13/05/2026
Miss Teen Centro Badduat Sheena Rose Batela Palsic from Sitio Purag, who represented Centro Badduat due to the absence of official candidate from the area, was crowned Miss Teen Badduat 2026 in its 6th edition on May 3, 2026. The festival carries the theme ' Rising above challenges: A joyful celebration of unity, culture, hard work and resilience, moving forward with hope.
The Miss Teen Badduat is held as part of the annual Coconut Festival, a celebration of culture, traditions and identity. It also aims to empower the youth, and promote cultural pride, encouraging young women to embrace their heritage and become advocates of unity, resilience and community development.
Sheena, 16 years old, competed against eight candidates and emerged as the winner, standing out in both preliminary and coronation night. Her journey proved that circumstances do not define a person's future, but rather in determination, strength and perseverance. Her performances earned several special awards, including Best in Traditional Attire, Most Articulate and multiple corporate sponsor's awards. In the final round of competition, she was asked by the Chairman of the Board to share her own understanding of the festival theme. And she explained that it emphasises that no challenge is greater than the strength built through unity, hard work and resilience, and it serves as a reminder for the people in the community to value the culture which gives them a deep sense of belonging.
As a teen, she viewed the theme as a call to face difficulties with courage and to stand together in unity, believing that every challenge is an opportunity for growth, that a brighter future is possible through continous progress.
The judging of Miss Teen Badduat followed a 50/50 format, combining scores from Brauty Category which includes Production Number, Casual Wear, Traditional Attire, Handmade Creative Attire, and Evening Gown . While the Brain Category includes Talent, Advocacy Speech, Environmental Awareness, a preliminary Question and Answer transcribed from the few lines of their advocacy, and the Casual Interview Questions focusing on Cultural Awareness. The top 3 candidates with the highest combined scores were reset to a final question, a back to zero basis.
From early stages, including casual interview segment, Sheena consistently stood out demonstrating confidence, communication skills and cultural pride. She expressed deep appreciation for her isnag heritage and stated that she came from a poor family that value hard work as a symbol of resilience. She emphasized that her participation was not only as a candidate, but as a representation of a young woman who continue to dream despite hardships and choose to turn those challenges into motivation.
She shared that she almost withdrew during registration on April 10, 2026 after experiencing, discouraging treatment in an unwelcoming environment, where some questioned her eligibility as a candidate for Centro Badduat. Despite all the negativity thrown towards her, she was encouraged by someone from the community who believed in her qualifications particularly her roots, and her actual residency in the community.
Sheena further shared that she dreams of becoming a journalist in the future, as she believes in the power of truth and information, and she wants to use her voice to share real stories, inspire people and raise awareness about experiences and struggles of communities that are often unheard.
Along with her, the second highest- ranked candidate was Salve Aleah Laguitnay Imperial, 14 years old, represented Purag was crowned 1st Runner- Up (MISS TOURISM) She also won Miss Environmental Awareness during Preliminary Q@A . A nature lover and environmental advocate, strongly promote environmental protection, after experiencing natural calamities which strengthen her belief that caring forvthe environment is not just an advocacy to share, but a mission to fight for survival.
Salve, is of mixed Isnag and Bicolana heritage. Born in the isnag community, she learned to speak her native language (ISNAG) and embraced the culture passed down by her ancestors. At ten (10), she moved to Bicol to continue her studies where she adapted a new cultural environment. Growing up between two cultures helped her realized that she is a true blend of isnag and bicolana roots, because her mother Janice Basilio Laguitnay is a native isnag, and her father King Meldan Montero de Imperial, is a bicolano with spanish heritage.
Salve shared during an interview assessment that she once noticed differences between herself and her relatives in terms of height and complexion. However, instead of seeing this differences as something unusual, she learned to embrace them as part of her identity. Her participation in the 6th Coconut Festival was not only to represent herself as a candidate, but also to honor her roots, reminding everyone that true beauty is not defined by physical appearance, but by the values we carry everyday and the identity we proudly embrace. It was her family who instilled her the value of respect, humility and love for our heritage.
Salve also won Best in Evening Gown and Miss Congeniality . In the final round, she was asked the same question by the Chairman of the Board. She answered that the theme highlights the strength of the people coming together in difficult times, emphasizing that unity, hard work and resilience become the foundation that help a community rises above challenges and transform those struggles into a moment of celebration.
The 2nd Runner-Up, or the Miss Ambassadress, was Claizel Joy Agsayang Payyac, 13 years old who represented Culilimtao, also due to the absence of official candidate from the area. She won Best in Talent and Best in Production Number, and as the youngest candidate, she displayed confidence in every segment, proving that a young age is not a barrier to success, but a stepping stone towards personal growth. Claizel aspires to pursue a degree in Tourism Business when she go to college, with the goal of promoting the natural resources and the beauty of Barangay Badduat as she also dreams of managing a tourist business in the future. Like Sheena and Salave, she was also asked the same question by the Chairman of the Board, where she focused on what the theme wants to remind the people, which is to value hard work as a symbol of perseverance and resilience.
