2008 Sta. Barbara Fiesta Queen: Sian Elizabeth Suyo Maynard
"She walks in beauty like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meets in her aspect and her eyes."
Sian Elizabeth Suyo Maynard.
These lines from the poem of Lord Byron best describe this year's Sta. Barbara fiesta queen. A British-mestiza from the Hisole Delgado Umadhay Somosiera and Suyo clan, she is Sian Elizabeth Suyo Maynard.
She's born to David James Maynard from Wales, United Kingdom and Joetrissa Adorador Suyo from Tagsing, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. She was born and raised in Mandaue, Cebu but remained a Sta. Barbaranhon at heart. This 22-year-old finished her elementary and secondary education at St. Theresa College in Cebu and her college education at De La Salle University in Manila with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Major in European Studies.
Presently, she is the reigning Miss Cebu. Thus, she is now that ambassadress of goodwill for tourism, promoting the Philippines in different parts of the world. With this, her mother was named as Pasidungog Awardee for 2007 in the field of entrepreneurship. Sian Elizabeth is the elder sister of Sta. Barbara 2008 Mayflower Queen, Vanessa Maynard.
With lolo Jose Somosiera Suyo and
Joetrissa Adorador Suyo Maynard.
Sian was also voted as Cebu's five prettiest last 2003 when she was only 17 years old. She worked as volunteer for Unesco International Summit last 2006 and Department of Tourism and Department of Foreign Affairs Asean Summit. Aside from being a tourism ambassadress, Sian also works as part time fashion and pictorial model.
She stands five feet and seven inches. She got her blue eyes from her grandparents on the father side, Elizabeth Holvey and William Maynard while her kayumangging kaligatan look is from her Lola Trinidad Adorador Suyo and Lolo Jose Umadhay Suyo from Tagsing, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Interview with the Queen
The fiesta queen with Sta. Barbara first
lady Ma Luisa Maquino.
This is not Sian's first time to be in Sta. Barbara. When she was younger, she oftentimes spend summers in the farm of her grandfather. "It's nice there and peaceful. We would always be in some family reunions, rode carabaos and climbed trees. These are the the memorable moments of my stay in Sta. Barbara," she said.
"This is an idyllic and peaceful place. The roads are wide and everyone is friendly. I can understand why mom always goes home here," she added.
She has learned about the devastation that typhoon Frank and when she saw her mother's hometown back to being clean and "undamaged," she said that it's the perseverance of the Ilonggos that makes her proud to be one.
Sian Elizabeth said that she feels honored to be this year's fiesta queen and hopes that she could also help promote Sta. Barbara to Cebuanos in any way that she can.
If there's one sector in Sta. Barbara that she would like to help with, it's the cultural sector. "The museum here is great and I'd like to help improve on that," she said.
Her message to Sta. Barbaranhons is this: Thank you for having me as your fiesta queen. I wish you all the best and good fortune although I know you don't need it anymore because you're doing such a wonderful job already."