A talented 14-year-old girl with Down Syndrome is the titleholder
of this year’s Miss Possibilities, a Filipino
beauty pageant for
young women with
special needs.
Organized by Miss Possibilities Foundation and supported by SM
Cares, the pageant attracted young women with special needs from different parts of
the Philippines and even from a province in Thailand who competed during the
coronation night which was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Cielo Marie Guico
- the youngest of
5 siblings and
dubbed as the
pageant’s Miss Perfect - brought home the crown with her heartwarming
talent in singing. She also impressed the audience during the Q&A portion
when asked who her favorite singer was, which she replied with “Ariana Grande”,
after which she sang a few lines of the pop star’s song. The Miss Possibilities
Pageant aims to celebrate beauty without limits, and to promote a more
inclusive society.
The event also gave recognition to private organizations that
support the differently- abled such as
Accenture Philippines, which
encourages PWDs to
practice their profession and
maximize their skills by employing them; and
SM Kids which featured children with special needs as models for one of
its campaigns that promote inclusivity.
Aside from Guico, the other 9 participants received special
awards: Ms. Charming Lis Alexandra Flores; Ms. Congeniality Tielo Princess Paller; Ms.
Inspirational Vell Baria; Ms. Unstoppable Aeryk Eessabelle Perez; Ms. Spirited
Benecee Pratharn; Ms. Limitless Angel Mae Sison; Ms. Fashionista Chelsea Joy
Disuanco; Ms. Amazing Angela Gayle Angeles; and Ms. Photogenic Darryl Gwen
Fernandez.
Another highlight of
the event is
the inclusive Fashion Show
with celebrities that featured prominent
media personalities who
walked alongside children
with special needs. Some of the
celebrities present were Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman and husband
Marco Alcaraz, Michael Flores, ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy, Denise Laurel, Vicky
Morales, Bettina Carlos,
Patricia Javier, Pen
Medina, and Judy
Ann Santos-Agoncillo.
Founded in 2015, the beauty pageant aims to convey the message
that everything is possible for girls, even those with special needs. This message of
social inclusion is aligned with the thrust of SM Cares, the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., that promote a
disability-inclusive environment in its malls.
Annual activities like Happy Walk for Down Syndrome and Angel’s
Walk for Autism are some of the projects that SM Cares supports, in its bid to
support communities and promote inclusion.
To know more
about SM Cares,
you may visit
www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares,
or send an
e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.
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