Camp Siongco, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte — May 31, 2024 — In a vibrant celebration of tradition and faith, 35 stunning ladies from various units of the Joint Task Force Central took part in the Reyna Elena pageant organized by the Sto. Niño de Cebu Chapel at Camp Siongco today. This event marks the culmination of the Flores de Mayo festival.
According to Captain Jake Bilbao, the Division Chaplain, “The event is one of the May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary, lasting the entire month. The Santacruzan, a ritual pageant, is held on the last day of the Flores de Mayo, celebrating the finding of the True Cross by Queen Helena and her son, Constantine the Great.”
The honored guest for the occasion was Colonel Glenn Loreto Caballero, Chief of the Division Governance and Strategy Management Office. The opening ceremony was also attended by 1st Brigade Combat Team Commander, Brigadier General Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, alongside Colonel Jose Ambrosia Rustia, enlisted personnel, parishioners of the Sto. Niño de Cebu Chapel, and many other distinguished guests.
The 35 Reyna Elena participants began their parade at the 6ID Gym, making their way through Camp Siongco, exiting Gate 2, and returning to conclude the event at the chapel.
This event not only highlighted the cultural richness of the Flores de Mayo festival but also strengthened the camaraderie and spiritual devotion among the participants and the community.