Events calendared in the competition are English and Filipino oration, impromptu speech and declamation, binalaybay, vocal solo in classical and OPM categories, vocal duet, folk dance, modern dance and dance sports.

The special feature is the Ginoo and Mutya ng PRISAA competition, the winners of which will succeed Bacolod students Miguel Franco Santos of UNO-Recoletos and Rizza Liz Catigan of Riverside College and represent the region in the National PRISAA Meet slated in Iloilo City mid-April. The regional search will be held at the Filamer Christian College Covered Court on Feb. 9, said Rudy Reveche, outgoing WVPRISAA cultural committee chairperson and the current head of the NOPSSCEA cultural task force.

The candidates are Peter Laurence Idolog, an Accountancy sophomore at Garcia College of Technology, and Kristel Saligumba, a senior Nursing coed at St. Gabriel College, representing Aklan; Almar Galbarana Polticial Science sophomore and Christine Artuz, Nursing senior, both of Filamer Christian College, representing Capiz; Lou Jean Trop Varona, a freshman student in the Associate in Health Science Education, and Victoria Jane Sandra Larsson, a tourism junior, both at Central Philippine University, representing Iloilo; and Negros Occidental bets Gratien Mikhael Arinday, a Marine Engineering student, and Katrina Angelica Lazaro, both freshmen at John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation in Bacolod City.

The regional meet will open on Feb. 8 at the Roxas City Sports Stadium. The dance competitions will be held at 6 p.m. of the first day at the Dinggoy Roxas Gymnasium while the literary and musical events are scheduled at the FCI Roblee Hall the whole day.

Teen Calendar Faces

After a long season of screening and monthly competitions, the Mr. and Miss Teen Calendar search launched by Gaisano produced its titleholders: a Nursing sophomore at San Agustin-Bacolod and a senior high school student at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.

Darrel Winthrop Torres and Kristy Kate Aizpuro, earlier named Mr. May and Miss April in the monthly search, bested 11 other candidates to clinch the titles. They won P10,000 each and gift packages, including a trip-for-two ticket to Cebu City with hotel accommodations.

First runners-up were Mark Albert Cabiles of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Mr. October, and May's Lora Marie Esguerra of Bacolod City National High School, Miss May while the second runners-up were Stephen Bicera, Mr. January of St. Joseph High School, and December choice Eva Jane Banguanga of Bata National High School.

Mark Albert was also chosen as best in production number and Mr.Talent, with Stephen taking the best in street wear award, the same special prize won by Eva Jane, who was also named in best evening casual attire.

Other special awardees were Aubrey Tan (Miss February) of Bacolod Christian High School, Miss Talent; March girl Aprilyn Gustilo of Negros Occidental High School, best in production number and Mr. December Leojoren Esperancilla of Green Plains Education Center, best in evening casual attire.

The Miss Teen calendar winner is the eldest of the three children of lawyer Jose Domingo Aizpuro and wife, Ma. Lana, a nurse, while Darrel Winthrop is the youngest of the two children of the late Danilo Torres and wife, Elizabeth, a Department of Education supervisor.

The competition gave me an unexpected opportunity which I grabbed successfully, Darrel Winthrop said, as Kate stressed it made her "gain new friends and more self-confidence".

Kate wants to follow her mother's footsteps by becoming a nurse while the Mr. Calendar titlist hopes to be a medical doctor. "Serving mankind is my vow of duty," said Darrel Winthrop, the reigning Mr. Nursing at CSA-B, who likes to go mall strolling and engage in roller skating and badminton during his free hours.

He considers God as his image model and expressed the desire to "live in accordance with His command". Darrel Winthrop, at the same time, expressed hopes that young people, like him, will pursue their dreams so that they can rise high above the level of poverty, which he considers as their biggest present problem. "Our future is in our hands, and what we do is a matter of choice, not chance, so let's think and act positively," he further challenged his fellow teenagers.

The other qualifiers in the finals held Dec. 30 at the Atrium of the Gaisano City Mall were Loiza Marie Tonico (January), Jude Tumogdan (February), Ronaldo Tacluyan Jr. (March), Mark Kennety Espierta (April), Michelle Talapiero and Andrie Briz (June), Jacob Sales and Ma. Jummyl Garilao (July), Marville Agsam and Kimberly Cagape (August), Jhero Jhon Montilla and Argean Pahayahay (September), Rita Carmela Mariquit (September) and Jimmy Andan and Cristy Jane Treyes (November),

The panel of judges was composed of John John Ditching, Ian de Ramos, former MassKara Queen Althea Rose Mauricio and reigning Lin-ay sang Negros Nicole Puentevella.

The three-hour pageant featured guest performers Freestylers and Faceless Image, whose members are from the UNO-Recoletos and Tribo Ilahas Drumbeaters of Murcia.

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