Maggi Celebrado took all but three of the eight special awards en route to being named the 2007 Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Saturday night. Unfolding before a near-capacity crowd at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, Celebrado’s victory earns her a
Maggi Celebrado took all but three of the eight special awards en route to being named the 2007 Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Saturday night.
Unfolding before a near-capacity crowd at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, Celebrado’s victory earns her a spot in the state competition that will be hosted by the Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council on July 28.
Cheyenne Barretto, a 2007 graduate of Kapa‘a High School, earned the first runner-up honor, and Daphne Colobong was crowned the second runner-up.
Celebrado, a student at Kaua‘i Community College, will get an opportunity to encore her performance at the 2007 Miss Hawai‘i Filipina pageant as the Kaua‘i representative.
The daughter of Don and Phyllis Celebrado, of Lihu‘e, finished the evening by topping the category scores in Miss Congeniality, Most Photogenic, Miss Popularity in ads, Best Swimsuit and Best in Terno Speech phases as the audience erupted in cheers each time her name was announced.
Growing up with Polynesian dance, Kaylie Ann Beltran captured the talent phase with her rendering of an otea Tahitian dance number. The 2007 graduate of Kapa‘a told the audience how it was her background in Polynesian dance that transformed her from a shy, young girl into a vivacious young woman.
Brianne Salvador of Kilauea was named the Miss Popularity in ticket sales.
Barretto, in the Terno Speech phase, spoke of being inspired to find out more about her heritage that brought her great grandfather to Hawai‘i.
“Today’s youth is our hope to carry on our future for tomorrow,” said Adams Bulosan, the chairman for this year’s pageant that marked its 49th anniversary of providing scholarships for young Filipino women. “It is also one way of appreciating our heritage and cultural values.”
Domie Bucasas, president of the Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council which hosted the event, said “The Magic of Youth” was a perfect theme to depict the many talents, grace, poise and intelligence of the contestants and young Filipinos on the island.
“Throughout the years, the traditional Miss Kaua‘i Filipina Pageant has shown to the community, a wonderful and unique characteristic of Filipino culture,” Bucasas said. “This annual celebration has made a prominent and distinctive contribution toward the enrichment of our Hawaiian way of life.”
Tickets for the state pageant go on sale soon. Bucasas said, “You better get them early.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
