247. Queen of the 1939 Iloilo Carnival: EVELINA GARGANERA

ILONGGA CHARMER. Evelina Garganera of Jaro, rules as the 1939 Iloilo Carnival Queen.

Miss Evelina Garganera of Jaro, Iloilo, the queen-elect of the long-running Iloilo Provincial Exposition and Fair, 1939 edition. The annual carnival was held from 1-19 April, 1939. Evelina was also the year's Queen of the Jaro Carnival.

246. 1939 CHILDREN'S FANCY DRESS BALL WINNERS

HERE COMES THE LITTLE BRIDE & GROOM. Winners of the 1939 Children's Fancy Dress Contest.

Siblings Queenie Melvin Arcache (1935-1999) and Maurice Arcache romped off with one of the top prizes at the Children's Fancy Dress competition by coming in as little Bride and Groom. A sister, Olivia, also competed as a French princess, complete with a powdered hair wig.

The Children's Fancy Dress Ball was one of the highlights of the yearly Manila Carnival, an even that gave mothers the chance to show off their sewing skills and creative flair in fashioning the most fantastic costumes for their children.

They are the children of Joseph and Mary Arcache of Pasay and later, of Sta. Ana, Manila. (Another daughter of theirs, Pearlie Arcache, became a top ramp model of the country back in the 60s).

Maurice Arcache grew up to be the country's premier society columnist (currently with Philippine Daily Inquirer) and TV host.

245. Carnival Mementos: PRESENTATION TROPHIES

LOVING CUPS & TROPHIES.Beautifully crafted silver trophies were presented to winners of various sports and music competitions organized during the Carnival days. These trophies are from 1912-13.

The Manila Carnival attractions included not just the Carnival Queen search but also the serious sports competitions participated by athletes fielded by schools and government bureaus. The sports events included Athletics, Basketball, Softball, Cycling, Indian Club and other field demonstration sports.

The winners were rewarded with beautiful presentation trophies, most of which were made by the talyer of Crispulo Zamora, who, together with his wife Pelagia, operated a successful metalcraft business in Quiapo, which he inherited from his father. His engraving plant, the biggest in the Philippines, also made religious plaques, school medals and metal buttons for the military.

His works for the Carnival first gained notice at the 1913 edition, where he made a precious array of trophies for contest winners and designed the magnificent crowns of the Carnival queens. His designs were always striking and imaginative, often mixing Art Nouveau, and later Art Deco style with Philippine motifs like bamboo, anahaw leaf and Filipina maidens.

Above are some of the magnificent silver trophies that Zamora designed and crafted,  each, a worthy and a fitting award to an athlete, for a job well done.