Some groups may dismiss beauty contests as exploitative of women, but Limgas na Dayat  (sea maiden) 2006 Jamile Ann Aggabao said winning the contest enabled her to help her father seek medical attention.

The Limgas na Dayat beauty tilt is one of the main features of annual Pista’y Dayat (sea festival) celebration being managed by the provincial government. Aggabao was crowned by Governor Victor Agbayani and Mutya ng Pilipinas 2003 Jamie Liz Castillo on April 30.

Aggabao, 20, said she joined the contest thinking that if she won the top prize of P75,000, she will use the money for the medical needs of her father who had been suffering from a stomach ailment for  years. Read more