Bohol’s Best Moments of 2013

2013 has been a year of devastation, courage and triumph. From the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, to Bohol’s beauty pageants, to celebrity sightings, see what had us talking this year:

Firs time, baby! = Collin Chio Joshua Jubac and Candy Cumayas were crowned as 1^st Mr and Ms HNU Personality 2013. The 1^st Saulog Festival, a cultural event in honor of Saint Joseph the Worker, the City’s patron saint, was held in April. The authentic Boholano cuisine was introduced for the first time at the Loboc Riverwatch. It is the only floating restaurant which offers a wide array of mouth-watering traditional Boholano cuisine at the famous Loboc River, the river of life.  

Goodbye, Prony= Bohol’s biggest python in captivity died on August 14. It was on October 21, 1996 when Prony was found by Sofronio Salibay which measured 5 feet and 5 kilograms. In 2012, Prony weighed 280 kilos and measured 27 feet long. Her waist line was 34 inches. The Salibay family, which runs the sanctuary and owned the python, maintained she was the largest snake in captivity in the Philippines, though there were no official records. Don’t worry, MariMar is still inside the Prony and Wildlife Sanctuary in Baclayon showcasing her deadly antics.

Sentimental Journey= Winning "The Voice Philippines" was the goal, but for Bohol’s pride Kim Mainit, “The Boses na May Gustong Patunayan,” going home was always the sweetest trip.  After the stressful battle rounds, Kim got the chance to be with his family and friends in Bohol. According to VRS, who tagged along with Kim, tears flowed as he finally got to meet his immediate family in Anda town whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. He also paid an emotional visit to the cemetery to visit the graves of his grandparents “to pay homage and ask for guidance.” Here’s another story we can’t forget: Baby Jane finds her family after 51 years through Facebook.  Philippine Child Wonder in the 1960s Baby Jane or Jane Zenaida Galinato-Smith in real life was reconnected with her estranged family after she was “kidnapped” more than fifty years ago. Baby Jane embraced her siblings and relatives for the very first time during the Galinato Global Grand Gathering or GGGG held last July in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. 

Take It! Take It! = Without a doubt, the most-watched man of the year was Rajah sa Bohol Danilo Torrifiel Torcende who accused the organizer, JCI-Boholana Kisses, of not giving him the prizes months after the first Sikatuna: Rajah sa Bohol, a male beauty pageant. He had not received his Php10,000 prize and he had not heard anything from the organizers and all efforts to get the prizes had proved futile. When Torcende posted his anger on Facebook about the “Rajah scam,” it had struck chord around the province, racking up people and it quickly found its way to the beauty pageant industry in Bohol. Also Bohol’s celebrated make-up artist and hairstylist also complained the long-delayed prizes of the Mr and Miss Teen Bohol organized by the SK headed by Jethro Lim Imboy.  Blogger Edik Dolotina had the best reaction, “Why a lot of them happened in Bohol?”

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder=  Barely two weeks after her reign as Miss Bohol Sandugo (MBS) 2013, Brigitte Tanoja Burato faced an issue that could almost finish her reign as Miss Bohol Sandugo. Burato was supposed to join the Miss Silka Bohol 2013, a violation of the Miss Bohol Sandugo rules and regulations since she is not allowed to join any beauty pageant in the province until she has completed her reign.

“The problem of Miss Alicia Brigitte Burato is she has an attitude problem,” said the socialite VRS. “She should inform first the MBS committee if she has to join another beauty pageant.”

Burato had a closed-door heart-to-heart talk with the MBS organizers.

The rules said: The Miss Bohol Sandugo should have never been married, never been pregnant and in good health and of good moral character during her reign. She pledges to abide by the rules and regulations set by the organizers and to support and participate in the activities initiated by the committee.

Celebrity and VIP Sightings= Journey’s lead singer Arnel Pineda was spotted in Bohol and he was mobbed by fans at the Loboc River. Other celebrities who enjoyed Bohol were Isabel Oli, Tim Yap, Crystal Henares, Julia Barretto, Richard Poon, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista, Noli de Castro, Kara David, Korina Sanchez, Jovit Baldivino, Sam Milby, Kian Cepriano, Empress, John Prats, John Lapus, Direk Loren Dyogi, Ruru Madrid, Ted Failon, Erwin Tulfo, Jessica Soho, Mel Tiangco, Kapuso hot couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, Bianca King, Rafael Rosell, Dion Ignacio, JC Tiuseco, Mikael Daez, Ryan Bang, Irma Adlawan , Mylene Dizon, Max Collins, Orlando Sol (of Masculado fame), Ruru Madrid, Diva Monteliba, child actors Miggs Cuarderno, Barbara Miguel, Nafa Hilario-Cruz, Ashely Strom, Xyrus Cruz, Yogo Singh, Pinoy Dream Academy runner-up Ronnie Liang, Viva Hotbabe Jaycee Parker, Kapamilya star Aldred Gatchalian, former US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr , Atty. Midas Marquez, Miss Netherlands 2006 and Mrs. Globe 2013 Sheryl Lyn Baas, PDI’s entertainment columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal, Hollywood reporter Ruben Nepales and wife Janet. Daniel Padilla was the special guest of the 6th edition of Anyag sa Tubigon 2013.  2010 Miss Universe runner up Venus Raj graced the 2013 Miss Panglao pageant. Charice Pempengco and her girlfriend Alyssa Quijano visited Bohol one week before the earthquake for their first anniversary. USAid Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Gregory Beck, Gloria Steele and U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg visited the areas affected by the earthquake. (Note: This list is not complete.)

Famous Feud= LGU Loboc thru Mayor Helen Alaba banned Loboc Riverwatch  owned by Tessie Labunog-Sumampong from taking off  and barred guests from riding the floating resto of Tessie. The widening rift worsened after a Temporary Restraining Order issued by a local court was defied by the mayor.

You bring pride, you're the inspiration= Boholano young entrepreneur Dalareich Polot was the grand winner in the First Young Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp 2013. The judges were impressed of Dalareich and they were inspired of her life story.  True to her name, the tableya princess Dalareich has received a cash prize (a whooping US5,000 dollars!) and a plaque.  “Now I can justify why God gave me my name Dalareich (Dollar-rich),” she said. Clement Paulinel Ingking was selected as Region VII’s The Outstanding Barangay Official of Year 2013 or TOBOY for SK Chairperson Category on Oct. 10 in Cebu City.

Winner takes it all= Finishing off the year with a flourish,  Alberto Rodulfo "Ar" dela Serna was declared Mr Generation East 2013 grand winner, Sta. Lucia Generation East Model Search. Dela Serna was adjudged first runner-up in Mr Philippine Youth in 2002. In Nov. 2012, he replaced the dethroned Mr. Philippine Youth 2012 Leo Angeles Flores of Parañaque. Also, Island City Mall's "Voices of Champions" grand winner was Alma Mida Golosino.

No longer Mama’s boy= 2013 was a year that changed everything for Mr. Teen Bohol 2012 Adryan Mila who managed to be in the top 12 of the Mr. and Ms. Philippine Youth 2013. In his personal life, Mila was raised by his mother alone.  He confessed he was a “mother’s boy” but we think he’ll look back at 2013 as the year he became his own man.  Another brave man who tried his luck in the Mister International Philippines 2013 was Rex Pilayre Bangalao.

People we lost in 2013= Shock waves rippled through the business industry last June 12 (also his youngest son's birthday) as news surfaced that businessman and public servant Ben Udtohan had died. “Unbelievably sad news. A fine man,” tweeted some friends. Nong Ben loved movies. In fact, he supported movies Nandito Ako Nagmamahal Sa 'Yo (2009) and Amigo (2010) which were done in Bohol.  Others who have “crossed the bar” included Dr. Prisco Tallo who died on August 28. Dr. Tallo served as resident physician of the Bohol Provincial Hospital and chief of the Loon District Hospital and Carmen Cong. Natalio Castillo Memorial Hospital.  Former congressman Isidro “Totoy” Clarin Zarraga of the third congressional district of Bohol died last December 10. He was 88.

Chop the Pork Barrel= Angry but peaceful Million March anti-pork protest was held in Bohol banding people from different walks of life and many sectors of society. Several anti-pork barrel rallies were held in Tagbilaran City.

Election Madness= Led by Beauche International and former Carmen Mayor  Conchita Toribio- delos Reyes who was running for governor against incumbent governor Edgar Chatto, several other politicians (those  "showbiz"-connected and lovers of the arts and culture) were throwing their hats into the 2013 political ring: Rene Relampagos (first district), Aris Aumentado (second district) and Art Yap (uncontested, third district) for representatives, Yul Lopez, Benjie Arcamo, Abel Damaerio (first disrict), Jaja Jumamoy, Gerry Garcia and Tommy Abapo (second district), Dioning Balite, Elpidio Jala, Godofreda Tirol, Boy Imboy (third district) for board members, Dr. Abe Lim (Tagbilaran), Dodong Gonzaga (Tagbilaran), Marlon Amila (Tubigon), Nila Montero (Panglao), Sample Tirol (Buenavista), Baba Yap (Tagbilaran City), NiÑo Rey Boniel (Bien Unido), Marnilou Ayuban (uncontested, Alicia), Sulpicio Yu, Jr (Calape), Moloy Apat (Dagohoy), Tita Gallentes (Garcia Hernandez), Roygie Jumamoy (Inabanga), Fortunato Abrenilla (Jagna), Casoy Camacho (Jetafe), Rina Salazar (uncontested, Lila), May Imboy (Loay), Lloyd Peter Lopez (Loon), Leoncio Evasco, Jr. (Maribojoc), Tessie Boyboy (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Island) and Judith Cajes (Trinidad) for mayors; Pureza Chatto (Balilihan), Pedro Budiongan, Jr (Carmen), Iven Lim (Cortes), Lulu Bongalos (Dauis), Wilson Pajo (Pilar) and Pedro Fuertes (Panglao) for vice mayors; and Ondo Montero (Panglao), Ariel Lungay (Catigbian), Jono Jumamoy (Inabanga), Rochelle Brigitte Imboy (Loay), Crispina Vergara (Mabini), Allan Tinaja (San Isidro) and Adam Jala, Oscar Glovasa, Jojo Bompat and Aleckoy Lim (Tagbilaran City) for councilors.  The 2013 elections also validated Aumentado's power and might in the second district of Bohol. (Note: This list is not complete.)

Fashion icons, catwalk makers= Who would have thought that our own Boholano socialites could be so convincingly classy? This year, the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran gathered the talented fashion experts and couturiers Henry Baron, Maximiel Tallo, Jong Magallano, Omie Auza, Rhigel Dulfo and EJ Relampagos for Reveal, the most popular fashion show of 2013. The local models, who were members of the Rotary Club, submitted themselves to fashion and etiquette lessons and expensive makeovers from the Bohol Fashion Designers’ Circle. The result was a high-fashion event that no doubt made the fashion scene in Bohol a jaws drop.

Amazing Santa= You don't need superpowers to be a hero. After the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the deadliest and strongest in recent years (releasing an energy equivalent to 32 Hiroshima bombs), damaged our infrastructures, pulverized historical monuments, polarized commerce, destroyed livelihoods and killed people. There were many amazing people and organizations that are making things better. I’ve realized that there are many young people who care about other people and the province keeping the bayanihan spirit alive. They have volunteered to pack and deliver relief goods to far-flung barangays.  Special recognition to Bb. Pilipinas-World 2006 Anna Maris Igpit and her Oplan Bangon Bohol. Step aside, Santa Claus.

Invasion of the Cybernauts= PIA-Bohol is the celebrity king of social media. Or at least “it” was, until Edik Dolotina dethroned him! Edik who had never been a super-active tweeter but a Facebooker who continued to mesmerize netizens with his post on Facebook. Of course, Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin , Anna Maris Igpit and Liza Macalandag had managed to conquer both Twitter and Facebook. But more about that in a moment!  

Our Pledge of Love Can’t Be Broken= It took former Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department of Agriculture administrative officer Benjie Oliva and his wife Joan Jagonos over a year to prepare for their dream wedding which was supposed to be held on Oct. 19 at Dauis Church. What the Oliva couple was not prepared for was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that would shatter their wedding unforgettable. “We decided t postpone the wedding considering the damage cost by the earthquake that hit Bohol. The Dauis Church was totally damaged,” said Benjie in an interview while he and Joan were volunteering at the St. Joseph Cathedral for the relief goods. The wedding was finally realized on Dec 7.

Believe It or Not= Martin Slisans, a Latvian national swims from Bohol to Cebu to promote RP tourism. Slisans started swimming at around 1 a.m. from Catagbacan, Loon and reached Argao, Cebu at around 2 p.m. on May 18. The long distance swimming was almost 30 kilometers.

Deal or No Deal?= Former Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan withdrew his candidacy for congressman for personal, health and family reasons. VRS denied the report that there was 'under the table' agreement between Rep. Art Yap and Mayor Calipusan. Awww

Nature’s Wonder= The surface rupture (faultline) which appeared after the killer quake in barangay Anonang, Inabanga town invites tourists to explore nature. People also visited barangay Obujan, Antequera to see the landcracks which killed four family members.

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.