Tumawinner! Prima Joy Alamban crowned Queen Isabela 2026

After 13 years, Tumauini once again claimed the Queen Isabela crown as 24-year-old model and flight attendant Prima Joy Narag Alamban emerged victorious at the grand coronation night of Queen Isabela 2026. The event was held on 21 January at Queen Isabela Park in Ilagan City, Isabela.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Alamban bested 30 other contestants to become the province’s ambassadress and official representative to Miss Universe Philippines 2026. She succeeds Cauayan City’s Jarina Kumari Sandhu, who placed in the top 24 of the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 competition. Alamban is no stranger to the pageant stage, having previously won the title Binibining Malabon 2024.

Joining her in the royal court are Sandrine Desiree C. Cristobal of Cauayan City, crowned Queen Isabela Tourism, and Zakaree Zea T. Bouffard of Santiago City, named Queen Isabela Culture and the Arts. Completing the top five were first runner-up Maria Novalyn Charisse L. Lagasca of Naguilian and second runner-up Christine Jane C. Alvarado of Alicia.

The Queen Isabela contestants underwent preliminary competitions, the Queen Isabela II Creative Attire presentation and the swimsuit and gown portions during coronation night, a grand production hosted by Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo and Mister Pilipinas Eco International 2025 Kitt Cortez. 

From 31, the top 15 semifinalists were selected — Alamban, Cristobal, Bouffard, Lagasca, Alvarado, Princess Margareth T. Valdez from Ramon, Kristelle Ann A. Porras from Dinapigue, Almirah Macey P. Baun from Quezon, Mariella Mirasol Lourdes A. Tyrell from Ilagan City, Khate Gleiza Marie M. Alfonso from Quirino, Rena Mae I. Pineda from San Manuel, Eleni Athina Domingo from San Mateo, Ronila Angelica M. Galutera from Luna, Alyssa Jenetiano from Gamu, and Ashley Nicole M. Guingab from Cabagan — who answered questions from randomly picked judges. 

From the 15, five advanced  and answered one question: “The theme for this year’s Bambanti Festival is ‘Innovation through Tourism.’ Give one concrete example of innovation through tourism that you can observe here in the province of Isabela and tell us about it. If you were to be crowned Queen Isabela, how would you support and further this innovation?”

Alamban’s winning answer emphasized the province’s agricultural nature and highlighted the farmers: “Isabela is known as an agricultural province, and one innovation that I saw is the use of new [machinery] for our farmers. This helps support our farmers because they are the backbone of our society, and it enables our tourism to go further because Isabela is known as an agricultural province. If we support our farmers, we can have a better future and we can have a better tourism because people will keep coming back to Isabela — not just for its harvest, but for its farmers.”

Special awards were also presented during the evening. Cristobal received Miss Kape Ilokano, Best in Casual Wear, and Best in Evening Gown awards. Eleni Athina Domingo of San Mateo was named Best in Queen Isabela Creative Attire, Best in Swimwear, and Miss Photogenic. Other special awardees included Abbey Marie A. Thorley of Reina Mercedes as Social Media Muse; Ashley Nicole M. Guingab of Cabagan as Miss Congeniality; Alvarado as Miss Smile; Adassah Shen L. Zuela of Angadanan as Miss Joyful Glow; and Alyssa Jenetiano of Gamu as Miss Skinnovation. Candidates from Cabagan, Tumauini, Santa Maria, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano and San Pablo were designated PUA Aesthetic Ambassadresses. Kennedy Jhon Gasper won Best Designer of Queen Isabela Attire for his creation for Queen Echague.

The Queen Isabela pageant was one of the highlights of the eight-day long Bambanti Festival, which ran from 18 to 25 January, showcasing Isabela’s products, tourism, culture and tourism.