Lim and Borja bag Mr. & Ms. Model plums

Bona Lim and Emmanuelle Borja outshone and outwitted everyone in Sunday night’s Mr. & Ms. Model of the Year competition held at the Hotel Nikko Saipan.

Lim won the Most Poised and Elegant female candidate award, but clinched the title with her composure in the question-and-answer portion of the search.

Asked about her major contribution to the community as a teenager, Lim gamely answered that, as vice president of her school’s Red Cross club, she is always at the beck and call of the community.

Borja, for his part, won three special awards and then clinched the Mr. Model title when he answered that the greatest invention in the world is the written word.

“Without the written word, our history would never be documented,” he said.

Borja was also the recipient of the Best in Formal Wear, Mr. Friendship, and Mr. Personality awards of the tilt.

Therese Manalo was first runner up in the female category and also took the Most Beautiful Smile plum.

Michael Deleon Guerrero placed first runner-up and was awarded Best in National Costume for his outlandish Irish get-up. He was also awarded the Most Poised and Most Elegant male contestant awards.

Second runners-up were Francine Camacho and Paul Ogumoro. Camacho said that, if given a chance to relive a famous person in history, she would like to be civil rights legend Rosa Parks. Ogumoro won the Most Confident Smile and Most Talented awards.

Best in National Costume went to Christina Palacios, who wore a Puerto Rican ensemble. Best in Talent and Sportswear went to Noelle Lingcaso. Lingacaso and Palacios were also included in the top five. Lingcaso bagged the charity award, while Edward Sablan won Best in Sportswear.

Vincent Aldan won Mr. Photogenic and Ms. Photogenic went to Nicollete Villagomez.

The pageant’s panel of judges included Kimberly Nicole Reyes, Leila Younis-Boyer, Michele Lim, Karen Borja, Irene Soria, David M. Borja, Rey Dela Cruz, and Noel Soria.

Former beauty queens also graced the show and local talents of Cathy Pagapular and Allen Mijares serenaded the candidates and the audience.

Ernie Molina Jr., who was the overall director of the show, said he and fellow adviser Julie Cunanan would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters for the success of Sunday night’s show.

Proceeds for the Mr. & Ms. Model of the Year search will go to the repair and renovation of Mt. Carmel School’s gymnasium and cafeteria. (Marconi Calindas)