Written by Joanne B. Benitez/THE RED CHRONICLES
Layout by Vhee-Jei M. Bringas/THE RED CHRONICLES
Photos by Marco Angelo Mercado and Alan Leong/THE RED CHRONICLES
MUNTINLUPA, PH—The SBCA Centralized Bar Operations hosted its highly anticipated Mr. & Ms. School of Law (SOL) 2023 last November 17, 2023, at the St. Maur Auditorium, San Beda College Alabang, and simultaneously live-streamed via Zoom Video Conference. The annual pageant is a fundraising cause for the Bedan bar takers.
The evening commenced with a vibrant opening performance that set the tone for the night. Afterwards, the candidates dazzled the audience with their creativity and skill in various segments, including casual wear, talent showcases, national costumes and advocacies, and formal wear.
In a departure from the traditional glamour-centric narrative, this year’s Mr. & Ms. SOL not only showcased the beauty, talent, and wit of its candidates but also provided a platform to address and advocate for social issues.
SBCA CBO Overall Chairperson Ms. Kate Capulong shared that the reign of Mr. & Ms. SOL 2022 was filled with advocacy for bar operations.
“Because of the burst of inspiration, we thought of putting some heart into the Mr. & Ms. SOL. Each candidate will have an advocacy that they will discuss, and hopefully, during their reign, they can implement it,” added Ms. Capulong.
Five pairs of exceptional candidates went all out in various segments to clinch the coveted title of Mr. & Ms. SOL 2023. These pairs include Rocheanne Bonggat and Danzel Fernandez, Kimberly Calimlim and Niño Molina, Laverne Chipeco and Mak Luancing, Pamela Paez and Mark Colocado, and Anj Sta. Juana and Ruth Mauricio.
The St. Maur auditorium buzzed with excitement as friends, families, supporters, and fellow SOL students cheered on their favorites.
The panel of judges is comprised of esteemed faculty members of the School of Law, which includes Atty. Patrick Sarmiento, Atty. Ryan Cancio and Atty. Grace Anastacio, former Mr. SOL 2016 Atty. Frederick Abella, former Ms. SOL 2019 Ms. Veronica ‘Nix’ Aguilar, and guest judges, Ms. Paulina Labayo (Ms. Bicolandia 2019-2021), Ms. Sofia Galve (Ms. Philippines Earth Eco-Tourism 2021), Mr. Jerico Roque (Mr. CBRC 2022), Mrs. Jinky Chavez Arevalo, and Dr. Jumel Bornilla.
The criteria for the pageant are composed of 60% fundraising efforts, which include candidate pre-vote, ticket sales and merchandise, and 40% pageant proper.
On a night filled with dazzling performances and radiant smiles, the candidates truly captivated the hearts of the audience and judges alike and illuminated the stage with their talents and dedication.
Some of the candidates bagged distinguished awards during the eventful pageant night. Striding with elegance in formal wear and exuding effortless charm in casual attire, Danzel Fernandez and Pamela Paez clinched the Best in Formal Wear and Best in Casual Wear awards. The same pair also garnered the Best in Talent awards as they showcased their unparalleled artistry and captivating performances. Lastly, a special award was given to them as the Mr. & Ms. Ambit Café.
In a stunning fusion of cultural grace and captivating allure, Mark Colocado and Pamela Paez were declared winners of Best in National Costume and Mr. & Ms. Photogenic.
Earning accolades for their exceptional achievements, Danzel Fernandez and Laverne Chipeco won various special awards, such as Mr. & Ms. APCI, Mr. & Ms. Tagpuan Camp & Eco Park, and Mr. & Ms. Lakan ng Gabi. Meanwhile, Mark Colocado and Laverne Chipeco received the Mr. & Ms. Koomi Award.
The final question-and-answer portion brought an intellectual element to the pageant, with candidates addressing the question: “If you were a lawyer advocating for change, what cause would you champion and how would you use your platform to bring about positive legal reform?”
Danzel Fernandez left a remarkable answer to the judges and the crowd, saying, “I would impose policies and regulations that would limit the spread of misinformation, fight fake news, and other relevant digitalization activities. I would also like to enact various regulations that would be implemented at the barangay level and grassroots level.”
After an evening filled with much anticipation, Danzel Fernandez and Laverne Chipeco were crowned Mr. & Ms. SOL 2023, earning the admiration of both the judges and the audience. Niño Molina and Kimberly Calimlim (First Runner-Up’s) and Mark Colocado and Pamela Paez (Second Runner-Up’s) were also recognized for their outstanding performances and contributions to the overall success of the pageant.
In the final bow of elegance and the fading echo of applause, the curtain falls on this year’s Mr. & Ms. SOL, leaving behind a tapestry of beauty, talent, and empowerment.