o less than the country's pride, Jed Madella, an internationally acclaimed Filipino singer from Iloilo, serenaded Camille Aguilar Villar when she was crowned Jaro Festival Queen during the culmination of the 2006 Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair at the Jaro Plaza. Queen Camille is the youngest and only daughter of Senator Manny Villar and Congresswoman Cynthia A. Villar. (Jed returns to Iloilo today for his Valentine concert at the Rose Memorial Auditorium at CPU.)

The annual Feb. 2 festivities in Jaro, including the traditional parade and coronation of the Queen of Jaro, are in commemoration of the feast of the Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles), the patroness of the Archdiocese of Jaro.

Camille, escorted by Alberto Relucio Lopez III (son of former Cong Albertito Lopez, Jr., and former Guimaras Governor and Cong. Emily Relucio Lopez, was crowned by Vice President Noli de Castro and Mrs. Gina de Venecia.

Camille wore gowns specially designed for her by popular designer Nolie Hans who also conceptualized and executed the Arabian night-inspired decors of the stage and the venue of the coronation.

At the opening parade, Queen Camille and King Alberto rode in a float designed a la-Arabian slippers.

Special guests included some members of the diplomatic corps, some solons and congressional spouses who were treated to lunch by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Dr. Pat Gonzalez at their well-appointed house.

At a formal dinner event (with Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo doing the invocation and Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas giving the welcome remarks) prior to the coronation and held at the Kalantiao Hall of Sarabia Manor Hotel, Jed Madella also was the featured entertainer. But we heard he felt so bad because while he was singing, the people were busy eating dinner.

Anyway, here are pertinent info about Queen Camille 1:

Camille is a senior management major at the Ateneo de Manila University where she is a Dean's Lister. This fashionable 20-year-old can easily disarm anyone with her expressive eyes and enigmatic smile. But she is not just the perfect embodiment of beauty-and-brains. She is also a model for young and aspiring entrepreneurs as she personally takes on the responsibilities as a franchiseemanager of a well-known ready-to-wear clothes shop for women and girls even while she tackles school requirements.

Being the daughter of Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga, Senator Villar, Camille was raised to value hard work, patience and compassion. She was taught that comfort and financial rewards are things one has to work hard for. She does not shy away from work - even serving as a customer service crew at a mall. Her parents have also guided her to always find ways to give back to the community which their family does though her parents active role as public servants. Camille does her share as she lends a hand in her parents' various outreach programs, and was given the MOD! GIRL Award for Community Service in 2002.

Camille finds opportunities of expressing her creative self through writing styling, merchandising & interior design. She served as a writer and style editor of a well-established women's magazine during her senior year at the International School-Manila where she attended elementary and high school. Currently, she personally oversees the merchandising store display and inventory selection for her store.

As she prepares for graduation, Camille has set her sights on attending courses in interior design and urban planning in the US or Europe where she hopes to hone her creative skills and use them in the pursuit of building communities characterized by quality living in style at affordable prices for the Filipinos.

Camille is honored to be chosen Queen of Jaro for 2006 as it gives her the opportunity to once again establish her family roots in Iloilo . The paternal ancestors of her father Senator Manny Villar were originally from Panay Island such as Isabela, Negros Occidental, Guimaras Island and Iloilo City . One of the descendants, Catalino Villar married Vicenta Montalban of Cabatuan, but whose father hails form Miagao. One of their sons was the father of Senator Manny: Manuel M. Villar who was born and raised in Tanza, Iloilo .

Through the honor bestowed upon her, Camille hopes to be able to contribute to the development of historical and cultural tourism in Jaro. She also hopes to help engender among the youth the values of sipag at tiyaga, which she believes are essential in attaining success in the pursuit of any endeavor, as she had seen in her father's struggle from being a fish vendor to becoming a successful entrepreneur and now a Senator.

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