238. Carnival Beauties: ELVIRA MANALO, 1927 Miss Palawan

PANALO SI MANALO.  Elvira Manalo, Miss Palawan of 1927, was just the 3rd Palawan beauty to represent her province at the Manila Carnival search for Miss Philippines.

1924 was a very good year for the province of Palawan and its people, for it was in this year that a beautiful Palaweña from Cuyo, captured the prestigious Manila Carnival Queen crown. Trinidad Fernandez was also different from the winning beauties she succeeded, for she was no high society girl—she belonged to the working class, and her victory gave new meaning and purpose to the beauty title.

 It was evident that hers was a tough act to follow; Trinidad was succeeded by her sister, Carmen Fernandez in 1926, but failed to advance in the finals. In 1927, another worthy candidate was found to represent the island province. Her name: Elvira Manalo of Puerto Princesa.

 Like most Carnival beauties, Elvira came from a prominent political clan. Her father, Anastacio Manalo served as Governor of the province from 1922-1925. Anastacio was a prolific builder; he constructed the present wharf of the capital city and, under his tenure, northern and southern roads leading to Iwahig Penal Colony were laid out. The Capitol Building near the wharf was also attributed to his administration.

 Elvira, however, failed to take home the crown that her compatriot had won two years before; an Escolarina co-ed representing Manila—Luisa Marasigan—emerged victorious. Thus, Trinidad Fernandez remains the only Palaweña winner in the 31-year history of the Carnival Queen contest.

 After the pageant, Elvira Manalo, became Mrs. Maslog.

235. Carnival Beauties: ROSIE MCGUIRE, 1927 Miss Samar

SAMAR'S SWEETHEART. Rosie McGuire, the first and only known Miss samar to represent her island province at the 1927 edition of the Manila Carnival.

The American Mcguires settled in Borongan, Eastern Samar and the lovely Rosie McGuire could very well be from this landed family. Don James McGuire was a prominent citizen of the place, and his magnificent McGuire Bldg., built in 1931, still stands restored in Borongan. A McGuire St. can be found in this town, (now a city, and capital of the province). Other than that, not much is known about this fair mestiza beauty, the only known Miss Samar to grace the carnival of Manila where Manila's Luisa Marasigan triumphed as Miss Philippines of 1927.

234. Carnival Weddings: ANDEREGG-BASTIDA NUPTIALS (1927 Miss Davao)

 SWISS MISS. Carmen Bastida, Miss Davao 1927, ties the knot with Swiss Hans P. Anderegg in ceremonies held at the Paules Church. Photo was taken in the home of Carmen's brother in Manila. From Graphic Magazine, April 1933.

Carmen Bastida, the mestiza beauty who represented Davao in the 1927 Manila Carnival, is shown with her groom Hans P. Anderegg, after their nuptials at the Paules Church in Manila on 17 April 1933.  From left to right are: Anton Alsobrook (best man); Blanquita Danon (maid of honor); the bride, Carmen Bastida; the groom Hans Anderegg; Mrs. Manuel N. Tuason (sponsor); Isidro Bastida, the birde's brother who gave her in marriage; and Dr. Manuel N. Tuason. The children are, from L to R: Manuel Tuason Jr., Rosemarie Tuason and Chiquita Ortigas. Paul A. Meyer Sr., one of the sponsors, does not appear with the group. The couple, who are popular members of the cosmopolitan community of Manila, sailed for Switzerland, the groom's homeland, on a honeymoon tour that lasted 6 months.

230. Carnival Beauties: ISABEL C. BOWERS, 1927 Miss Romblon

BOWERS BEAUTIFUL. The firtst and only known Miss Romblon, Isabel C. Bowers, who participated in the 2nd National Beauty Contest of the Manila Carnival, won by Luisa Marasigan. 

Little is known about Romblon's first and only representative to the Miss Philippines Beauty Contest of the Manila Carnival--American mestiza, Isabel C. Bowers.

There were several Bowers who came to the Philippines at the time of the American conquest who may have been her relatives: .two Thomasites with the Bowers surname came with the first batch of American teachers to the Islands in the early 1900s--Benjamin F. Bowers (assigned in Antique) and George Bowers (assigned in Batangas). They could very well be Isabel's forebears.

Isabel was related somehow to Brig. Gen. Clarence H. Bowers (1880-1943), the Philippine Constabulary head and a former superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy who married  Constancia Madrilejos of Romblon, daughter of Bonifacio Marron Madrilejos and Vicenta Manalon Maculang, on 31 August 1906.

This Bowers couple had two children, Elizabeth Maud Constance and Lejuna Bowers. (N.B. It is interesting to note that "Isabel" is the Spanish equivalent of Elizabeth; could she be one and the same person? Mother Constancia anglicized her name to "Constance Bowers" after her marriage to Clarence. In any event, this Elizabeth Maud Bowers returned to the U.S. in 1932 and took up Industrial Design at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pennsylvania. She married Engr. John Rice, had two daughters and eventually became a noted name in industrial and graphic design, one of only few American women to achieve such feat in a field dominated by men.)

222. Carnival Beauties, MANUKI MAKARIMBANG, 1927 Miss Lanao

THAT LADY FROM LANAO. Manuki Makarimbang, Miss Lanao 1927, made a splash at the national beauty contest with her colorful wardrobe of malongs and headgears that were a hit with the crowd. 

The first beauties to represent the Mindanao minority groups at the  very first Miss Philippines pageant of the 1926 Manila Carnival came from the provinces of Lanao and Sulu--Bala Amai Miring (Miss Lanao) and Scott Rasul (Miss Sulu). With Miss Zamboanga and Miss Davao, there were only 4 contestants from the predominantly Muslim region. It was clear that their chances of winning a regional title was rather high; back then, to win the regional titles of Miss Luzon, Miss Visayas and Miss Mindanao, one had to be a provincial delegate from that particular island group.

Emerging as the first ethnic queen of the Mindanao region was the moon-faced beauty, Bala Amai Miring of Lanao. Quick to smile and regalling the crowds with her exotic malong costumes, Bala Amai Miring edged provincemate Rasul for the title of the first Miss Mindanao 1926. In winning the title, Miring joined the court of Miss Philippines-elect Anita Noble in her year-long Carnival activities.

Next year, it was Miss Sulu's turn to hog the limelight, with the Manila-educated Nora Maulana copping the Miss Mindanao 1927 title. Miss Lanao 1927, Manuki Makarimbang,  had to take a back seat, but nevertheless, she stamped her presence with her regal bearing, her demure deportment and her fabulous Muslim wardrobe. Not much is known about Miss Makarimbang, although their clan is well-known all over Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

221. Carnival Beauties, CARMEN QUINTO, 1927 Miss Cagayan

CARMEN OF CAGAYAN. The first Miss Cagayan ever to compete in the Miss Philippines search of the Manila Carnival, Carmen Quintos, who reigned in 1927.

Cagayan held its own provincial fair in 1926, but it was not until a year later that it sent its first beauty delegate to the 2nd National Beauty Contest of the 1927 Manila Carnival.

That honor went to education student Carmen Quinto from Aparri, Cagayan. She, however, failed to land in the winners' circle, with Miss Manila, Luisa Marasigan topping the beauty tilt.

220. Carnival Beauties, CARMEN CAMPOS, 1927 Miss La Union

UNION MAID. Miss Carmen Campos, Miss La Union of 1927.

The second Miss La Union to join the Miss Philippines tilt of 1927, was the comely Corazon Campos, who succeeded Manuela Ortega. The Camposes, from Bauang, are also related to the political Ortega clan.

The crown was won by Miss Manila, Luisa Marasigan, who was actually from Tayabas, but based in Manila as a colegiala.

213. Carnival Beauties: BEATRICE SANUP, 1927 Miss Baguio

BEDIMPLED BEATRICE. The first official representative of the Pines City to the Manila Carnival beauty contest was Beatrice Sanup, Miss Baguio 1927 who fascinated the crowds at the fair not only with her dusky beauty but also with her traditional wardrobe.

Like Ilocos and Cebu, the province of Benguet has a rich carnival tradition that began in 1915 with the election of Ibaloy schoolgirl Eveline Chainus Guirey as its first queen. Its premier city, Baguio, held its first ever carnival in 1923, with Martina Salming reigning as queen. The beautiful mestizo Carmen Reese also was a royal-elect and other famous beauties who made national headlines included Corazon Custodio, Adela Romero and Rosita Moldero, originally from Lubuagan, Kalinga, who made it as Miss Free Press Luzon of 1929.

At the second National Beauty Contest, the Pines City was ably represented by local lass Beatrice Sanup, who, together with Juliet Linney (Miss Mountain Province) made waves at the fair with their exotic looks and fascinating local costumes. The bedimpled Beatrice took pride in wearing a traditional Igorot costume consisting of a ‘kambal’ (woven blouse top), “divit” (woven skirt) and "panjet" (headband), recorded for posterity in her official studio pictures.

210. Carnival Beauties: SOL JALANDONI SORIANO, 1927 Miss Surigao

O SOL MIO. Sol Soriano, the 1927 Miss Surigao, was the daughter of Atty. Francisco Soriano and Rosario Jalandoni of Iloilo. Her father served as the provincial fiscal of Surigao, and member of the 1st Philippine Assembly representing Surigao and Misamis.

The first Miss Surigao was selected only in 1927 with the crowning of Sol Jalandoni Soriano, a most worthy representative of the province to the 2nd National Beauty Contest of the Manila Carnival. None were more elated than her fellow Surigaonons who knew of her distinguished lineage and stature in their society.

Sol was born on 28 July 1905 to Francisco Soriano, a lawyer, and Rosario Jalandoni. Her parents both come from prominent families from Iloilo. During the Philippine Revolution, her father was named Secretary – General of the federal government of the Visayas. He moved his family to Surigao when he was appointed as the provincial fiscal of Surigao in 1901, and of Surigao and Misamis from 1902 to 1907. He relinquished this post when he ran successfully for the First Philippine Assembly as delegate for Surigao under the Progresista Party.

Sol, whose unique name means “sun”, was a bright presence at the Manila Carnival contest and she was expected to perform well. The title, however, went to Miss Manila, Luisa Marasigan. Nonetheless, a bigger title awaited her the next year with her marriage to her beau, Carlos Soriano on 29 December 1928. Carlos, the son of Leonardo Soriano and Joaquina Ganzon, could have even be her relative. The couple had an only child, Leonardo, born on 12 March 1933.

Indeed, Surigaonons must have felt very proud with the way their very own Sol captivated Manila with her beauty, charm and achievements. In 1929, the province was inspired to organize its first and only petit carnival, sponsored by local government bureaus. The first and only known Miss Surigao passed away on 16 September 1947, at age 42.

167. Carnival Beauties: JULITA MATIAS, 1927 Miss Nueva Ecija

CROWN JEWEL JULIE. Julita Matias, the 1927 Miss Nueva Ecija, the second from the province.

The first time Nueva Ecija fielded a representative to the Manila Carnival quest for Miss Philippines was in 1926, when the first official Miss Nueva Ecija was crowned. This sparked interest in the national carnival promoting the provincial government to hold its own petit carnivals.

In 1927, Nueva Ecija again named its second queen to compete in the 2nd National Beauty Contest. She was none other than 21 year old Juliana "Julita" Matias, born on 11 December 1904. After her carnival campaign (the title went to Tayabasin Luisa Marasigan), "Julie" married Manuel Serrano Maronilla Sr., with whom she had 7 children: Manuel Jr., Jose, Irene, Norberto, Julian, Ramon and Mary.

164. Carnival Beauties: ROSARIO J. IMPERIAL, 1927 Miss Albay

IMPERIAL BEAUTY. The second Miss Albay, Rosario Jaucian Imperial, belongs to a very influential family in the region known for their vast land holdings and prosperous abaca business.

Rosario Imperial y Jaucian, Albay’s bet to the 2nd National Beauty Contest belongs to the most affluent clan from Daraga with a most interesting history from both sides of her family. The earliest forebear of the Jaucians is a Christian Sangley from Molo, Iloilo whose grandson, Mariano, relocated to Daraga where he strated a family with a native Bicolana. His descendants made a fortune in abaca and, until the mid 20th century, the Jaucians were the biggest and richest landowning family in Bicolandia.

The Imperials, on the other hand, traces their roots to two brothers shipwrecked in San Bernardino Strait in the 1800s. After settling in Manila, they moved to Daraga where succeeding members married into the Jaucian family. Rosario is a product of this Jaucian-Imperial union, which consolidated the two families’ wealth, power and influence.

Well-known Imperials include the brothers Carlos (1907 Albay representative to the Philippine Assembly), Leoncio (senator, 1916-22) and Jose (Albay governor). To this list, we can now add Rosario, who ably represented her provincemates in the national quest for Miss Philippines.

157. Carnival Beauties: CONSUELO A. ROA, 1927 Miss Misamis

COMELY CONSUELO, the bet of Misamis in the 1927 Miss Philippines search of the Manila Carnival, comes from a family of means, supporting her province with her philanthropic acts, long after her marriage to a Cebu businessman.

The Roas are an old family from Cagayan de Misamis, and their family tree is well documented from as early as the 18th century. They are related to the foremost Filipino painter, Damian Domingo, whose marriage to Luisa Casas resulted in 10 children. Two of them, Jose and Anastacio moved to Misamis from Manila, where their two maternal aunts—both married to Roas, resided. The two brothers also married Roas—Jose married Catalina Roa, while Anastacio married Romana Roa.

Miss Misamis of 1927—Consuelo Roa—was descended from this large and artistic family. She was born on 20 June 1902 in Cagayan de Oro to parents Ramon Roa and Andrea Abejuela. She had a sister, named Carmen. Consuelo studied in local schools but did not finish her secondary education. She found herself the toast of her province when she was selected to succeed Amparo Nery and represent Misamis at the 2nd National Beauty Contest of the annual Manila Carnival.

After the national pageant (won by Miss Manila, Luisa Marasigan), Consuelo met and married a businessman from Cebu, Jose Suico Almario. She settled in her husband’s home province and their union was blessed with 5 sons and 2 daughters (Nemesio, Jose Jr., Alicia, Mario, Sylvia, Antonio and Benjamin). Consuelo, however, kept touch with relatives in Cagayan, starting a prosperous real estate property business there. She and her sister, Carmen Roa-Villarin were known for their philanthropic works in their beloved home province.

155. Carnival Beauties: LUZ S. BESA, 1927 Miss Tarlac

WIN OR LUZ. Luz Besa, the second beauty to hold the title of Miss Tarlac, married her escort, Engr. Arturo Ilagan, and led a long and fruitful life.

In the Manila Carnival of 1927, Tarlac was represented by the beautiful Luz Besa, (b. 7 November 1907/d. 2002) daughter of Tomas Besa Sr. and Fabiana Salak. Her father passed away when Luz and her siblings were still young, so her mother was left to run the family’s rice and palay business. Luz had an only sister, Lourdes (died of TB during WWII) and 4 brothers: Tomas Jr. (lawyer) , Gualberto (agriculturist), Augusto (orthopedic surgeon) and Gaudencio (judge).

Luz went to the Philippine Women’s University for her schooling. At the local pageant, she was escorted by Engr. Arturo Ilagan from Gerona, Tarlac. After the contest in Manila, Luz was avidly pursued by her engineer-escort for the next 7 years.

Eventually, the two got married and settled in Tarlac, where they operated the Tarlac Ice Plant while raising a brood of 7 children: Eddie, Hernan, Arturo Jr., Mina, Cynthia, Josefina and Ofelia. She lived to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary and passed away in 2002.

148. Carnival Beauties: JULIETA H. LOPEZ, 1927 Miss Iloilo

THE LUCK OF THE LOPEZES. Miss Iloilo of 1927, Julieta Lopez y Hofilena was an adoptive child of the prominent Lopez family from this province. Brother Eugenio ("ening) was a frequent escort of Carnival beauties in the 1920s.

Julieta Lopez, the Ilongga bet to the 1927 Manila Carnival search for Miss Philippines, comes from the prominent Lopez clan of Iloilo. She was born in the island of Guimaras (“Roca Encantada”) , the daughter of a peon and an American. Dña. Presentacion Hofileña-Lopez, the wife of Don Benito Lopez, took fancy on the baby girl who hailed from the same place as she did, and adopted her.

She thus became the sister of Eugenio Lopez, an ardent supporter of the Carnival himself and Fernando, the future vice president of the Philippines, and Marcos's party-mate. Julieta married Vicente Arenas who became the Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican.

The couple had a son, Ramon, who married well-known Manila society figure and philanthropist Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas.

135. Carnival Beauties: AMELIA Z. ROMUALDEZ, 1927 Miss Leyte

IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS? Amelia Zialcita Romuadez, Miss Leyte 1927, bears a striking resemblance to her first cousin, Imelda Romualdez (Marcos) in her official Manila Carnival picture.

In 1927, the province of Leyte fielded a homegrown beauty to the Miss Philippines tilt. She was Amelia Romualdez, who bore a striking resemblance to a first cousin—Imelda Romualdez—who would go on to become the First Lady of the land as the wife of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. Imelda's father, Vicente Orestes, is the younger brother of Miguel Lopez Romualdez, Amelia's father, who was married to Brigida Zialcita of Manila.

Amelia's father had been a former Assemblyman of Leyte and a Mayor of Manila during World War II. The Lopezes were of Spanish descent; Amelia's paternal grandmother, Trinidad Lopez was a daughter of a Spanish friar, Fray Diego de Lopez of Granada, Spain who was assigned in Leyte. The Lopezes are credited with founding the town of Tolosa and enjoyed a reputation as a rich, influential and accomplished family.


Amelia's siblings included Daniel (Speaker of the House of Representatives 1957-62), Estela, Miguel Jr., Alberto (father of former Health Secretary, Alberto G. Romualdez), Froilan and Eduardo (Central Bank Governor).

Though a popular candidate, she did not place in the finals, with the crown going to Tayabasin Luisa Marasigan, who represented Manila and who also reigned as Sultana ng Pasig. In later years, Amelia married Col. Maximiano Janairo and settled in Maryland, U.S.A.

133. Carnival Beauties: RIZALINA B. CALUMPANG, 1927 Miss Negros Oriental

1927 MISS NEGROS ORIENTAL, RIZALINA "Saling" CALUMPANG

The Calumpangs are one of the oldest families of Tanjay, which, at the time of the Spanish conquest was one of the more established and biggest settlements outside of Cebu. From this esteemed family came Rizalina Calumpang y Borromeo, Miss Tanjay of 1927, and who was eventually named as Miss Negros Oriental 1927. "Saling" was born on 30 December 1908, hence her Rizal-inspired name. Rare portraits of her show her distinct mestiza features, a result of the intermarriages of the Calumpangs with Spanish families (her paternal grandfather, Martin Calumpang had a Spanish-Irish friar for a father). She was one of the few Negrense beauties ever to participate in the national fair. She was sent to the 2nd National Beauty Contest of the 1927 Manila Carnival, but did not place. The crown went to an Escolarina, Luisa Marasigan of Tayabas, who represented Manila.

The beautiful “Saling” later became the wife of a dashing Baisanon, Fructuoso Montesa. Her descendants and relatives are renown personalities themselves, and they include the 1960 Miss Negros Oriental, Dr. Estela Guerrero Navarro (her husband is a 2nd cousin), Paquita Roces (the 2st Camay Girl), director Eddie Romero (her nephew), actress Chanda Romero (her grandniece), former Senator and Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Jose Calumpang Munoz-Romero (her 2nd cousin) and Dr. Jose Ma. Veloso Borromeo (a cousin, husband of Amparo Noel, 1912 Reina de Bisayas) The first and only Miss Negros Oriental bet to the national Carnival of Manila passed away at the age of 81 on 23 August 1990.

(Many thanks to Ron Jacob Abrasaldo Calumpang for the additional info on his relative, Miss Negros Oriental 1926 Rizalina Calumpang)

131. Carnival Beauties: ROSARIO L. MANUEL, 1927 Miss Pampanga

ROSARIO MANUEL, Miss Pampanga 1927. A beauty of renown from Bacolor, made it to the national finals of the 1927 edition of the Manila Carnival.

True to its title as the “Athens of Pampanga”, Bacolor was not just a cradle of culture, it was also the seat of beauty, echoing the fabled reputation of Greece as the land of beautiful goddesses--Hera, Aphrodite and Athena—who figured in perhaps, the 1st documented beauty pageant of ancient times, as judged by Paris.

Bacolor belles like Luz Sarmiento, Paz Sanchez, Consuelo Santos and Elisa Gutierrez were regarded as the town muses in the mid 1920s-1930s. A more notable titled beauty however was Rosario Manuel, crowned Miss Pampanga 1927. She was the daughter of Generoso Manuel and Gliceria Lacsamana of Cabambangan, now the town’s poblacion.

With her victory, Rosario (Chayong) gained the right to represent the province in the 2nd National Beauty Contest sponsored by The Philippine Free Press. Doe-eyed Rosario went to Manila for the competition to make her bid for the Miss Philippines crown. It was a tall order for Rosario, as among the previous year’s winners was a kabalen—Socorro Henson of Angeles, who reigned as Manila’s Carnival Queen of 1926.

In the 1927 edition held from February 12 to 27, 28 beauties from around the country participated. Two of the contenders that year were Amelia Romualdez, Miss Leyte, who bore a striking resemblance to her first cousin, Imelda Romualdez and fellow Kapampangan, Luz Besa of Tarlac. The judges were reminded that “in the selection of the most beautiful ladies, (you) shall consider, besides physical beauty, the personal charms and the general refinement and composure of candidates”.

In the end, Luisa Marasigan, Miss Manila, won as Miss Philippines. Her court included Miss Luzon, Iluminada Laurel (Batangas), Miss Visayas, Lourdes Rodriguez (Cebu) and Miss Mindanao, Nora Maulana (Sulu). Even then, Rosario Manuel’s beauty was immortalized in a special commemorative booklet issued by Free Press magazine. Rosario Manuel settled back in Bacolor, remaining unmarried and adopting young relatives to serve as companions for the rest of her life.

127. Carnival Beauties: ENCARNACION I. JOHNSON, 1927 Miss Rizal

ENCHANTING ENCARNITA. Miss Rizal of 1927 charmed the King Escort of the 1927 Miss Philippines, and became Mrs. Guillermo Jose and the mother of two tennis champions.

In 1926, the province of Rizal fielded its very first Miss Rizal to the 1st National Beauty Contest in the person of Remedios Santos, a dreamy-eyed mestiza beauty who went to Manila for the pageant and whose room mate was the eventual winner, Anita Noble of Batangas. The next year, Rizal chose another mestiza bet, the slender Filipina-American Encarnacion Ibañez Johnson.

While Encarnita did not place in the finals, she caught the eye of the King Consort of Luisa Marasigan, the 1927 Miss Philippines winner. Guillermo Jose, a family friend of the Marasigans (her sisters were schoolmates of Luisa at Centro Escolar), had been requested to provide escorting duties to the new Queen by the school directress, Carmen de Luna, who also happened to be his godmother. In their moments together, Guillermo would often ask Luisa about “Miss Rizal”. Luisa, sensing his attraction to Encarnita, urged her escort to pursue and court her.

Guillermo took the Queen’s advice and successfully wooed Encarnita. She became Mrs. Guillermo Jose and settled in Manila. Guillermo became very much active in the tennis sports scene ( he became the president of the Philippine Tennis Association in the 1950s) and the couple even had two sons who became national tennis champions: Johnny and Danny Jose. Johnny became a member of the victorious 1955 Philippine Davis Cup team along with Raymond Dero and Felicisimo Ampon. In 1962, Johnny won a Gold Medal in the Asian Games held in Jakarta. Today, the Guillermo Jose Memorial Tennis Tournament is held annually and this has become a venue where budding young tennis players are discovered.

55. 1927, CANDIDATES OF THE 2ND NATIONAL BEAUTY CONTEST

1927 PHILIPPINE BEAUTIES. The number of delegates dwindled to 29 in the 2nd National Beauty Contest, but the fervor of the search for the country's 2nd Miss Philippines was still very much there.

MISS ABRA, Consolacion Purugganan

MISS ALBAY, Rosario Imperial

MISS BAGUIO, Beatric Sanup

MISS BATAAN, Rosalina Fonacier

MISS BUKIDNON, Isabel Melendez

MISS BULACAN, Pacita Mateo.

(From Baliwag. Daughter of the legendary beauty Josefa Lara Tiongson aka Pepitang Himala, the subject of a popular kundiman, “Joselynang Baliwag”.)

MISS CAGAYAN, Carmen Quinto

MISS CAVITE, Leonor Bustamante

MISS CAPIZ, Rosario Picazo

MISS CEBU, Lourdes Rodriguguez

MISS ILOCOS NORTE, Petra Molina

MISS ILOCOS SUR, Susana Tugade

MISS ILOILO, Julieta Lopez

MISS ISABELA, Arminda Martinez

MISS LA UNION, Carmen Campos

MISS LAGUNA, Iluminada Laurel

MISS LANAO, Manuki Makarimbang

MISS LEYTE, Amelia Romualdez.

(1^st cousin of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Married to Col. Maximiano Jenairo and settled in Maryland, U.S.A.)

MISS MANILA, Luisa Marasigan

MISS MARINDUQUE, Mercedes de Jesus

MISS MINDORO, Caridad Morente

(b. 7 Jan. 1906. From Pinamalayan, Mindoro. Finished pre-med Zoology from U.P. Married Atty. Jesus Pineda and settled in Concepcion,Tarlac. At 100 years old, she was the oldest alumni of St. Scholastica High School)

MISS MISAMIS, Consuelo Roa

MISS MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, Juliet Linney

MISS NEGROS ORIENTAL, Rizalina Calumpang

MISS NUEVA ECIJA, Julita Matias

MISS NUEVA VIZCAYA, Josefina Tolentino

MISS PALAWAN, Elvira Manalo

MISS PAMPANGA, Rosario Manuel

(From Bacolor, daughter of Generosos Manuel and Gliceria Laxamana. Lived all her life in Pampanga, died single.)

MISS PANGASINAN, Asuncion Gonzales.

(A direct relative of Nieves Gonzales, 1919 Pangasinan Carnival Queen and grandmother of 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran.)

MISS RIZAL, Encarnacion Johnson Ibanez.

(Married the King Consort of Miss Philippines 1927, Guillermo Jose. Their sons became national tennis and pelota champions.)

MISS ROMBLON, Isabel Bowers

MISS SAMAR, Rosie McGuire

MISS SULU, Nora Maulana

MISS SURIGAO, Sol Soriano

MISS TARLAC, Luz Besa

(Daughter of Tomas Besa Sr. and Fabiana Salak. Married escort Engr. Arturo Ilagan. b. 7 Nov. 1907-d. 2002)

MISS ZAMBOANGA, Manolita Villaescusa

53. 1927, Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival, LUISA FERNANDEZ MARASIGAN

1927 MISS PHILIPPINES. The 2nd Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival was an Escolarina, Luisa Fernandez Marasigan. Although she represented Manila in the national contest, many still refer to her as "Miss Philippines from Gumaca, Tayabas", where she hailed from.

So well-received was the 1^st National Beauty Contest that the next year, it became the main feature of the 1927 Manila Carnival. The same procedure was employed in the search for Miss Philippines—from among provincial beauties, the fairest of the fair would be selected to rule over the Carnival. In this year’s edition, leading high schools, colleges and universities were tapped to participate. Among the schools invited was the Centro Escolar de Señoritas.

THE GRADUATE. Luisa as a young high school graduate of the Centro Escolar. She became a teacher in her native Tayabas after her reign.

Under the directorship of Librada Avelino, a search was conducted for the loveliest Escolarina. Topping the list was a sophomore from Tayabas, Luisa Fernandez Marasigan. Lucing was the daughter of Francisco Marasigan of Gumaca and Andrea Fernandez of Macalelon. Andrea was of Spanish ancestry, and the 8 Marasigan children all had mestiza features, but it was Luisa who seemed to have inherited the best of the Caucasian-Oriental blend. Her most attractive features were her dreamy eyes—“mapungay”—which gave her a soulful kind of beauty.

LOVELY LUISA. In one of her official photos as the 2nd Miss Philippines.

At the time of the Carnival, Luisa, together with elder sister Concepcion, were internas at the college. In the absence of their parents, it was Concepcion who gave the go-signal to Luisa’s candidacy for the title of Miss Manila, which was contested by 17 beauties from the city’s different districts: Nitang Moreno (Gagalangin), Lourdes Baltazar (Malate), Herminia Guerrero (Malate), Beatriz Concepcion Puzon (Sta. Ana), Presentacion Perez (Singalong), Rosario Flores (Sta. Mesa), Severina Narciso Mendoza (Pandacan), Josefina Conde (San Miguel), Conchita Tuason (Sampaloc), Leonila Mat. Castro (Tondo), Evarista Laconico (Trozo), Pacita Legarda (Binondo), Luisa Fernandez (Intramuros), Amparo Trinidad Papa (Quiapo), Salud Austria (San Lazaro), Erlinda Villarica (Sta. Cruz)

CROWNED AND CAPED. Luisa Marasigan won the Miss Manila crown and the title Sultana de Pasig in the reliminary contest leading to the national tilt.
As expected, Lucing topped the contest ahead of Salud Austria and Pacita Legarda. She was crowned as “Sultana de Pasig”, but donned the title of Miss Manila in the national competition. It was an exciting moment for the 16 year old Lucing when she joined 30+ other beautiful girls from different parts of the country for the pageant. There were representatives from as far as the Mountain Province, Abra, Lanao and Sulu. Judging the proceedings were leading figures in the arts and culture like sculptor Guillermo Tolentino and painter Fernando Amorsolo.
QUEENS, PAST AND PRESENT. 1927 Queen Luisa Marasigan with outgoing 1926 Queen Anita Noble, Flanking them are Miss Visayas (Lourdes Rodriguez) and Miss Mindanao (Nora Maulana).
Unlike last year, the final decision was made with ease and speed; the judges were almost unanimous in their choice for Miss Philippines of 1927—no other than Luisa Marasigan. Comprising her court was Iluminada Laurel of Laguna (Miss Luzon), Lourdes Rodriguez of Cebu (Miss Visayas) and Nora Maulana of Sulu (Miss Mindanao). Standing as her dashing King Consort was Guillermo Jose, a godson of the Centro Escolar director. Guillermo’s photo was among the scores sent by the Bachelor’s Club to Luisa so she could personally select her consort. He later married the candidate from Rizal, Encarnacion Ibañez Johnson.

FLORAL PARADE. Luisa Marasigan and King Consort Guillermo Jose, at the traditional floral motorcade. Guillermo later married Miss Rizal 1926, Encarnacion Ibanez Johnson.

1927 CARNIVAL MEMORABILIA. A rare 1927 program booklet of the Carnival and a photo of Miss Philippines.
The young Luisa proved to be one of the more popular Miss Philippines ever, and her appearance at the floral parade attracted large crowds. Her grateful school feted her with a series of musical tributes in which she even gave a very inspiring speech about the role of Filipinas in a country on the brink of a great change. In addressing her school, Queen Luisa said in reflection: "To my mind, the national beauty contest which was held for the second time in the Philippines should not only be an occasion for the outburst of admiration for physical beauty. It should be also an occasion for the cultivation of a higher form of beauty--the spiritual beauty..when the representatives of the various provinces vie with each other not for their personal aggrandizement but for the honor of the country we all love.."

I'M A FAN. Luisa Marasigan was definitely one of the most beautiful winners of the Miss Philippines Contest, possessing a dreamy kind of facial beauty, attractive even by today's standards.
But once the lights on the 1927 Carnival went out, Luisa went back to her high school studies, graduating in 1929. She went back to Gumaca to start a teaching career while serving her parish church with zeal. She also renewed acquaintance with her childhood friend, Sisenando Barretto, a U.P engineering graduate. Their marriage had to wait as Sisenando had to take further studies in the U.S. and was further delayed by his father’s death. It was only in 26 October 1940 that the Luisa—then already 24 years old—and Sisenando got married in Gumaca.

SWEETHEARTS FOREVER. Wedding day picture of Luisa and Sisenando. They were long-time acquaintances, but their love blossomed only when they met again as adults.
As Sisenando found a job in Manila, the Marasigans settled on Calle Cataluña in Sampaloc. The couple had 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys, who went on to become successful professionals: Sylvia, Victoria (both Holy Ghost College graduates), Roberto ( a doctor) and Sisenando Jr. (Economics graduate of Ateneo). In 1950, the Marasigans moved to San Juan.

THE BARRETTO- MARASIGAN FAMILY IN THE 1960s. (Standing L-R) Sisenando M. Barretto Jr., Victoaria Barretto Anastacio, Roberto M. Barretto. (Seated L-R) Manuel Lagdameo Zialcita carrying Franz Barretto Zialcita, Luisa Marasigan Barretto, Sisenando Barretto Sr., Sylvia Barretto Zialcita carrying Edmund Barretto Zialcita.

Luisa’s beloved Sisenando died unexpectedly in 1968, while en route to a conference in Cagayan de Oro. Even as the children got married, relocated and, in the case of Roberto, migrated abroad, the dreamy-eyed Luisa Marasigan lived out the rest of her days in Manila, the city she ably represented inthe 1927 Manila Carnival, and where she found fame as Miss Philippines.