The Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is one the many traditions of the Catholics in the Philippines and it is basically a month long celebration devoted towards the Virgin Mary. The highlight of the celebration is the Santacruzan which is usually held on the last day of May. Santacruzan dates back from the colonial times and it reenacts the search of St. Helen (honored in Santacruzan as Reyna Elena) in her quest to find the true cross. Considered as the earliest form of pageantry in the Philippines, it one of the religious traditions that resonates in the pageantry world. In the Miss Universe 1994 pageant for example, the candidates participated in a fabulous Santacruzan with costumes designed by top Philippine coutouriers. The Bb. Pilipinas organization has this long running tradition of holding its own Grand Santacruzan. All the recent beauty queens of the Philippines were seen parading in this annual festivity. One notable absence was Miss Universe Philippines 2013 Ariella Arida who did not join as she is a member of a religious group that forbids such kind of activities.
This year, Bb. Pilipinas will no longer stage the Santacruzan. It is quite a sad end to a great tradition. Here, Missosology compiled the photos of the great Filipina beauty queens as they participate in the Santacruzan festivities.
Miss International 2005 Lara Quigaman
Miss Universe Philippines 2010 Venus Raj
Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup
Miss Universe Philippines 2012 Janine Tugonon
Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago
Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa
The current Miss Universe Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, participated in the Santacruzan not as the reigning winner but as a runner-up back then
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