GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 September)– A grand homecoming “fit for a queen” awaits Shamcey Supsup, third runner-up in the recently conducted Miss Universe 2011, on Tuesday, Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said today.
Custodio said the city government organized various events for Supsup for bringing pride anew to the locality.
“The day will be dedicated to her and the victory she achieved in the international arena,” the mayor said in a statement.
Dubbed “Shamcey Grand Homecoming: The Universe is in Gensan,” it will start with a motorcade from the airport to the main streets of the city on board a float prepared by the city government, and will end at the oval covered court.
Custodio said they have finalized Sunday the plan for Supsup’s grand homecoming, which includes a special evening tribute dubbed “World Class Filipina, World Class General” to be held at the Lagao Gym.
It will be a variety show that will showcase the city’s best local talents, video clips of Supsup’s victory and a lot of surprises which will be presented to the public for free, a statement from the mayor’s office said.
The beauty queen will grace the show as part of the city’s celebration for her victory, it added.
Supsup is also expected to visit the Katangawan Elementary School, her grade school alma matter, for a short program prepared in her honor.
Controversy has hounded the Miss Universe 2011 pageant after reports claimed the winner, Leila Lopes of Angola, allegedly had fake documents.
Supsup, a University of the Philippines-Diliman graduate who topped the architecture board exam in 2010, had defended Ms Lopes by saying she’s praying and wishing her well.
Custodio earlier appealed to her constituents to respect the judges’ decision.
“If I were one of the judges, Shamcey would be hands-down my winner because of her answer and the way she carried herself all throughout the pageant,” the mayor said.
“She also figured prominently in the live worldwide polls for each category, be it in gown, in swimsuit and overall rankings by viewers. But then again, we have to respect the judges’ decision who have different perceptions on each of the five finalists and who were there personally to observe them,” she added.
Meanwhile, Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay of Compostela Valley filed House Resolution No. 1715 on September 13, 2011, the same day she won the honors, in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The measure commends the beauty titlist for the feat.
“As Shamcey’s achievement is not only her singular honor but also that of her country and people, it is but proper that the national legislature extends to her its collective and unstinting commendation for her outstanding exploit,” Apsay said in a statement today.
“This accomplishment is doubly meaningful for Mindanaoans because Shamcey is from General Santos City. She has truly become a jewel of our home island,” the statement added. (Bong Sarmiento with a report from H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)