CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – The first-ever Miss Tobacco Philippines will be crowned at the Candon City Arena on March 25, Mayor Eric D. Singson said.
FIFTEEN candidates in the Miss Tobacco Philippines are presented in their casual wear at the Civic Center of Candon City on March 4. (Freddie G. Lazaro)
The beauty pageant is one of the highlights of the Candon City Tobacco Festival which is back after a three-year lull due to the pandemic.
“The tobacco beauty pageant will expand this year from the former search for Miss Virginia Tobacco to Miss Tobacco Philippines to include the burley and native-type tobacco-producing provinces with the collaboration of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI),” said Singson.
Fifteen candidates are vying for the crown – three representing NTA Candon City branch; three from the NTA La Union branch; two from Abra; two from the NTA Vigan branch; two from the Ilocos Norte NTA branch; one from Cagayan; one from Isabela; and one from Pangasinan.
On March 4, the candidates displayed their casual wear during their presentation at the Civic Center of Candon City and will vie in the talent competition here on March 23.
Singson said that the Miss Tobacco Philippines beauty pageant aims to sustain the continuing advocacy on the development of the tobacco industry and will help boost farm tourism in the countryside.
“We want to show to the public that the participants for the first search of Miss Tobacco Philippines are coming from all the provinces that produce tobacco, unlike before when the pageant will only be joined by the Virginia tobacco-producing provinces,” said Singson.
Candon City Tobacco Festival activities for started on March 18 and will end on March 28.