KIARA Liane Wellington, 21, representing the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, was crowned as Reyna ng Aliwan 2023, in one of the highlight events of Aliwan Fiesta’s live comeback after a hiatus of 3 years due to the pandemic.
The 5’5″ Wellington, from Talisay, Cebu, is also the reigning Sinulog Festival Queen. Last year, she joined Miss Philippines Earth and made it as a runner-up (top 10).
Wellington spent one year at the University of San Jose-Recoletos as a Tourism student and plans of returning to school soon. She hopes to become a luxurious yacht stewardess, following in the footsteps of her parents who used to work in yachts.
Kiara topped the field of 18 contestants representing different festivals all over the country, including first runner-up Kristine Billy Tabaday from Ayat Festival of La Union; and second runners-up Natalya Margaret Amido Lindsay from Tagultol Fishing Festival of Atimonan, Quezon; Gheneza Marie Muller from Udyakan Festival of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; and Patricia Marie Mendiola, Pasayahan Festival of Lucena.
For the record, Kiara is the 8th Sinulog Queen to be crowned as Reyna ng Aliwan, and the 9th including Shanyl Kayle Hofer who won as Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen (AFDQ) in the virtual edition in 2021.
Angeli Dione Gomez, who won as Reyna ng Aliwan in 2012 representing Hinulawan Festival of Toledo, Cebu, completes the roster of 10 Reyna ng Aliwan winners from Cebu.
The roster of Reyna ng Aliwan winners from Cebu are as follows: Sian Maynard, 2009; Rizzini Alexis Gomez, 2010; Rogelie Catacutan, 2011; Angelie Dione Gomez, 2012; Jamie Herrell, 2013; Steffi Rose Aberasturi, 2014; Cynthia Magpatoc Thomalla, 2016; Marla Alforque, 2017; Shanyl Kayle Hofer (AFDQ), 2021; and Wellington.
Organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company, Aliwan Fiesta is dubbed as the “Festival of Champions.”
As one of its highlights, the glittering Reyna ng Aliwan pageant has become a launching pad or jump off stage for many winners and contestants alike, in their colorful, and on many occasions, victorious journeys to national as well as international pageants.
