committee Dr. Erwin G. Salvatierra, the reigning Mr. and Ms. BiPSU will also have the opportunity to represent the university in potential exchange student programs abroad.

Runners-Up and Awardees

Almost snatching the crowns are the pageant’s 1st Runners-Up, Mr. Chazonne Kim M. Almazon from STEd and Ms. Alexis Mari Mananes from SNHS. Ms. Mananes also won Best in Swimwear and Best in Filipiniana, while Mr. Almazon, who aimed to secure STEd’s first-ever Mr. BiPSU crown, received the Ms. Jusa's Healthy Body special award.

Mr. John Patrick D. Nebreja from the School of Technology and Computer Studies (STCS) and Ms. Antonette S. Escano from the School of Criminal Justice Education (SCJE) earned the titles of Mr. and Ms. BiPSU 2nd Runners-Up. Mr. Nebreja also received the Best in Production Number minor award.

The School of Engineering (SOE) saw both its candidates, Mr. Jestoni Catam-isan and Ms. Kate Abegail Baco, finish as Mr. and Ms. BiPSU 3rd Runners-Up.

Other awardees included candidates from the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS): Mr. Stanley Jaypee B. Morales and Ms. Catherine N. Radam, who secured the Best in Regional Attire minor awards. BiPSU-Biliran Campus’s Mr. Charles Justine M. Dandan and Ms. Jessa Mae Collera were awarded Mr. and Ms. Photogenic, while SCJE’s Mr. Mark James R. Toñacao and Ms. Antonette S. Escano bagged the Mr. and Ms. BiPSU Popular minor awards.

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