Province of Salt Selects its Sweet Queens

Limgas na Pangasinan 2025 winners: (from left) first runner-up Alannis Sophia Melarne F. Hodge of Sual; Limgas na Pangasinan Grand Angelica Joy B. Flores of Santa Barbara; Limgas na Pangasinan World Felicity C. Mamplata of Lingayen; Limgas na Pangasinan Mutya Clare Arwen V. Cacal of Calasiao; and second runner-up Liannah Jermayne L. Mangosong of Asingan.

As the 2025 Pista’y Dayat, the annual provincial festival of Pangasinan, neared its culmination, the province in northwestern Luzon crowned its beauty queens during the Limgas na Pangasinan Pageant and Coronation Night 2025 held on 25 April at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in the capital town, Lingayen. 

The Electrical Engineering student from Lingayen, Felicity C. Mamplata, was crowned Limgas na Pangasinan World 2025. She will be representing the province at the Miss World Philippines pageant in 2026. 

Mamplata is a veteran at beauty pageants, joining them since the age of five. Her latest title was Limgas na Baley ed Lingayen 2025 before becoming the province’s queen. She is currently on her third year at the University of Luzon, where she is president of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. chapter in her university. Her advocacy is energy conservation through education.

During the final question-and-answer portion, the top five  were asked the common question, “In an era where digital innovation is rapidly transforming societies, how can we leverage technology to preserve and promote the Pangasinense language and its rich cultural traditions?”

Mamplata’s winning answer was “Social media is a powerful tool when we can deliver message to other people. Through social media, we can promote our tourism heritage sites, resilience community; and through leadership in agriculture, we can excel in our fields. This is where beauty becomes identity.”

During the coronation night, she won two special awards—Miss Friendship and Best in Swimsuit.

On the other hand, Angelica Joy B. Flores, Accountancy student at Universidad de Dagupan and Mutya ng Santa Barbara 2024, bagged the Limgas na Pangasinan Grand 2025 title and the chance to compete at the Miss Grand Philippines pageant. She also won the Best in Advocacy Video special award.

An only child in the family, she was elected as a Sangguniang Kabataan kagawad in her barangay and has volunteered at the Santa Barbara Community Pantry during the pandemic lockdowns in 2021.

            The Limgas na Pangasinan Mutya 2025 title went Clare Arwen Cacal, pharmacy student and Calasiao’s representative, who will compete at the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant. She won the Miss Photogenic special award. Cacal loves running marathons and advocates for better healthcare access and raising awareness in health.

Meanwhile, Alannis Sophia Melarne F. Hodge of Sual finished as first runner-up, and Liannah Jermayne L. Mangosong of Asingan as second runner-up. 

            Other special award winners were Rosemarie O. Erang from Urdaneta (Darling of the Press); Freda V. Rosario from Labrador (Miss Talent); Grace Jinneah C. Lumague from Pozzorubio (Best Artist’s Video); Leinahtan L. Samiento from San Carlos City (Best in Evening Gown); and Ma. Julianne Vernice F. Nandin from Rosales (Best in Creative Costume).

            Designers were also recognized that evening. Michael Miguel was awarded Best in Evening Gown Design for the gown of Limgas na Bayambang, while Simeon Cayetano won the Best Creative Costume Design for his  costume for Limgas na Santa Barbara. 

            This year’s Limgas na Pangasinan drew 21 contestants, who competed at five segments during the pre-pageant activities— up close and personal interview, creative costume, talent, artist’s video, and Beauty and Brain Segment. During the coronation night, they underwent the swimsuit, advocacy video, question-and-answer and evening gown competitions. With scores reset, the top five competed at the final common question.

            A beauty pageant encompassing the whole province, the Limgas na Pangasinan began in 1973 as Limgas na Dayat (Maiden of Sea). It has been held annually except in 1986, a transition period after the EDSA People’s Power Revolution, and 2020, 2021 and 2022, when lockdowns were imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. When it returned in 2023, it was revamped under the leadership of Maan Tuazon-Guico, wife of Pangasinan governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” V. Guico III.

            She included a beauty camp, with assistance from Aces and Queens, to provide training and coaching to the candidates, who also receive financial support from the provincial government. The provincial government also collaborated with the Miss World Philippines Organization, leading for two Limgas winners to compete at the Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines pageants.

“I am incredibly proud not just of the glitz and glamour but because it gives us a chance to celebrate the ganda at galing (beauty and talent) of every Pangasinense. Our Limgas candidates...21 queens, 21 dreams...represent our future. Strong, beautiful and vibrant," Guico said during the pre-pageant night.

"It is my fervent wish that Pangasinan will continue to produce more beauty queens of international stature in the future," she added.

Limgas na Pangasinan 2025 winners and other contestants (Photo by Roel Hoang Manipon)

The Limgas na Pangasinan 2025 candidates in their  evening gowns (Photo by Roel Hoang Manipon)

The final announcement of winners (Photo by Roel Hoang Manipon)