The University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (UC CONAHS) officially crowned the winners of Mr. and Ms. CONAHS 2026 during the pageant held on May 14, 2026, at the UC Theater.
Jush Lee Chiong and Deseree Gooch were crowned as Mr. and Ms. CONAHS 2026 after demonstrating confidence, poise, and excellence throughout the competition.
Rhoilan Cidric Acop and Esther Ruth Barino were named as the 1st Runner-up titleholders, while Justin Rodriguez and Margarette Cugana secured the Mr. and Ms. CONAHS 2026 2nd Runner-up titles.
Special and minor awards were likewise presented to deserving candidates who stood out in different categories. Rhoilan Cidric Acop and Deseree Gooch received the Mr. and Ms. Congeniality awards, respectively, for exemplifying camaraderie and sportsmanship among the candidates.
For the People’s Choice Award, Rhoilan Cidric Acop and Hannah Nicole Cobebe emerged as the audience favorites through the support of their peers and supporters. Meanwhile, Jush Lee Chiong and Esther Ruth Barino were recognized as Mr. and Ms. Photogenic.
In the special competition categories, Rhoilan Cidric Acop and Krisha Mae Forteza won Best in Introduction Number. Avery Zach Montemayor and Krisha Mae Forteza were awarded Best in Gym Wear, while Justin Rodriguez and Margarette Cugana secured the Best in Casual Wear titles. Rhoilan Cidric Acop and Deseree Gooch also emerged as winners for Best in Casual Interview, while John Ryan Agduyeng and Esther Ruth Barino were recognized for Best in Formal Wear.
The candidates were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges composed of Mia Magdalena-Fokno, community journalist; Janela Andal Recio, Ms. Baguio 2025; Granville Michael Louie Raymundo, Mr. Tourism World 2026 3rd Runner-up; Natasha Morgan, Ms. UC 2025; and Jereed Lou Tido, Mr. Cordillera 2025.
This also marked the first time the pageant was conducted under the new College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences name following the inclusion of the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program, reflecting the college’s growing multidisciplinary academic community.
The pageant highlighted student excellence, confidence, and camaraderie while promoting student involvement beyond the classroom through meaningful extracurricular engagement.
| Sustainable Development Goal | SDG Indicators | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.4, 4.7 | Enhanced student confidence, communication skills, leadership, and holistic development through extracurricular engagement |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.1, 5.5 | Promoted equal participation, representation, and opportunities among students |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2, 10.3 | Encouraged inclusivity and participation among students from different academic programs under CONAHS |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 16.7 | Strengthened student involvement, camaraderie, and inclusive campus participation through student-centered activities |
