By Genevieve B. Kupang, Graduate School, Baguio Central University
June 13, 2026
The Graduate School of Baguio Central University (BCU) erupts with pride and joy as one of its own brings home the crown. Engr. Maria Angelica P. Rillorta, a proud Master in Public Administration (MPA) graduate of BCU, has been proclaimed Ms. Lakambini ng Inihinyera 2026, the beauty and intelligence pageant of the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (GEPI) during the organization’s National Convention held on June 12–13, 2026, with pre-pageant activities on June 11, 2026, at the prestigious Royce Hotel and Casino, Clark City, Pampanga.
Representing North Luzon, Engr. Angelica stood radiant, formidable, and purpose-driven under the convention’s rallying theme: “Lead, Collaborate, Transform,” a symbol she wore as a sash, but as a living declaration of who she is.
She is also the proud daughter of Mrs. Emilia P. Rillorta, MPA, a seasoned member of BCU’s Accounting Office.
A Sweep of Glory
The night belonged to the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines, and Engr. Angelica stood at the very heart of it, crowned, honored, and deeply proud. She won the crown and swept the awards table clean, earning the following special citations:
- Ms. Lakambini ng Inihinyera 2026 (Grand Winner)
- Best in Filipiniana
- Best in Talent
- Best in Evening Gown
- Best in Sports Wear
This is the language of excellence, with no footnotes: a complete five-fold triumph that speaks to her grace, her skill, her poise, and her preparation. Engr. Angelica went to the venue to mingle with fellow engineers and inspire them.
The Woman Behind the Crown
This victory did not emerge from a single evening under the stage lights. It was shaped by years of discipline, intellectual formation, and community service. A licensed Geodetic Engineer, Engr. Angelica represents the rare convergence of technical mastery and the arts of expression and leadership. Her academic journey through BCU’s Graduate School honed in her not only the rigor of advanced scholarship but the conviction that professional excellence and public service walk the same road.
Her national win followed a strong regional showing: she had earlier competed in the GEP North Luzon Area Assembly pageant during the 40th North Luzon Area Assembly, held on November 28–29, 2025, in Santiago City, Isabela, under the theme “Advancing Geodetic Excellence through Innovation and Integrity,” where she first established herself as a force to be reckoned with among her peers.
Among Luminous Company
The four candidates who graced the national stage of Ms. Lakambini ng Inihinyera 2026 were:
Candidate | Regional Representation |
Aira Klaire B. Celis | Visayas |
Joyce Angela Truza | South Luzon |
Maria Angelica P. Rillorta | North Luzon |
Jastine Joy Iyo | Mindanao |
Each of these remarkable women is a licensed engineer, a professional, and a community builder. That Engr. Angelica emerged as the national queen from among this distinguished company makes the victory all the more meaningful.
BCU’s Graduate School: Educating the Whole Person
Engr. Angelica’s triumph is a testament to what BCU’s Graduate School has long stood for: continuing education that does not simply fill minds with theory and technical skill but forges professionals of deep moral fortitude, women and men who lead with integrity, collaborate with grace, and transform every space they enter.
We celebrate a queen today. And we celebrate a geodetic engineer who maps not only the physical terrain of the land she serves but also the moral and intellectual landscape of her profession. We celebrate a BCU graduate who carries the name of this university with dignity and radiance wherever she goes.
This victory adds to a growing constellation of achievements from BCU’s Graduate School family. Last year, Engr. Antero D. Mappang, Jr., an MPA graduate and dedicated employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-CAR), brought home both the Best Paper and Best Presenter Awards for his pioneering research on the Implementation of the Philippine Reference System 1992 in Baguio City. Together, they remind us that BCU’s Graduate School does build communities of excellence.
A Dean’s Pride
“There are moments in academic life that stop you in your tracks and remind you exactly why you chose this work,” reflects Dr. Genevieve B. Kupang, Dean of the Graduate School and International Relations Officer of Baguio Central University. Engr. Angelica is one of those moments. She is brilliant, gracious, grounded, and has just shown the entire country what a BCU Graduate School education looks like when it walks onto a national stage. This victory belongs to her first and foremost. It belongs to her family who loved her unconditionally. It belongs to every faculty member who believed in her, every administrator who served her, and every fellow student who shared the journey with her. Angelica, we celebrate you. And we are so deeply proud of you.
To Our Champion
Engr. Maria Angelica P. Rillorta, you have shown us what it looks like when talent meets preparation and purpose meets opportunity.
Wear your crown well. You earned every jewel in it.
Congratulations from the entire BCU family. We are, and will always be, proud of you.
#Baguio Central University | Graduate School | Office of International Relations
#SoarhighBCU: Excellence. Service. Transformation.