The BEAUTEOUS CENTRALIANS of Central Philippines.

Vanessa Caro in one of her Miss Universe pageant activities

Vanessa Caro and Louise Vail Aurelio both Centralians. They too have same facial similarities.

 The BEAUTEOUS CENTRALIANS  of  Central  Philippines.

Miss Universe Philippines Iloilo Province 2022 Vanessa Caro graduated from BS in Finance and Accountancy  at Central Philippine University (CPU) , an American established Christian school, in Jaro, Iloilo City.  Those who are studying and graduated from CPU are called Centralians. 

The first ever finalist in Miss Universe from Bb.Pilipinas was a Centralian,   Louise Vail Aurelio,  a Filipino American, from Jaro, Iloilo. She  topped the 15 semi-finalists in Miss Universe in Florida, USA in 1965.  She was only 18 years old at that time. 

CPU has the oldest campus beauty contest in the country since the turn of the century, a legacy of the Americans to Ilonggos. CPU has the highest number of Miss Iloilo Dinagyang winners too, it's last was under my wings, hopefully it will resume again soon to continue it's 30 years legacy. Vanessa was Miss Iloilo Dinagyang 2016.CPU also produced many local and national pageant winners. 

In 2013, I had the chance to dress up Miss Louise Vail Aurelio along with Miss Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969,  who were both judges  for the Miss CPU High School Centennial which I organized  being an alumnus  and recipient of the Most Outstanding Centralian on its 100th year. 

Oftentimes Miss Vanessa Caro is tagged as a look-a-like of Miss Gloria Diaz, the first Miss Universe winner from the Philippines in 1969

Vanessa Caro official head shot at Miss Universe Philippines 2022  pageant 

Vanessa Caro was born in Hawaii,. Her father is from Calinog, Iloilo and her mother is of Filipino-  Hawaaiin-Portuguese-Spanish and Chinese descent. She moved to Iloilo at 8 years old and lived in Iloilo for 16 years and returned back in 2022. 

As a Centralian, I am proud to represent Vanessa Caro as her Accredited Partner for Miss Universe Ph Iloilo Province.  Mr Dennis Mallada, discoverer of Vanessa is also a Centralian. 

After CPU, Vanessa took up her Master’s Degree in Professional Studies in Public Relations  at the City University of  New York in USA. 

The current Miss Universe Ph Iloilo City,  Miss Dorothy Gemillan, is also from CPU, a  third-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student.

TRIVIA.

The first ever beauty queen from the Philippines was from Iloilo, Maria Kalaw Katigbak, winning the  Carnival de Filipinas in 1928 a pre-cursor to Miss Philippines.

RELATED FEATURE ON Louise Vail Aurelio. https://cpu.edu.ph/.../first-ilongga-to-compete-in.../...

CPU graduation picture 

The lovely Louise Vail who never knew what pageants were all about but just joined in for the love of Iloilo

Louise said at Miss Universe in Florida, nothing was rigid, she had her headband on and was ready to go!

She is so simple until today and we'll dressed. Fitting a gown I did for here was calculative for me as she cuts and stitches her own gowns!

Ilongga serene beauty

said the Miss U pageant in the past was not as demanding as it is today although like today, they did their own hair and make-up too

The first Binibini Pilipinas winner to Miss Universe was an Ilongga

The winner from Thailand ( their first) from her batch, 4 years after Gloria Diaz won the crown

At CPU, with Miss Gloria Diaz (middle) , Miss Louise Vail Aurelio ( extreme right) and Miss Amelia de la Cruz, Binibini Pilipinas First Ruuner up 1988 and grand winner Queen of Southeast Asia, 1989, also a Centralian ( right side in black gown) with Mr and Miss CPU Centennial High School delegates