A 19-year-old engineering student was crowned as the Golden Dinagsa Queen of Cadiz City during the pageant held at Cadiz Arena on Friday, Jan. 26.
Ayah Jane Sucajel, who hails from Barangay Tinampaan, bested nine other hopefuls for the “golden crown”.
She took home a cash prize of P50,000.
A freshman Chemical Engineering Technology student at Technological University of the Philippine-Visayas, Sucajel was also named Best in Festival Attire, Best in Evening and Miss Photogenic.
Lyra Marie Rabanal also of Barangay Tinampaan and Barangay Zone 3’s Avegale Santos were named first and second runners-up, respectively.
Rabanal received P30,000 while Santos pocketed P20,000.
Rabanal was also proclaimed Miss Talent while Santos won as Best in Gown, with a cash prize of P5,000 each.
“Really, I can’t believe I am now the Golden Dinagsa Queen. I am thankful to God that I was able to overcome my fear,” Sucajel said.
She vowed to help the city government in its enhanced tourism advocacy and promotions, particularly for the city’s foremost food product, oga or dried fish.
“That’s because Cadiz is known for it,” the Golden Dinagsa Queen said, noting that “oga” is also the symbol of Cadiz’s flourishing fishing industry.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. thanked the men and women behind the search for Dinagsa Queen 2024.
“It was, indeed, an amazing production that wowed Cadiznons,” he said.
Movie and television actors Paul Salas and Luke Conde liven up the program while actress Liane Valentin led this year’s panel of judges. ||
