In commemoration of Southern Leyte State University’s 19 Charter Anniversary, Mr. and Ms. Southern Leyte State U 2023 was finally held live on Saturday, March 4, 2022 after two years of holding the pageant online.

Mr. John Michael Besande of the College of Criminal Justice (CCJ) and Miss Denissa Doron of the College of Computer Studies and Information Technology (CCJ) were proclaimed as this year’s winners.

The pageant was competed by 10 lovely pairs coming from different colleges and campuses of the university where they blazed through the production number, swimwear competition, and evening gown and formal.

The newly crowned winners did not expect to win the title given that they’re both neophytes in the field of pageant.

“I was confident on stage, but the fact that I was competing against other candidates who equally deserve the crown makes me doubt about winning. But here I am, thankful of the results,” Besande said.

On the other hand, Doron was surprised when the host, Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry, announced that she was the winner.

“This win is unexpected at all. I have no prior experiences and most of the candidates I am competing with are experienced,” Doron said.

From 20, the candidates were cut to 10. The top 10 candidates were only asked one, same question about promoting online learning if should they win the crown.

Besande’s winning answer was: “I want to use the school’s way of learning through LMS (Learning Management System), through Microsoft teams, and through Google Classroom and Google Meet. I want to improve online learning for the safety and the healthcare of the students, and I want them to become independent of themselves, and to learn by themselves, because it is not always working in the team that can make the dream work, sometimes we have to work by ourselves. One thing is for sure, take down the roughest road and you shall achieve the greatest heights.”

“I believe that our generation today has the edge of access to technological devices such as cellphones, computers, and wifis. And these are all very accessible in our homes. Youtubers can upload a lot of tutorial videos, and mostly it helps me a lot when I don’t learn something in the classroom because I am not as fast learner as others. I have to do my own research, and YouTube is where I learn the most, where I can take my time. And I will use this, as an evidence to my fellow students of how I learn through my own hard work,” Doron answered during the final Q and A.

Here are the winners of the minor awards:

Mr. Photogenic – Jhoeden Salera from the College of Computer Studies and Information Technology

Miss Photogenic – Nikki Tagbak from Tomas Oppus Campus

Mr. SkeenLife – Eudz Michael from the College of Engineering

Miss SkeenLife – Justine Casinillo from the College of Technology

Best in Production Number – John Michael Besande from the College of Criminal Justice and Justine Casinillo from the College of Technology

Best in Swimwear – John Michael Besande from the College of Criminal Justice and Justine Casinillo from the College of Technology

Best in Formal Wear – John Michael Besande from the College of Criminal Justice

Best in Evening Gown – Denissa Doron from the College of Computer Studies amd Information Technology

Here are the winners of the major awards:

4th runners-up – Mr. Jhoeden Salera from the College of Computer Studies and Information Technology and Ms. Jairine Dasigg from the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management

3rd runners-up – Mr. Franklen Gula from Maasin City Campus and Ms. Cheska Lacbanes from Hinunangan Campus

2nd runners-up – Mr. Joshua Orais and Ms. Nikki Tagbak, both from Tomas Oppus Campus

1st runners-up – Mr. Eudz Michael Virtudazo from the College of Engineering and Ms. Justine Casinillo from College of Technology

Winners – John Michael Bisande from the College of Criminal Justice and Denissa Doron from the College of Computer Studies and Information Technology

Part of the board of judges were Adriel Bryce Benitez, Region 8’s SCUAA Meet 2022; Michael Ver Comaling, Mr. National Universe Philippines 2023; Kris Tiffany Janson, Miss Intercontinental 2014 2nd runner-up; Steffi Rose Aberasturi, Miss Universe Philippines 2nd runner-up, and Ms. Hazelle Villa-Asaldo, Director of University Human Resource Management and Development.

Here are some of the photos: