By Vanessa Therese Ledesma, BACOMM4, The Centralian Link Intern

Reanna Gabrielle Guanzon receives the crown as Diwata sang Bago 2026 during the coronation night on February 17, 2026 in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Photo from The Citybridge (Bago City Newsletter) FB page.

Reanna Gabrielle Guanzon, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Chemistry student of Central Philippine University, was crowned Diwata sang Bago 2026 during the coronation night held on February 17, 2026 at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Aside from winning the title, Guanzon also received several special awards during the competition, including Social Media Darling, Miss Photogenic, and Best in Swimsuit. She also currently serves as a CPU Republic Senator, Minister for Finance.

Guanzon shared that joining Diwata sang Bago had long been one of her dreams. Having grown up in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, many of her relatives encouraged her to join the pageant.  Her pageantry journey began at a young age through school-based contests such as Mr. and Miss events. She said her first official pageant experience was during Grade 6 when she joined a Miss Girl Scout competition.

Her interest in pageantry grew further when she joined Frosh Icon 2023 at Central Philippine University. According to Guanzon, the campus pageant gave her the opportunity to experience formal training in pasarela and question-and-answer preparation, which helped her discover her passion for pageantry.

After that experience, she joined other competitions, including ‘Lin-ay sang Pantat Festival’ in Zarraga, Iloilo. Despite participating in several pageants, Guanzon shared that Diwata sang Bago remained one of the competitions she had always hoped to join.

Aside from pageantry, she is also active in student leadership through the CPU Republic. For Guanzon, pageantry and leadership share similarities because both require responsibility and the ability to handle expectations from others.

“I don’t really like joining pageantry just for the sake of saying things,” she said. “It is more authentic when you know what you are saying and when it comes from your experiences.”

According to Guanzon, her involvement in student leadership has helped shape the way she approaches pageantry. As a student leader, she deals with responsibilities, expectations, and challenges that allow her to develop her confidence and communication skills.

“Pageantry is very rigorous and stressful because people have expectations,” she shared. “But it also teaches you how to handle pressure and still enjoy what you are doing.”

Guanzon also added that the opportunities she experienced in college helped shape her confidence and prepared her for competitions such as Diwata sang Bago. As she carries the crown of Diwata sang Bago 2026, Guanzon believes that true beauty lies not only in grace on stage but in the courage to lead and to speak with authenticity.