Miss Bohol Sandugo book on its 60th

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Gheleo Rey Caslib, a seaman, and Dhess Escleto, a supervisor of La Vista BQ Mall, exchanged marriage vows last Nov. 30 at the UCCP Dr. Graham Memorial Church, Inc. The wedding was officiated by Rev. George Lungay and Rev. Leon Maniwan.

Scene: The Ubayanus Kru from San Pascual, Ubay, Bohol made it to the weekly finals rounds on ABS-CBN late-morning show Showtime last Nov. 26. However, they didn’t make it to the monthly finals rounds. Ubayanus Kru weekly finals performance, according to the judges, was kumpletos rekados, a complete meal. They have dancers, a beatboxer (Aldrin Palaca), a soloist and a harper. All the judges and madlang people were really impressed about their revealed performance that they garnered a perfect 10 scores from madlang pipol. “Yung nagbebeatbox (referring to Aldrin Palaca) pare, ang galing mo bro, yung naguitar, nag-harp. Tapos yung bata may matandang tao sa katawan niya. Ang pinaka-best sa inyo makayaban, Pinoy na Pinoy kayo. Mahal kayo ng tao, yung charisma at dating ninyo ng mga tao malayo mararating ninyo,” said Jericho Rosales.Meantime, showbiz beckons. Showtime has taught Ubayanus Kru to hone their craft.

Seen: 2011 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup will lead the Bluewater family in lighting up the entire resort with festive parols, handcrafted lanterns made from indigenous materials tonight, Dec. 4.  Possibly Shamcey will sing with CenterStage band as they will be playing the best of Christmas songs during the parol lighting. To book a table for the dinner-for-a-cause with Shamcey Supsup, call 0922 8779059 and look for Alma Mondigo or visit www.bluewater.com.ph.

Seen: The unprecedented 19th straight overall championship of Cebu City athletes of the 2011 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet held in Tagbilaran City. Around 7,000 athletes from all over the region (Bais, Bayawan, Bogo, Bohol, Carcar, Cebu, Cebu Province, Danao, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Tagbilaran, Talisay, Tanjay and Toledo) plunged into action in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, sipa, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball. This year’s edition had no dancesport competition but had a cultural presentation such as balitaw, vocal solo, folk dance and kundiman ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

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Miniature Christmas village attracts visitors

Edward Guyano aka Inday Charity (left) and your columnist at the Christmas village of Mila Lim (center). Photo by Liza Macalandag

Now on its third year, the miniature Christmas Village of Mila Lim has fascinated visitors and friends who visit it during the holidays.

The Christmas Village is a decorative, miniature village occupying the main entrance of her house. It’s literally filled with trees of green and gold, colorful mini-shops, miniature skiers up and down the slopes, carnival rides, dancers twirling to a waltz inside a gazebo, skaters in the park, Santa Clauses dancing and flying on sleighs and a choo-choo train running in circles. 

"My Christmas village has 53 houses and I have 118 Santa Claus collections," shared Mila.

Mila started the project in 2008 and has since increased her collection of miniature Christmas houses and objects. Some of the items were bought during her travels abroad, while others were gifts from her friends.

When she was a child, Mila said she was fascinated by Santa Claus so she decided to collect Santa Claus for a decade now. To date, she has 115 Santa Claus.

Scattered throughout are Santa Claus in all shades and shapes. There are singing and dancing santas, and ala Tarzan santa. Even her glasses and place mats are in Christmas motif.

Importantly, Christmas music coming from the village and the sala boosts the festive atmosphere.

The Christmas Village will run until Jan. 8, 2012, the Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany of the Lord) at the House of Mila Lim along M. Torralba Street (at the back of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital).

(Thanks Liza Macalandag for the pictures! Edward Guyano is all smiles.)

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Four years from now, the province’s oldest beauty pageant, the Miss Bohol Sandugo, will celebrate its 60^th year.

The memory of those lovely and enchanting ladies who made their mark in the Miss Bohol pageant arena would always linger in the minds of pageant aficionados.

“Don’t you wish we will write a book about the Miss Bohol winners?” asked Bohol’s seasoned host and personality guru Raul Gatal. Yes, why not?

1977 beauties. The Top Three were all from the then Divine Word College now Holy Name University From L-R: 1st RU Antoniette Biloy, Miss DWCT, 1977 Most Beautiful Boholana Ellen "Jick Jick" Campbell, Miss Tagbilaran City, 2nd RU Angie Pepito, Miss Rotary Club of Tagbilaran City

Churning out a book recording the history of Miss Bohol is a history in itself. I was approached by Raul in the latter part of 2004 about his initial plan to make a book.  He got a nod from Prof. Marianito Jose Luspo. Raul wanted a coffee -table book to commemorate the pageant.  As Raul soldiered on, however, the project didn’t materialize.

Winners come and go. It is a high time that the Miss Bohol Sandugo deserves a book on its 60th.

Here’s a fond lookback (some interesting trivia) at the Miss Bohol Sandugo winners, courtesy of Raul :

• The 1956 Miss Bohol Paula Raagas Valles became a mayor of her town Maribojoc.

•Olivia Solis, the 1957 winner, became famous for the Visayan serial radio drama song "Dawata na Olivia" which was composed especially for her. It was a sentimental journey home when she graced the 2000 Miss Calape pageant where her ageless beauty and charm were admired by one and all.

• The 1962 Miss Bohol, the very regal and elegant Delia Canda- de la Serna represented Bohol in the 1962 Miss Philippines Pageant which selected the country's bet for the 1963 Miss Universe Pageant. Delia was selected as Miss Visayas or 3rd runner up to Lalaine Benett who became the 1963 Miss Universe 3rd runner up. 

•The 1968 Miss Bohol that was organized by the Bohol Jaycees selected the province's bets to the 1968 Binibining Pilipinas Pageant.  Theoprolia Clarin Parras and Emma Mumar were Bohol's bets to the country's most prestigious pageant. Miss Mumar was declared one of the 15 semi- finalists in the 1968 edition of Bb Pilipinas.

 • In 1976, the pageant was relaunched as The Search for the Most Beautiful Boholana. It was won by Divine Word College's bet, Lou Minoza.

Ellen Campbell

 • The 1977 pageant attracted 34 candidates who represented towns, the city, schools, civic and business clubs. The winner was the vivacious Ellen Jick Jick" Campbell who represented Tagbilaran City. Her 1st RU was Miss DWCT'S Antoniette Biloy. 2nd RU was Angie Pepito, Miss Rotary Club of Tagbilaran. Rounding out the Top Seven were the candidates from Garcia Hernandez, Tubigon, Jagna and Loon.  Ellen "Jick Jick" Campbell passed away in Feb 2001 after losing the battle with the big C. She would always be remembered as one of the loveliest Miss Bohol winners.

• In 1978, the pageant was won by the well- bred Geraldine Galang of Carmen who represented DWCT. She officially became Miss Divine Word College in 1979.

 • The 1983 edition that was organized by the then Kabataang Barangay Prov'l Chair Hon. Edgar Chatto was aptly named Miss Young Bohol. It holds the record of having the most number of candidates with a total of 37 girls from around Bohol. It was won by Marcelina Marcel Orimaco Gatal of Tagbilaran City who was also adjudged Best in Gown for her unforgettable red and white serpentina evening gown which she carried with elan and poise. Her runners up included Josephine Joy Tago Miss Dimiao. She is now Dr. Joy Yap, a very successful dentist. Another runner up was Miss Loboc, Tessie Labunog now Mrs. Tessie Sumampong of Loboc Riverwatch fame. A year before the 1983 Miss Young Bohol, Ms Gatal was also chosen Hiyas ng Silangan- Bohol and represented the province in the National Finals of Hiyas ng Silangan- Philippines held at the Ramada Hotel in Manila where she was adjudged Miss Talent and later chosen as one of the Top Ten Finalists. 

 • 1986 was a transition period for the Philippines for it was the year that Pres. Marcos was deposed and the Yellow Fever had swept the country- side. Then Bohol OIC Governor Victor de las Serna approved the holding of a Miss Bohol pageant that would start from the barangay level to really pick the most beautiful Boholana for that year. The statuesque and very sophisticated Gemma Manding of Tagbilaran City won in a province- wide beauty search that was participated in by all municipalities and the city in a pageant that had weekly elimination rounds prior to the grand coronation night. Miss Manding stood out and outshone all the other girls during the pageant night and swept almost all the special titles and corporate awards. The Philippine Airlines International F.A. and wife to City Councilor Hon. Beben Inting has maintained her regal bearing and retained the gorgeous looks and whistle- bait figure that won for her the Miss Bohol crown in 1986.

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