Pageant candidates go on a 24/7 mission to advocate HIV/AIDS awareness in Aklan

KALIBO, Aklan- At least 15 candidates are vying for this year’s Queen of Aklan (QoA), a pageant for a cause dedicated to the gay and transgender community advocating against increasing HIV/AIDS cases in the province of Aklan. The 14 candidates were presented to the media at Nenette’s Garden on Saturday afternoon.

The pageant was organized by the Queen of Aklan organization, the Butterfly Brigade, and the Provincial Health Office (PHO). One of the finalists failed to attend the press presentation.

Jemery Reontoy, 29, a mass communication graduate at the Northwestern Visayan College, told the media that this was his third time joining the pageant. He hopes to win the crown this time, the majority of the candidates were first timers.

“Back in college, I was curious when I saw a crowd gathering at the ABL Sports Complex. There, I witnessed how gays are preparing for the pageant. I then dreamed of joining the pageant,” he added.

Errol Rodines, general manager of QoA, said that since the finalists were pre-screened and selected last month, they were subjected to a series of seminars to empower them as capable ambassadors of their respective towns, spreading awareness against HIV/AIDS.

Among the seminars they attended this year were about project management and the anatomy of a project proposal, including the importance of heritage preservation. The session about heritage preservation is in preparation for their municipal costume category coming December 2024 for their pageant night.

Some candidates also discussed that they are giving free counseling sessions in person or on social media about HIV/AIDS awareness. According to the PHO, the province has registered 643 HIV/AIDS cases since 1999. Some 64 of them have already died.

Many of those victims were not only in Boracay Island, a beach destination, but also in the hinterland towns of Libacao and Madalag. More than 500 of the victims were male.

Last year’s pageant created a stir in the province after one of the finalists was admitted during the pageant’s question-and-answer forum and admitted that he was HIV-AIDS positive.

“I did not regret my decision to go out to the public and I also encouraged others to do the same as we battle against discrimination,” Divine Pogoy added.

The 15 finalists were:

1. Aeris Lard of New Washington 2. Jewel Alexie Brooks Mondragon of Altavas 3. Aloha Montemayor of New Washington 4. Chrisniel Diaz of Malay 5. Jason De Jose Osorio of Nabas 6. MJ Curly Salcedo of Malay 7. Jemery Salcedo Reontoy of Banga 8. Edz Antonio Lasola of Tangalan 9 Hirel Solano Nabas 10 Hinata Spring Numancia 11 Bonbon Matorres Kalibo 12 Karen Montemayor New Washington 13 Rexy Ortega Libacao 14 Nikay Matangga Numancia 15 Ashleigh Claire Cipriano New Washington