The huge ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel was literally filled to the rafters for the Miss Cebu beauty contest. It was a veritable fashion parade, interspersed with dances and song numbers. Theme was pre-Hispanic Cebu.

There was already a certain degree of sophistication at the time, said the voiceover, citing that a solid gold death mask was recently unearthed at a site in Plaza Independencia during some work being done for its improvement.

Twelve pretty girls vied for the coveted title, which this year went to Anther Infante, a radio DJ and Mass Communications student. She was crowned by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Miss Cebu 2011 Mia Faridoon.

Anther was also chosen as Best in Long Gown, wearing a gold-pleated mermaid-cut number by Cary Santiago, himself adjudged as best designer.

First runner-up Chloe Palang, a Mass Communications graduate, was awarded by Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chair of the Cebu City Tourism Commission, which is in charge of the annual event.

Margot was assisted by a very efficient group, among which were Ana Jordana Quisumbing, Tetta Ba-ad, and Jaja Chiongbian Rama, wife of Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr.

Another Mass Comm graduate, Ella Sarmago, was the second runner-up, and a crowd favorite because of the way she answered the query about choosing between career and love. Love, of course.

The third and fourth runners-up, respectively, were Jonnie Rose Wee and Herlie Kim Artugue, both nursing students.

Among the judges were fashion editor Mayenne Carmona, former Rep. Risa Hontiveros, restaurateur Ana Rocha, architect/designer Francis Libiran and Martin Xu, country manager of Cathay Pacific, which gave the winners round-trip tickets to Hong Kong and more.

Miss Cebu and her court graced the grand Balik Cebu bash sponsored by The Terraces at Ayala Center for all balikbayan who had come for the festivities honoring Santo Niño de Cebu.

Francis Monera, president of Cebu Holdings, welcomed the large crowd during a program emceed by Sam Costanilla and Mia Faridoon. Seated with him at the presidential table were Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, former DOT regional director Dawn Roa and Ahmed Cuizon.

No rain on grand parade

The weather bureau had predicted rain for Jan. 14, but nary a drop fell on the two main festivities of the day. First was the fluvial parade down the Mactan channel from the wharf of Ernesto and Mary Ouano’s family in Mandaue City, all the way to Cebu City.

The flower-decked ship with the Santo Niño was escorted by numerous sea craft. Overhead, aircraft showered the sea lanes with petals. Thousands lined the international port as the Santo Niño sailed past inside a glass case smothered by orchids.

Fiesta luncheon

At noontime, Jose Mari and Happy Miranda hosted the annual luncheon to celebrate the Santo Niño fiesta, assisted by their children—Merche, Ipar and Josu. Their home, one of the few stately mansions still lived in at Ramos street, was once the residence of their grandmother Mercedes Moras and mother Carmen Miranda.

It has retained its old charm, with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, family portraits, solid furniture and a 20-ft-high fence, which, at this time of the year, is laden with the white blossoms of the bridal bouquet vine.

The front garden has given way to Ipar’s restaurant, which serves authentic Spanish cuisine. Ipar learned it during his stay in Cuenca and other parts of Spain where he studied for several years. Some of the food served on this occasion came from Ipar’s, like the “Salteado” of broccoli, cauliflower, onions and diced potatoes, seasoned with the right amount of olive oil and flavored with vinegar.

From the old recipe book had come the “pescado rebozado, caldereta con olivas, lengua estofada, and leche flan al caramelo.” The lechon was the juiciest, crispiest ever, roasted for hours on a slow fire at the back garden.

If many of us left the Miranda manse forfeiting coffee, it was to get through traffic and go home, or else catch the procession which was leaving the starting point at 1:30 p.m.

Over at the Basilica del Santo Niño, Archbishop Jose Palma handed over the statue of the Holy Child for enshrining on the carroza, covered with flowers, for the procession. Bells rang and devotees cheered as the silver float left the church grounds through the ancient archway.

Almost two million joined the procession or lined the streets where it passed—Osmeña Boulevard, Mango Avenue, MJ Cuenco Avenue, and back to D. Jakosalem. It was 7 p.m. when the Santo Niño returned to His home.

Traffic was at a standstill. Ana Maria Escaño left the family car at Casino Español de Cebu, and walked more than two kilometers to get her luggage. She was lucky to find a taxi which took her through a circuitous road to the seaport, there to board ship for Southern Leyte.

Next day, Jan. 15, she had to be in her hometown, Malitbog, for the fiesta honoring Santo Niño de Cebu. And the day after, Jan. 16, it would be the birthday of her mother Maria Pilar de Escaño. “It was just a small celebration,” she texted, but I did not want to miss it.”