Mutya ng Palawan 2018 is Reyna Michelle Ruhen

REYNA MICHELLE RUHEN of Aborlan was crowned Mutya ng Palawan 2018 earlier today, June 23, at the Mendoza Park Amphitheater in Puerto Princesa.

Ruhen is the first Mutya ng Palawan winner from Aborlan, a southern town known as the Philippines’ last ecological frontier — home, like the rest of Palawan, to some of the world’s most striking islands and beaches.

The search took a political turn over the hot-button issue of dividing the province into three parts, and seemed to falter when the eloquent Puerto Princesa candidate, Anne Cherrylyn Apas, didn’t make the final cut. It recovered by the end, crowning a winner from Aborlan who was, by most accounts, among the prettiest candidates in this year’s batch.

Mutya ng Palawan from Aborlan – Photo by Norman Tinio (including the feature photo)

Mutya ng Palawan 2018 winners – Photo by Norman Tinio

It was a sight to behold, watching Ruhen and her closest rival, Princess Jean Lerona of Kalayaan, in the final two. Lerona was crowned Mutya ng Palawan Tourism, while San Vicente’s Ina Louise Abello took Mutya ng Palawan EcoTourism 2018.

Rounding out the Top 5: Emerlyn Traballo of Taytay as first runner-up, and Almina Marie Gange of Cuyo as second runner-up.

The pageant, hosted by TV host-actor Robi Domingo, is one of the highlights of Palawan’s annual ‘Baragatan sa Palawan’ festival — one this writer missed attending after moving to Manila in 2009.