Diversity

TO BREAK THE ISOLATION AND REACH OUT TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN AKLAN TOWN

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2026

Time slows down and nature reigns supreme in Dalagsaan, according to visitors to this barangay nestled deep in the municipality of Libacao in Aklan.

Mist-covered mountains and the untamed Aklan River greet visitors entering Dalagsaan’s Sitio Proper.

Amid sweeping landscapes, meandering rivers and terraced paddies, a closely knit community steeped in tradition thrives in Dalagsaan. It is the ancestral homeland of the indigenous Akeanon-Bukidnon and regarded as the last frontier in Libacao.

Members of Aklan Trekkers, a nonprofit group advocating for responsible mountaineering, sustainable ecotourism, and environmental conservation, embarked on an outreach mission to the barangay last Aug. 19-21 to deliver immediate help to and equip its 200 poor families with skills and training in sustainable livelihood.

Abaca fibers hung and dried along the riverbank.

The local folk have found a lifeline in abaca as part of a centuries-old tradition known as pag-kigi, which involves the arduous process of cultivating, harvesting and processing abaca fibers. To earn a meager P55 per kilo for Class A abaca and P30 for bar-os or rejects, they endure, among others, trekking long hours along the river, exposed to the elements and unpredictable currents.

They also harvest banban, a bamboo-like shrub that flourishes in the forest, which they transform into sturdy sleeping mats (banig) that are in high demand in neighboring municipalities such as Calinog in Iloilo.

Also among the local folk’s handicrafts are swings produced from oway, and the kararaw, their take on the nigo basket woven meticulously from cawayan.

Isolated, disadvantaged

Crossing the untamed Aklan River

The Department of Health has classified Dalagsaan as a “geographically isolated and disadvantaged area,” which means that the local folk lack access to essential goods and services. The poorest families make do with what they have, often relying on aid from public and private organizations to get by. Some brave the journey to town a few times a month to stock up on supplies, using bamboo rafts to carry their haul upstream along the wild Aklan River.

Still, the people take immense pride in their way of life, standing as dedicated caretakers of their precious homeland.

Aklan Trekkers’ outreach mission was aimed at lifting the spirits and prospects of the people of Dalagsaan. To get there, its volunteers, partners and collaborators braved a commute of nearly two hours by dump truck and habal-habal(tricycle), walked for up to six hours under the scorching sun and forded rivers, all the while carrying heavy backpacks.

Officers from the 1st Aklan Police Mobile Force Company and soldiers of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion’s Bravo and Delta companies accompanied the group and provided security and manpower. In the course of the mission, the police taught some community members basic life-saving skills.

To kick off the event, mission leaders and the principal of the Dalagsaan Integrated School, Jocelyn Colas, delivered messages to the community.

Workshops

Riverine walk and art workshop for Dalagsaan’s youngsters.

The Aklan Trekkers conducted a workshop on vegetable gardening including the practice of vermicomposting, to empower families with skills to grow food and foster self-sufficiency. Seeds donated by sponsors and the Department of Agriculture, as well as planting manuals, were distributed to the families.

Kids receive art supplies as prizes for the psychosocial activities.

Ritchel Cahilig, Aklan Trekkers founder and president, and members of its committee on native handicrafts, proposed a social enterprise project for the indigenous artisans, as a means not only to nurture their livelihood but also to help ensure the continuity of their traditions.

The mission’s Joseph Tindog led an ecotourism workshop for current and aspiring guides of Dalagsaan as part of an initiative to explore the village’s potential for sustainable tourism.

A family planning workshop was also conducted. The facilitators were Panipiason IP, a licensed midwife, and Aklan Trekkers board member Alvin Zaquita. Alongside this, an art workshop was held for the children.

But the mission did not dwell solely on lectures and workshops. Psychosocial activities and games were organized for the families and their children, creating bonds and memories.

Indigenous knowledge

Theodore Bautista, a member of Aklan Trekkers who is also part of its committee on indigenous people’s affairs, talked about indigenous knowledge systems and practices. It was a moment for the community to reconnect with their heritage, fostering a deeper appreciation for the traditions that have sustained them through the ages.

Panipiason’s Akeanon-Bukidnon community also extended assistance to their fellow indigenous folk in Dalagsaan, in a show of unity and shared heritage.

The day culminated in a lively baylehan hosted by Barangay Dalagsaan. The volunteers found an opportunity to learn the traditional barok dance.

The people of Dalagsaan have manifested strong resilience during hard times, but the need for essential supplies and services still looms large. Projects for a social enterprise and the AT Advocacy Hub are now being planned to support the craftspeople of the barangay and similar geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.

First published in CoverStory – November 30, 2023

Issa Gabrielle Bautista

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MISS ILOILO BREAKS THE OLD BEAUTY STANDARDS

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MYRNA ESGUERRA IS FIGHTING FOR ANOTHER MISS INTERNATIONAL CROWN FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Diversity

MISS ILOILO BREAKS THE OLD BEAUTY STANDARDS

Published

2 months ago

March 24, 2026

Armin P. Adina

ILOILO CITY—In a country where “brightening” products and treatments rake in millions of pesos in revenue, the Miss Iloilo pageant has broken the old beauty standards with a dusky athlete of African American descent capturing the title.

American Filipino heptathlete Alexie Mae Brooks from the town of Leon emerged a convincing winner at the 2024 Miss Iloilo pageant held at the Cultural Center of the West Visayas State University in this city on Jan. 13, besting 14 other aspirants for the crown that came with a P200,000 prize.

Brooks also took home the lion’s share of special awards—Best in Swimsuit, Best in Cultural Costume, Best in Designer’s Fashion Show, Miss Biscom, Miss Bingo Plus, Miss Dito, Miss Layson Group of Companies, Miss PLDT, Miss Fiesta Philippines, Miss The Medical City Iloilo, Miss Carelon Global Solutions, Miss AirAsia, and Miss SM Iloilo.

Her background is quite different from the typical pageant candidate. While many contestants dabble in runway and commercial modeling, the new Miss Iloilo has seen action in the athletics arena. She dominated the high jump at the Palarong Pambansa and was tapped to join the Philippine heptathlon team sent to the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Brooks’s winning spirit carried her to the pageant stage, and she impressed the judges with her quick wit. During the final round of questions when the Top 7 delegates were asked what they would tell the Ilonggo women of the past, Brooks responded: “One thing that I’m proud of … we’ve always kept the spirit of dinagyang (merrymaking), we’ve always kept the spirit of pagpalangga (expression of love).” She also mentioned “the food that we have,” for which Iloilo is known, and that “we are selected as a ‘creative city of gastronomy.’”

She continued: “And one thing that I also want to say is, I want women to move forward, abanse babaye! This is something that comes from my heart. I want empowered women to educate, to [be inspired by] women from the past. Women can be so much more, we’re capable of so much more, abanse babaye! My name is Alexie Mae Camaiso Brooks, and my heart will always beat in Iloilo City.”

Pageant assignments

Brooks (center) with her court, (from left) Hamda Judicpa, Raniella Louise Aguila, Angel Jed Latorre, Nicklyn Jutay, Pearl Angel Franco, and Shaima Al Yansuri

A week after the coronation night, the Miss Iloilo organizers held a public event to announce that Brooks will represent Iloilo City at the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, to try and succeed Michelle Marquez Dee who finished in the Top 10 of the international competition held last year.

The assignments of the “Heartfelt Queens” proclaimed during the coronation night were also announced. Nicklyn Jutay from Tigbauan and Raniella Louise Aguila were assigned to the Binibining Pilipinas pageant and the Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration, respectively.

Angel Jed Latorre from Santa Barbara, who was crowned Miss Iloilo Queen of Dinagyang, will compete in the Reyna ng Aliwan contest. Hamda Judicpa, 17, who was awarded the “Ambassadress of Heartfelt Beauty” title, will be reserved for a national competition next year because of her age.

Second runner-up Shaima Al Yansuri from Guimbal was later crowned Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta and will be sent to the Miss Philippines Earth pageant. First runner-up Pearl Angel Franco from Ajuy was also belatedly proclaimed “Ambassadress of Heartfelt Beauty.”

The Miss Iloilo pageant was first held in 2020, and the winner, Rabiya Mateo, eventually captured the Miss Universe Philippines title in the first-ever staging of the stand-alone competition that selects the country’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant. She finished in the Top 21 of the international competition.

Brooks will try to score another national win for Iloilo City later this year, and eventually carry the Philippine flag again, this time on a global pageant stage.

First published in CoverStory – January 27, 2024

Armin P. Adina

Diversity

MYRNA ESGUERRA IS FIGHTING FOR ANOTHER MISS INTERNATIONAL CROWN FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Published

4 months ago

January 24, 2026

Armin P. Adina

Binibining Pilipinas International Myrna Esguerra — PHOTO BY ARMIN P. ADINA

There is no doubt that the Philippines is an international pageant powerhouse, with crown upon crown collected from global competitions by both women and men for all these years.

Among the competitions where the country has picked up multiple wins, the Miss International pageant tops the list with a total of six victories spanning six decades.

Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra, the Philippines’ representative to this year’s Miss International pageant, attributes this enduring winning streak to the way the pageant has been choosing winners and the qualities of the Filipino winners.

“I think one of the characteristics of all the queens who won in Miss International is, they are ready to give their all. And I noticed that with Ate Bea Rose Santiago, with Ate Kylie Verzosa, and all the previous winners of Miss International,” Esguerra told CoverStory, prefixing the names with the Filipino term for “older sister.” “They were really there to fight, and not to play. And I think that’s why we won,” she said.

Santiago and Verzosa are the two most recent Miss International titleholders from the Philippines, who won in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Gemma Cruz was the first to bring home the crown in 1963, followed by Aurora Pijuan in 1970, Melanie Marquez in 1979, and Precious Lara Quigaman in 2005.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. hosted a send-off press conference for Esguerra on Oct. 28 at World Kitchens at the Gateway Mall 2 at the Araneta City in Quezon City, where she received well wishes from her fellow queens.

“I think that Miss International is really looking for the character of the ladies,” she said. “And I think as Filipinos, we are really lovable, and we always show up. In the things that we do, we always give it our all, and we always put on our best smile, regardless of what we’re feeling. I think that’s the reason.”

Esguerra did give her all in the nationals, pulling off the rare feat of winning the Best in National Costume, Best in Swimsuit, and Best in Evening Gown awards. The last time a Binibining Pilipinas queen achieved this was in 2018, when Catriona Gray topped the national pageant and went on to become the fourth Miss Universe winner from the Philippines.

“In everything I do I make sure that I put my whole heart and mind into it, and that transcends because we were able to get all those awards,” Esguerra said. “And also, thanks to my team, because they’ve been really supportive. And I think that’s one of the reasons why I feel so confident. It’s because i have these people who I can really trust.”

Esguerra is scheduled to fly to Tokyo on Nov. 9, two days before the Miss International delegates are expected to arrive, so she can spend time with the Filipino community in Japan, she said. The 63rd Miss International pageant’s final competition will be held at the Yoyogi Gymnasium No. 2 in Tokyo on Nov. 27.

“I think I deserve to be the next Miss International because I represent something real, raw, and deeply needed in today’s society. And that is a heart, and an authentic self,” Esguerra declared.

She added: “I want to be the voice of all those who wonder if their dreams are possible. And I want to be that voice that tells them that, yes, their dreams are possible, and our dream for that seventh crown for Miss International is possible because we will make it happen.”

First published in CoverStory — October 30, 2025