Miss Eastern Visayas State University 2016 made history being the region’s first candidate to win the national crown of the Culture and the Arts Festival last December 6, 2016 at Calle Crisologo, Vigan City.
Venisse Charm Costibolo, a seventeen-year old stunner from the College of Technology outshone 17 beauties representing SUCs all over the country and was crowned alongside Joao Artemio Lorenzo Rama of Region VI-Western Visayas as Mr. Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges National during the 8th PASUC National Culture and the Arts Festival hosted by the University of Northern Philippines, Dec. 3-9.
“I learned something through my experience. We have to grow, and by growing, we learn. I will continue the advocacy that I have, by of course, collaborating with other regions all over the nation and through this collaboration, we can make global competitiveness within the people,” Costibolo told The PASUC Chronicler.
Costibolo automatically represented the region in the Ms. PASUC Nationals Pageant after being the first runner-up in the Ms. Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Search last Oct. 26 at Naval State University. Prior to this, she was Miss Silka Leyte 2016 First Runner-up and Miss Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) for the same year.
“It changed my life in a positive way. I became less and less pessimistic. And it made me braver. It taught me not to give up and to always look on the bright side of life. As the saying goes and I quote: Every dark cloud has a silver lining,” Costibolo said in an interview with the Industrial Wheel.
Candidates for the national pageant exuded their different regional attires during the Pre-Pageant on December 3 and a showcase of talents and respective school uniforms on December 5 wherein Costibolo performed “Panawagan para sa mga luhang nasayang” by Alexaander Sy, a spoken word poetry piece dedicated to the victims and survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda.
EV ranks fourth in PASUC Fest
Out of 18 competing regions in the country, Eastern Visayas ranked fourth after a week-long national event anchored on the theme: “PASUC @ 49: Paving the Path towards Internationalization through Culture and the Arts”.
Region 8 raked championships in Vocal Duet and Solo category (LNU), 1st runner up in Dagliang Talumpati (LNU), 2nd runner up in On-the-Spot Painting (UEP), 3rd runner up in Contemporary Dance (EVSU), 4th runner up in Indigenous Dance (LNU), 6th runner up in Choral Singing (EVSU), 6th runner up in Folk Dance (PIT), 7th runner up in Radio Drama (NWSSU) and stashed the Miss PASUC National crown (EVSU).
“It was overwhelming in our part ‘coz we are improving so far. We landed 9th place last year, but now we are on the 6th place,” said Serkin Toni Baleros, a chorale member.
The chorale already started their one-on-one session or individual trainings to members so as to improve in their next performances.
“Well, experience-wise, they really improve a lot. We always make it sure that it will always be better than the last,” said Head of Cultural Affairs and SAMLEYAW Performing Arts adviser, Prof. Jerry Mores.
According to Prof. Mores, they are conducting summer camps most of the time and have an established year-round training like that of the Performing Arts group to improve for PASUC competitions.
“In terms of our region’s performance, we really improve a lot. So, it is really a big jump for our region,” Prof. Mores added.
