Gabriele Raine Baljak won the coveted Miss Cebu 2016 crown on January 13, 2016 in the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Out of the 12 candidates vying for the Miss Cebu crown, Baljak, an 18-year-old disc jockey who attended the Cebu International School, was among the standouts. She exuded confidence.

Baljak also won the special awards for Miss ABS-CBN TV Plus, Kapamilya Star of the Night, and Best in Evening Gown. While, the other winners were Tracy Maureen Perez, first runner-up; Shaila Mae Rebortora, second runner-up; Merl Gayo, third runner-up; and Felina Joyce Lim, fourth runner-up.

Lim won two special awards: Miss Friendship, courtesy of Waterfront Hotel and Casino, and Miss Photogenic, courtesy of NGenius.

During the final question and answer portion, the top five finalists were asked, “If you could talk to the reigning Miss Colombia to convince her to visit Cebu, what would you tell her?”

Baljak answered: “As a proud Cebuana, I would tell her to visit Cebu because it is where the heart sings. And with that, Cebuanos have a genuine passion and we love to share. Miss Colombia is gorgeous and confident, but during that night, she might have given a little too much confidence and sometimes that gives another meaning. I believe we can show her how to enjoy the little things. Because Cebuanos are happy no matter what, and that’s what makes Cebu where the heart sings.”

The pageant started with the finalists introducing themselves wearing hablon-inspired resort wear. The fabrics were acquired through the Hablon Extension Program of the Cebu Technogical University Argao Campus, and the creative resort wear outfits were made by various Cebuano fashion designers.

For Baljak, winning Miss Cebu 2016 means that she will represent her island not only to the Philippines but the rest of the world. “I believe that I am a role model who will truly inspire the youth and carry on our history and heritage in whatever future developments we will have. And I guess I am beautiful with a brain!” she quipped.

It’s not the first crown in the family. In 1986, Baljak’s mother, Merce Abellana, was crowned Miss Tourism. The mother-and-daughter pair has appeared in an advertising campaign together.

Miss Cebu is an annual beauty-and-brains pageant organized by the City Government of Cebu through the Cebu City Tourism Commission and is one of the highlights during the Sinulog Festival. It aims to showcase not only the Cebuana beauty but also her many brilliant qualities, including confidence and compassion.