'America's Next Top Model' Sophie Sumner visits Bohol

Wake-uppers:

Seen: Spotted in Dubai last week was former Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-delos Reyes. “As they say Dubai is the playground for the rich and famous, indeed it is,” Mayor Che (as the title remains) posted on Facebook. Mayor Che was with her hubby and children.  She also met her Beauche business partners. “My family experience in Dubai is beyond compare, so amazing, every place we go so much fun and enjoyment, so with the Dubai Shopping Festival, shopping spree, great experience,” added Mayor Che.

Former Carmen Mayor and Beauche International president Che Toribio-delos Reyes (behind the Luxurious 7 star Hotel Burj Al Arab) in Dubai. Courtesy: Che Toribio-delos Reyes

Seen: Also spotted in Abu Dhabi were Bien Unido Mayor Niño Rey Boniel and his wifey. Mayor Boniel met with friends and business partners. He also went desert safari.

Scene: PCSUPT Louie T. Oppus and Dr. Cesar Saloma received the Metrobank Foundation's ACES (Award for Continuing Excellence and Service) award last January 29, 2014 at the Le Pavilion, Metropolitan Park, Pasay City. Oppus and Saloma came from Baclayon, Bohol.

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Oppus and Saloma

I have to admit that I am a fan of Tyra Banks and Sophie Sumner. I like Tyra because she is helping other girls to achieve their dreams in the modeling world...and most of all, featuring and wearing creations of Filipino designers for her show, the America's Next Top Model.

And there’s Sophie Sumner. She might be a Brit, but she's also America's Next Top Model!

On screen, Sumner looks sultry, so fragile that she overwhelms movie audiences with her mere presence.

Anyway, Sumner was in Bohol last week to shoot a Bohol episode for her new travel show on Discovery Channel. It was made possible thru Boy Dumadag and Michael Yu of Blue Grass Project, a firm engaged in event styling and landscaping; Tel . No: 038-5049811; E-mail: josephvendumadag@yahoo.com/mikoyu@hotmail.com; Mobile: 09173042322/0921-2711464/0918-5759972).

 Bohol’s rising hairstylist “hair majesty” Ryan Sines (who also styled Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Venus Raj and other actresses and models) and make-up artist EP Relampagos had a close-encounter with Sumner.

Surprisingly, in person, Sumner is self-effacing, very shy and soft-spoken but dignified and respectable just the same, speaking in subdued tone in a detached but still warm and friendly manner.

America's Next Top Model Sophie Sumner is holding a tarsier doll as posted on her Instagram.  “Thank you for having me #bohol- apparently I look like this little tarsier? What do you think?” Courtesy: Sophie Sumner on Instagram

She’s petite, believe it or not, and she couldn’t be taller than 5’9”.

“She is very friendly! She’s kalog and down to earth,” shared Ryan. “Her fame is also not in her head and she is totally unaffected by it. Whatever style we had for her she didn’t complaint. She’s really a supermodel!”

“She knows some Tagalog words like salamat, magandang araw and mahal na mahal kita,” added EP.

Sophie Sumner hosting her travel show...and with Ryan Sines and EP Relampagos.  Courtesy: Ryan Sines

Sumner visited Carmen, Loboc and Panglao.

Sumni was a runner-up of Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 and later won America's Next Top Model, Cycle 18.

And, did you know that Sumner is Emma Watsons’ bff?

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Sinulog 2014 and Pacman offers prayers for Bohol

• Boholanos wow Sinulog crowd

• Pacman offers prayers for Bohol

Wake-uppers:

Scene: More than 5,000 participants from the different Christian denominations and faith movements attended this year's National Bible Week and 2nd prayer gathering at the CPG Sports Complex, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Jan. 25.  Sarangani Province Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao was the guest of honor.  The participants who cheered his name and received him like a hero, listened intently as Pacquiao shared about the word of God, sounding more like a pastor than a sports demigod. He encouraged the crowd to read the Bible everyday and deepen their relationship with God.

Rep. Manny Pacquiao has led the crowd in prayer and shared as well his beliefs during the National Bible Week in Bohol; and Pacman with Bohol 2^nd district Rep. Aris Aumentado and wife Vanessa Aumentado.  Photo by: LPU/Charina Aumentado

Scene:  Some Boholanos preferred to attend mass at the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral during the National Day of Prayer and Solidarity last Jan. 20. Tagbilaran City Central Elem. School teacher Mrs. Clementina Gamil said, “My prayer for the celebration of the national prayer is that we Filipinos will help one another to keep peace and unity and we will be freed from catastrophe like what happened before that God will be keeping us through Mama Mary.”

Scene: Former Sevilla SK municipal federated president Karen Digal gave birth to her daughter with husband former SK provincial federated president and San Isidro ABC president Doxson Asoy last Friday, Jan. 24.

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Cebu was unmistakably the top destination last weekend.

“I heard the drumbeat and saw the merry spirit of this year’s Sinulog 2014,” said my sis Arlene who was with me in Cebu last Wednesday morning to meet some friends at the DFA.

Thursday night I had a brief chat with Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol and she said that she, too, was going to Cebu but she didn’t make it because of the strong waves.

Friday afternoon Edward Guyano and I excitedly talked about his trip to Cebu on Saturday but he missed the chance to catch the last trip going to Cebu.

Engr. Aprilmel Lupot and some Boholano models in Sinulog 2014. Courtesy: Engr. Aprilmel Lupot

I found out that Engr. Aprilmel Lupot, a proud Boholano and obviously a Santo Niño devotee, was in Cebu not just to attend the Sinulog 2014 but was involved during the parade as the “float manager” for the Bohol delegation.

 “I felt so fulfilled that I got involved in this year's Sinulog festival— that we didn't just stay home and claim it a usual day— all for the two things we both care about - Sr. Sto Nino and Bohol,” shared Engr. Lupot.

Oh, sigh! The Panglao delegation failed to win in this year’s Sinulog. But there’s next time.

“Win or lose, Bohol made a statement that we've risen after a great fall through the participation of Tribu Panglaoanon in Sinulog this year. We may have failed to make it but no words can explain how proud I am that we were represented in the grandest and most awaited festival in the country. You made us more proud to be Boholanos!” said Bb. Pilipinas World 2006 Anna Maris Igpit. “To Municipality of Panglao headed by Mayor Nila Montero, choreographer Anthony, Province of Bohol, SouthPalms, Boholanos who were on the float, propsmen, instrumentalists and dancers, you all deserve a big congratulations for representing us well. Your participation in the parade is a winning act already that despite the earthquake that damaged some parts of our beloved province, we are still thankful to Snr. Sto. Niño for keeping our faith stronger than ever. Pit Señor! Bangon Bohol!”

The Sinulog fever is now over but the memories live on.

Anyway, here’s an article from Engr. Lupot who says it all:

This year’s Sinulog 2014 celebration had a different meaning for a Cebu-based Boholana like me. I initially thought I’d just watch everything on local television. Unexpectedly, I became part of the grand parade and even had the chance to ride our float!

Tribu Panglaonon and the team behind the Bohol float, assembled across Sunstar Building in P. Del Rosario Street. Our dancers and instrumentalists were identified with their gold costumes.

This is the first time that the Province of Bohol, in collaboration with the Provincial Tourism Council, displayed a float. It was designed by Bluegrass Project, Michael Yu and Joseph Dumadag, and with the invaluable support of South Palms Resort Panglao, through Mae Uy Yau. It bears the theme: “Beautiful Island, Beautiful People”. It has a stylized representation of the iconic Chocolate Hills through a series of arches running in the center of the float. The dominant white color represents the hopes and aspirations of the Boholanos, and the purple color is for the sweet and fragrant ube kinampay. Forest ferns, purple and lavender dendrobiums, sonia boom orchids and purple mums adorned this magestic float.

What made the float more appealing was the presence of our  lovely models—siblings Erika (reigning Ms. UB Personality 2013) and Erik Karcher, Kay Marie Berangel, Rami Harven Gallego, Ms. Cebu 2012 3rd runner up Jonnie Rose Louise Wee, Mr. Philippines Youth 2012 and HNU student  Ar Dela Serna, Mr. Rajah Bohol 2013 Danilo Torcende, Best Model of the World Philippines 2004 Liza Tandugon, Ms. HNU Personality 2013 Candy Cumayas and Jinlyn Talocod. Three of our lovely models wore white couture dresses by designer Hanz Coquilla.

Hanz Coquilla is a proud Boholano designer with a father who is from Antequera. He is known for his remarkable participation in Project Runway Philippines Season 2, Cebu Young Designers Competition 2006, Mega Young Designers Competition 2011, Look of Style Awards 2012, Sunstar’s Best of Cebu 2013; and with designs featured in magazines like Mega, Preview, Look, Style Weekend by the Inquirer; and an international exposure on Fashion One TV and Traversing the Orient. Hanz was the official designer of the Philippines for the recent Ms. Earth 2013.

The whole Bohol contingent was able to start moving around 11:00 am. We made a turn to Mango Avenue at 11:40 a.m., reached Fuente Osmeña Circle at 3 p.m., and arrived at the Cebu City Sports Complex at 5 p.m.

The most amazing part of the whole experience was seeing the people’s reactions when they saw our dancers, instrumentalists, float, and most specially our models. The crowd was cheering, shouting, screaming and taking pictures of the float and those on it. Our models were thought to have been Mariel Rodriguez Padilla, Robin Padilla, Enrique Gil, Xian Lim, among others. Well that’s quite a good comparison!

The Bohol contingent was overwhelmed with the positive response shown by our Cebuano friends.  It was about faith, devotion, warmth and hospitality — the very true spirit of this annual Cebuano festivity called Sinulog.

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