1929 MISS PHILIPPINES. The toast of the State University, Pacita de los Reyes, was one of the most accomplished queens of our Carnival years. She became a lawyer and placed in the Top Ten of bar topnotchers.Much to the dismay of Carnival fans, no Manila Carnival was held in 1928 due to funding problems. The Carnival before proved to be too expensive to launch and stage what with the transport and billeting of candidates from the different provinces. Moreover, the newspaper balloting method—which was a major source of Carnival income--had been scrapped.
THE PRIDE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY. Pacita, in one of her ternos especially designed by Pacita Longos, the leading couturier of her time.
When the Philippine Carnival Association convened to mount the 1929 Manila Carnival, the officials agreed to be more cost-efficient by using the student pool of colleges and universities to search for viable candidates. From these delegates, a Miss Philippines would be chosen, by paid balloting.
GRECIAN GODDESS. Pacita, in one of her official portraits, dressed in her coronation gown.
The schools were quick to cooperate—and the state university, no less, strategized a selection process for their official bet. The loveliest co-eds were invited to an afternoon tea by U.P. president, Rafael Palma, with the various deans in attendance, including Prof. Guillermo Tolentino of the C
GOWNED AND CROWNED. Pacita in her coronation gown designed by famed couturier Pacita Longos. The bodice was trimmed with thousands of seed pearls.
Pacita was born in 1912, in Tondo,
The 1929 Miss U.P. was quite a stunner, what with her beauty, intelligence and a tall 5’6” frame. These qualities were not lost with the public and the judges during the Miss Philippines finals. Pacita de los Reyes became our third Miss 
BEAUTY AND BRAINS. Pacita was a campus standout at the University of the Philippines-College of Law.
Instead of a court consisting of 3 regional winners, Pacita had 4 ‘damas de honor’ or princesses led by Isabelita de los Reyes (St. Theresa’s College), Beatrice Villanueva (
GRAND CORONATION NIGHT. "Pearl of the Orient Seas" was the the evening motif, and all the sea deities--headed by Neptune--came to participate in the crowning of Pacita.Pacita found herself the toast of the 16-day Carnival festivities, gracing nightly affairs—Proclamation Night, Coronation Night, Miss Philippines Night, Comparsa Night and the U.P. Night-- with different assigned escorts. Most special to her was the U.P. Night where a “Pageant of Agriculture” play was written by Carlos P. Romulo to honor the school’s queen, who appeared as the Goddess of Agriculture. Her Coronation Night, in which she appeared as “Miss Pearl of the
MISS PHILIPPINES MEET MISS AMERICA. Pacita greets Miss America of 1926, Mary Campbell during her Manila visit.
Another special moment was Pacita’s meeting of the 1926 Miss
PACITA AT THE FLORAL PARADE. Paz participates in the traditional floral parade of the 1929 Manila Carnival.
She also was engaged in various socio-civic activities—from the CWL, Elks Cerebral Palsy to the Community Chest. She also became a president of U.P. Women Lawyers’ Circle (WILOCI) while serving as a director in their various family enterprises. She even supplemented her past Miss Philippines title by winning the “Most Popular Woman of the 
During the War, Pacita lived in the De Los Reyes ancestral home in
In 1957, Pacita launched her political career by running under Recto’s party for a senatorial position. Just a year later, the storybook romance of Phillips-de los Reyes came to an end when the couple agreed to separate amicably for reasons known only to them. Pacita continued practicing law in her
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