Former child beauty titlist is historic town fiesta queen
ROXAS CITY – Nineteen-year-old Mary Kris Capunong Balatayo is this year's fiesta queen of Pan-ay, Capiz, one of the country's oldest and historic towns.
Her Majesty Queen Mary Kris is the daughter of Pan-ay Sangguniang Bayan Member Nicomedes Balatayo and Ma. Victoria Capunong Balatayo. She is a senior Nursing student of Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City.
The fiesta queen has won the "Little Miss Pan-ay 1995" title and the "Little Miss Halaran" crown also that year.
She said it never occurred to her wildest imagination that she would wear the fiesta crown and epitomize the compassion, beauty and intelligence of a true Pan-ayanon.
Born on November 20, 1988, Mary Kris finished her elementary at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Learning Center and her secondary education at La Salle Affiliate College-Roxas City now known as College of St. John.
Mayor Dante Bermejo said the fiesta queen will also become the town's ambassadress of goodwill.
Pan-ay town, the second settlement founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century next to Cebu, will celebrate its fiesta May 1-4 in honor of its patroness Sta. Monica.
The town, founded by the Augustinian friars in 1581, is known for its spectacular church bell that was made in 1878 from 70 sacks of coins donated by townsfolk and weighs 10.4 metric tons and is one of the world's biggest. Pan-ay has been declared by the provincial government as "Heritage Capital of Capiz." (PIA-JSC)