Showing posts with label miss bohol 2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miss bohol 2014. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2015

Take a bow, Queenie!

Looking back, what does Queenie Melody Fullante consider her most unforgettable moment at the 2014 Miss Bohol pageant in which she was proclaimed Bohol’s quintessential daughter?

“The crowning moment,” said Quennie, “for that was the start of other unforgettable moments.”

A year ago, she joined the Miss Bohol competition as a fresh college graduate. Many people compared Queenie as Venus Raj deadringer. She even had encounters with people who mistake her for Venus but she was not riding on the wave of being Venus Raj’s look-alike during the pageant. She won the Miss Bohol title because of her strong personality and being comfortable with her skin and skills.

But today she’ll no longer have a crown.  Queenie’s beauty pageant reign comes to an end Saturday night when she gives up her Miss Bohol title at this year’s competition. The classic tiara — the one that slipped off her head on the night she was crowned — was gently placed atop someone else and after doing her duties and responsibilities, Queenie is ready to see what the next chapter brings.

Miss Bohol 2014 Queenie Melody Fullante is ready to see
what the next chapter brings. 
Contributed Photo
 “Personally, I find my reign productive and fruitful for I have reached more communities, touched a few lives and grew up holistically," Queenie said in an interview with VRS. "Aside from the looks, the most significant change in me is the positive change inside. I became more mature in dealing with different matters. Even the way I look at life has changed, because now I realized that service to humanity is the best work of life."

Her immediate plans include doing philanthropic works and spending some time with her family and friends. “It’s still ambiguous for me but one thing for sure, life goes on. The mission continues and that is to reach more communities, touch more lives and grow up everyday.”

Queenie has done quite a bit of charity work in her sash and crown. She visited the orphans, participated in feeding program, child abuse awareness, medical mission and dental mission and volunteered in the Bohol Rebuilding and Rehabilitation Project. She was very visible visiting communities affected by the earthquake. Her presence was reassuring everyone that everything would be okay after the tragedy.  

Her packed schedule prevented her to meet her ideal man (The Romantic Guy, the Confident Guy, the Artistic Guy, the Foreign Guy, the Free Spirit Guy, the Intelligent/Witty Guy and the Considerate Guy rolled into one). “Technically, no! Primarily because I wasn’t looking yet for one. I think I was too focused with my duties and responsibilities,” Queenie said.

She won't sit idle for long.

Take a bow, Queenie!

Meanwhile, here is the full text of the farewell speech of Queenie Melody Fullante:

Queenie Melody Fullante has done
quite a bit of charity work in her sash
 and crown. 
Courtesy: Chris Ramasola
Growing up, I have always been a fan of fairy tales. But I know I am not a princess. I will never be Snow White because I am not the fairest of all. I was once an Ugly Duckling who turned into a beautiful Swan. I am not Sleeping Beauty. Mine, was a Cinderella story. But it wasn’t just my shoes that made me a Queen. It was my clean desire and genuine determination that made destiny go my way and be proclaimed Miss Bohol 2014- The Quintessential Boholana. With all my heart, I thank God for giving me all the people I need before, during and even after my reign.

To the people of Dauis, under the leadership of Hon. Marietta Sumaylo, my sincere thank you for trusting me to represent our town.

To my team, Sir Julius, Janry, Ramchie and Idy, you gave out the best in me, I owe you a big part of my holistic development. To Ate Shiela Avergonzado of Nenen’s, thank you for the beautiful gowns I’ve worn throughout my reign. And to Mikee Andrei for my amazing gown tonight.

To my eksangels and my PYM family headed by Ate Ebiw and Kuya Tony, your support was my ultimate ego booster.

To my mentors, Fr. Vic Fr. Lito, Fr. Jingboy and Fr Val thank you for all the prayers and words of wisdom.

To my family, you are the cradle of my success.

To the Miss Bohol organizers, Madame Pureza Chatto and the JCI Chocolate Hills, Maams Darlene, Red, Yelle and Marmie, God know how you positively impact my life. Thank you so much for making my reign a meaningful one.

Lastly, to everyone who expressed their support for me in various ways, you made me realize what a great blessing it is to be a Miss Bohol.

Ladies I guess the loneliest part of being a beauty queen is the final walk. In which everything that happened during your journey will sink in and you’ll just miss the crown so badly. But, life goes on and the mission continues. To the lucky girl tonight, I know you deserve it. For I have been with all of you in your journey. And the learning you girls gained, is enough to make each of you a winner in your own reality. May all of you continue to reach more communities, touch more lives and grow up holistically.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Queenie Melody Fullante, Miss Bohol 2014.

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

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Queenie Fullante: ‘My personality makes me a winner!’

Miss Dauis Queenie Melody Fullante has won the title of Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014, in a glittering ceremony on Saturday night.

Queenie, 21 (Pisces, March 10, 1993), beat out 17 other fellow beauty queens to claim the title. She received P50,000 cash prize, trophy, sash, bouquet of flowers and other special prizes.

Her night started to take a turn for the fabulously possible when she was named one of Top 5 shortly after the show got underway.

Queenie (center) and her court
Other runner-ups, judged on interviews, evening gowns and swimsuits were: Mary Rose Butalid of Panglao as first runner-up; Geraldine Topsnik of Tagbilaran City as second runner-up; Jaya Lozano from Tubigon as third runner-up and Imaculada Cleofe Leopardas of Barbra Pearls Cosmetics as fourth runner-up.

Many people compared Queenie as Venus Raj deadringer. She even had encounters with people who mistake her for Venus but she is not riding on the wave of being Venus Raj’s look-alike during the pageant.

“I think to have Venus Raj’s aura is just a factor for me to be noticed onstage,” said Queenie. “What I consider my edge for winning the crown is my commitment to serve Bohol with all my heart, which was exuded by the sincerity I have shown while performing on stage.”

Before winning the title, Queenie was first runner-up in Miss Dauis 2011, Ms. UB-College of Business and Accountancy 2012 and Ms. UB Personality 2012.

Queenie is a half-Bengali half-Filipina who works as an NGO worker that provides shelter to disaster hit areas.  She grew up under the care of her aunt while her mother is working in Manila. She finished Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at University of Bohol. She hopes to be a merchant to be able to travel and meet people from all walks of life.

She describes herself as just an average person but for the next 365 days, she’ll be anything but as she is now Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014.

Queenie Melody Fullante on winning the crown: ‘It defines the purity of my intention for what is in the crown.’
Let’s go straight to the crucial Q&A.

When did you realize that you are Miss Bohol? During the coronation night or the morning after? It was such a pleasure to be crowned Miss Bohol on July 19, 2014. Such was, if I may say a public recognition of the many beautiful gifts and talents God has given me. Thus, this crown is a symbol of the God-given beauty and talents that I have and at the same time of the responsibilities to take good care, uphold and use all these to inspire all the Boholanos to appreciate what they have received from God and use them well.

What are your winning traits? My personality makes me a winner. Basing from the feedbacks I garnered from Miss Bohol pageant, I exude a strong personality. It sums up my physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristic as an individual. My being comfortable with my skin, with my skills and with everything that I have, is reflected in my personality and that’s what makes me come out and be of service to my community with enough confidence.

Do you have secrets sustaining your poise, your grace under pressure, especially during the crucial points in any contest? I’ll take Miss Anna Maris Igpit’s words that practice makes permanent. Indeed, it’s true enough. In the early part of our Miss Bohol journey, I don’t have that poise. I don’t know how to handle pressure with such grace. But with my team’s help, I was able to achieve that poise and grace under pressure through constant practice until such time that my system got used to it. Aside from practice, is focus. Don’t compare your performance with the other candidates, focus on yourself. Focus on the points that you need to improve and work on it one at a time. Above all, pray, pray, and pray. Praying is my greatest secret and the most effective among others.

What is your best asset and why? My best asset is my winning trait. It’s my personality. I am not the prettiest nor the smartest in our batch but I have a well-honed personality. It defines the purity of my intention for what is in the crown. It reflects the commitment I have to the advocacies of Miss Bohol. And it’s what makes me who I really am.

Would you rather be smart but not too beautiful, or beautiful but not too smart? God has given me everything. We are all equipped by God, it’s just a matter of how we use it. Therefore, life is not a matter of choosing whether one has to be beautiful or smart but instead it is how one appreciates these gifts and use them well to make life even more beautiful.

What do you think is the biggest decision that you’ve made in your life?  College is a crucial stage for students because it is here where we are starting our journey to the real world. And a lot of my big decisions were made during my college years. The biggest is taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy when in reality I just want to take up Tourism or Psychology. I took up Accountancy because I was thinking of the job opportunities that await. And because it’s not really my passion, I had a struggle during my college years. Nevertheless, I have no regrets for taking up BSA. I believe it was my fate to take that path, because it is the place where I really developed holistically. I was intellectually challenged, I met my true friends (the Eksangels), and I have unwrapped my skills and unleashed my potentials.

How relevant are beauty contests today? Beauty contests reveal what constitutes true beauty. It is one of the avenues for women to share their thoughts and open up their stand on matters in the society, where they can be heard and their opinions could be considered. It is where we can foray our advocacies for the enrichment of our society.

Do you think that women today are on equal footing with men? Woman was created from a man’s ribs. Not from his head to be above him or from his foot to be stepped upon, but from his side to complement each other. Men and women from the very beginning has always been equal and will always be.

What is your stand on PDAF scam? The people are already annoyed and so stressed of the many enumerable issues on corruption of government officials at all levels, national and local. Very disgusting, discouraging, exhausting and etc. but, there is always hope and a future so bright that awaits us. Recovery of our dying moral values is what we need to focus now. This may be difficult for those who have been in the system for quite a long time but so much hope is given to the younger generations.

Who’s your role model?  Tyra Lynne Banks. I look up to her not just because we have the same skin complexion but because I admire her ideals. Along her way to stardom she met rejection and discrimination. However, she conquered her dreams and became a pioneer in her undertakings. Most of all, she is active in social and charitable causes. She has a foundation aimed at developing teenage girl’s independence and self-esteem. For me, she shows not what a role model is but HOW a role model should be.

Any other woman whom you admire? St. Theresa of Calcutta. I admire how she used her fragile self to alleviate the sufferings of many. She inspires me to use my title in giving my selfless service without reservations to my fellow Boholanoswho are in dire need of care.

Queenie Melody Fullante describes herself as just an average person but for the next 365 days, she’ll be anything but as she is now Miss Bohol: The Quintessential Boholana 2014.   

Do you have a boyfriend? Not applicable. I never had one since birth. (Laughs)

What qualities do you want in a man? These seven (7) qualities that I found in the net capsulizes my ideal man.  (1)The Romantic Guy. He believes in classic romance. He is constantly bringing me flowers and chocolate and lighting candles during dinner. He calls me often to let me know he is thinking about me and looks into my eyes and tells me how he feels; (2) The Confident Guy. He is totally secure and sure of himself. He is assertive in public and gives off an aura of power and control (within reason of course, as the "cocky guy" is not on this list). In a relationship, he doesn't get jealous of other men; he doesn't feel threatened by my male friends or coworkers; (3) The Artistic Guy. The artistic guy is spontaneous and lives for the moment. Often, he will use his creativity to woo me, such as with a song he has written about me or a painting he has made for me; (4) The Foreign Guy. Note that you don't have to actually be foreign to fit into this category. If you are well-traveled or speak many languages, you might be able to pull off the charm as well as any sweet-talking foreigner. He might have a cute accent or a unique way of seeing the world. His social customs and everyday behavior can be a little quirky, but he always manages to come off as uniquely charming; (5) The Free Spirit Guy (aka the Bad Boy). The free spirit guy goes where the wind takes him — and the wind usually takes him on some kind of wacky adventure. He might ride a motorcycle, or he might skip work to take me on a last-minute road trip, but this guy doesn't worry too much about the consequences; he just sees where his own devices take him; (6) The Intelligent/Witty Guy. He instigates conversations that are intellectually stimulating and listens to what I have to say in response. He makes me laugh with his clever sense of humor and has an uncanny ability to make politics interesting. He can shoot the breeze with me for hours and it will never get boring; and (7) The Considerate Guy. He holds open my car door and pulls out my chair. He foots the bill for dinner and makes sure to offer me dessert. He always asks me out with reasonable notice and picks me up at my door. He is generally sensitive to how I am feeling and when I am ready to go home.

What advocacy experience do you have? Maybe you have an important message to share ... and Miss Bohol would be the venue or forum to start your advocacies. One of my advocacies is strengthening the Boholano Christian Values in the context of family. And as a member of the Diocesan Community of Evangelizers, I have been very active in the formation of Christian values in our parish. The identity of a Boholano is always anchored in the family. It is therefore but necessary to strengthen the Boholano culture and family values should we want Bohol to become even more beautiful and livable. 

How would you lure tourists to Bohol after the killer quake? The killer quake had shaken our land and had fallen some of our beautiful structures, but did not in any way destroy our people. Bohol can always attract tourists with the kind of people it has. We never failed to treat our visitors with due hospitality. Despite the different instances that we are in, we are still able to smile and make others feel comfortable in their stay in Bohol. It is here where tourists can find comfort and fun, especially now that we are rising from last year’s devastation and is becoming an even better Bohol.

Young people today are liberated and adventurous, willing to try everything. What's your stand on pre-marital sex? Pleasure is always coupled with responsibility. Sex for the mere experience of it or for pleasure is a big NO. It must always be within the context of marriage. Only in marriage is the fullness of sex experienced.

If you were to change something in yourself, what would it be? I am very much comfortable with myself that I don’t have to think of any qualities that I have that needed to be changed. In fact, I have been crowned Miss Bohol for what I am and what I have. Everything in me is a blessing and my challenge is to use these blessings to inspire others and embrace themselves.

What is your favorite quote? “Do your best and God will do the rest”. This has been my mantra in all my endeavors and it really works. By saying this, I am enlightened and empowered to give out my best no matter what the result maybe because I am confident that God is always there to back me up.

Describe yourself in three (3) words: Quintessential. Magnanimous. Fabulous.

What is the essence of Miss Bohol? Miss Bohol is a prestigious pageant where we, young women are able to express our opinions on matters not just concerning ourselves but the society as a whole. It is an avenue for us to showcase our God-given Boholana beauties and skills. It enables us to influence positively the community through the ideals that we show off. And it molds our personalities helping us to become better individuals.

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

Monday, July 07, 2014

Shaping-up tips from Miss Tagbi


This early, a quick look at the Miss Bohol 2014 official candidates line-up shows some of the early favorites already catching the attention of pageant fans from here and abroad.

Among them is Miss Tagbilaran Geraldine Topsnik. She was crowned Mutya sa Tagbilaran this past April, and she will compete for the Miss Bohol title on July19.

 “She has a good fighting chance to win the crown,” according to a beauty pageant watcher.  “So far, she’s doing very well.”

Geraldine, who was born on April 15, 1997, stands 5'6", 110 lbs, and with vital statistics of 34-26-36, became Miss Cristal-e College 2013, Miss Teen ICM 2013 and then Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2014.

“Being Miss Tagbilaran 2014 doesn’t only mean that I was crowned that night, my work is done, but it means that I was crowned, my work is just beginning,” shared Geraldine. “I plan to utilize my title by influencing different people and promoting our tourism.”

The 17 year-old half German half Filipina will convince tourists to visit Bohol, which was devastated by the killer quake last year, through the power of social media. “Social media is one way of conveying the tourists to explore Bohol after the quake, although the quake might have devastated lives it also has sprouted different opportunities,” shared Geraldine.

In this season of Sandugo festival, VRS asked Geraldine for her fitness insights and sundry.

How do you feel about competing at the Miss Bohol 2014? I feel proud to be able to represent the City of Tagbilaran, but there’s always this uncertainty in pageants especially this one, that makes me nervous. Who wouldn’t be? It’s Ms.Bohol2014 and I’m competing against 17 beautiful girls, but I am hoping that on the 19th of July I’ll be able to represent the province of Bohol. I am hoping and praying.

What is your favorite category (Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Interview, casual/On-Stage Question), and why? My favorite category is non-other than the casual on stage question because in this category the people get to know who the candidate truly is as a person and they get a glimpse on the candidates personality other than her beauty.

What is your least favorite category, and why? My least favorite category would be the swimwear category although this is the favorite of some, and I do respect that, but it’s my least favorite because behind that beautiful body is hours and days of diet and exercise and it’s also makes me feel very conscious about how I look and the way that people think about how I look and portray who I am as a person in the swimwear category of the competition.

What would you say to someone who says that pageants are superficial and/or demeaning to women? I would tell them that to personally get to know a previous pageant winner or a contestant and I’m sure just by getting to know them, they’ll instantly know how pageants have improve their lives and personalities as it did with mine.

How do you stay motivated to eat healthy, exercise, and prepare for your upcoming pageant? I stay motivated to eat healthy and exercise by thinking of the people who believes in me and by thinking about the advocacies that I want to be implemented if I become Miss Bohol 2014.

What kind of diet do you have? I was obese when I was younger, and in Mutya sa Tagbilaran, I still had some of that baby fats on, and right now I’m doing my best to have my body toned. I’m having a less rice diet, less sweets, more protein, vegetables and the healthy stuff with exercise.

How much sleep do you get per night knowing that you have busy schedules in the Miss Bohol? It really depends, on some nights I get 8 or more hours of sleep but in some, 5 or 6 , But I do try to get up to 8 hours of sleep a day because having enough sleep makes you a lot healthier, makes you glow and have more energy.

Other than confidence, what would you say is the most important quality for a pageant contestant hoping to capture her next crown? I think that other than confidence the most important thing that a beauty should possess is the passion for what she is doing. I believe that you can expect greater things once you love what you do. And in order for her to get her next crown she must be confident and passionate and of course, she must never forget where she came from and never forget the Lord.

What is your favorite quote? My favorite quote is “live life without any regrets, trust in the Lord and he will keep you safe”.

If you were to change something in yourself, what would it be? Right now, I am changing my persona of thinking too much of what other people would think about the things that I do and about me. I think that , I am doing my best to change this part of me, because I believe that to live happily means to not care that much on other people’s perception ,as long as you believe in yourself and you are happy , then what other people think of you really doesn’t matter that much.

What do you find sexy in a man? It would definitely be how a man carries himself, his height and his eyes... I don’t know why, but I just find it sexy. (Laughter)

Will Geraldine join the Miss Bohol Honor Roll?

***
In 2006, Bb. Pilipinas World-2006 Anna Maris Igpit shared to me her strict diet days before she went to Poland to compete for the Miss World 2006. To stay thin, she followed a healthy strict diet and practice few exercise.

When I saw Maris in Poland, her wait was 24 inches! Maris is a person naturally thin, and doesn't have tendency to increase weight.

The MISS BOHOL SANDUGO (www.facebook.com/missboholbeautypageant) admins and other beauty watchers have noticed that some of the girls have "baby fats"...and they have less than two weeks to trim down!

“A lot of people have noticed that some of our Miss Bohol 2014 candidates need diet and exercise,” the fanpage said. “A beauty contestant's diet does not consist of starvation and countless hours on the treadmill. Instead, it is about adopting a healthy lifestyle and working to achieve long, lean muscles. They have 17 days to do it before the finals night on July 19.”

The fanpage shares the pageant secrets to diet and exercise:  find opportunities to exercise, eat clean, and stay prepared. “Cravings are natural, even for a beauty queen. However, pageant contestants combat these with preparedness --- always with healthy snacks and fruits on hand,” added the fanpage.

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


Fresh from Europe, Bohol’s Tableya Princess Dalareich Polot (extreme left, with Andrea Trinidad Echavez of the US Embassy and VRS), is back in Bohol. Dalareich was in Belgium (the home to some of the world’s finest beer, most decadent chocolates, and mouthwatering delicacies) on a scholarship grant about chocolate-making.  She was the grand winner in the First Young Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp 2013.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Miss Bohol 2014: Meet the 18 contestants

Wake-uppers:
Scene: From Llew Kutamura: Eduardo Boyles Davalan was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed as Commander to the First Scout Ranger Regiment, a Philippine Army Special Operations Command unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare.

Scene: From Emerson Pinos: Love taking Selfies? In time for Sandugo Festival 2014, join the ‪#‎BoholSelfie Contest. #BoholSelfie is a photo contest that showcases how creative we are in capturing Bohol's magnificent sceneries by taking selfies of our own. The contest starts on July 1 and ends on July 26, 2014. Winners will receive cash prizes and freebies from our sponsors. For more info, visit www.facebook.com/boholselfie.

Scene: The Holy Trinity Foundation School in Upper Mansasa District, Tagbilaran City, placed second in the National Achievement Test (NAT) in all elementary schools in Tagbilaran. It is owned and operated by the Little Handmaids of the Most Holy Trinity. School principal Carmencita Formilleza- Maniwang attributed their noteworthy achievement to the school’s excellence in education. “Such achievement validates and rewards the continuing commitment of the Holy Trinity Foundation School to equip the students with quality Christian education whose dreams and vision centered on a genuine Christian life, touches every person, every relationship and every learning experience, ‘that all may have life in its fullness’ in the Most Holy Trinity,” said Maniwang.

Scene: After the “hellish” journey at BIR, I'm done na! Thanks to my lawyer-accountant-bookkeeper Atty. Licelle Zamora, CPA (of Marapao Street, Tagbilaran City) for the assistance and guidance. One thing I've learned from her: Pay your taxes on time to avoid penalty.

***
Who among them will have the chance to win Miss Bohol crown and (hopefully) represent the province in the national beauty pageant stage?

Wearing their swimwear, the 18 (not 17 as earlier reported) candidates of the Miss Bohol 2014: The Quintessential Boholana introduced themselves during the pageant's press presentation on Friday, June 27.

The 18 candidates of Miss Bohol 2014 with the pageant chairman Bohol’s first lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto. Courtesy: Pureza Chatto

Members of the press also had the chance to ask and interact with the candidates.

The Miss Bohol 2014 committee decided to drop the Sandugo so that it would be like the mother pageant in Bohol and not only a festival pageant.

Through the years, the Miss Bohol pageant has maintained its reputation as the province’s most prestigious beauty pageant. The pageant, however, needs to reinvent itself in order to keep up with the times.

Aside from being the quintessential symbol of Boholana beauty, brains and breeding, Miss Bohol should also be the epitome of the modern Boholana. Confident, charming and career-oriented, she is also a unique and privileged position to use her popularity and personality for a good cause to promote   and support worthy various  projects , causes and advocacies as well as a positive role model for her peers and for the community.

The presscon also turned-out to be an instant reunion with VRS and former beauty queen Anna Maris Igpit.  There were also Bohol’s first lady Pureza Chatto, the lady boss of Miss Bohol, Bohol’s Queen Of All Media Ardy Araneta-Batoy, Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal, the handlers, make-up artists and hairstylists.

Anyway, here are the 18 official candidates of Miss Bohol 2014:

Jassenie Mangaron (Loon)- 33-24-32; She is a consistent honor student from Cebu Normal University taking up Bachelor in Secondary Education. She is a dog lover and a big fan of the movie “Hachiko” which touched her so much. She wants to sustain the resilience and cooperative spirit of her fellow Loonanons so that they can all rise from the rubble.

Jaya Lozano (Tubigon)- 34-24-35; She wants to date Brad Pitt and to know Pitt’s secret of keeping a strong relationship with Angelina Jolie despite their busy schedule. Jaya wants to promote Tubigon’s Cabgan, a bat sanctuary which represents the town’s preservation of its natural beauty.

Allyson Mycee Escobia (Anda)- 33 ½-26 ½-38 ½; She is graduate of Silliman University and is currently working as  nurse at the Provincial Office of the Governor. She loves to read books and surf the net during her spare time. She joins Miss Bohol to prove that she can go beyond her limits and let people be aware of the beauty of her town Anda.

Liss Lee Centillas (Buenavista)- 32-26-33; Liss is a nurse by profession and graduated from Mater Dei College. She believes that heartbreak is God’s way of leading the path to meeting a better person. For her, the people of Buenavista are very supportive people despite of being a small town.

Joyce Trexie Marie Cagabnot (Bohol Island State University)- 31-24-35; She is a huge fan of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons because she loves the development and the twists of the story. She is proud to represent her school because it produces competent professionals.

Clowie Lim (Ubay); Kim Kim is third year college student taking up Bachelor in Elementary Education at the Bohol Northern Star College. She hopes to work with Miss World 2013 Megan Young someday as she is her inspiration.

Annaleah Saga (Carmen)- 35-25-36; 5’3”; Yhang Yhang is a graduating student of BS-Hotel and Restaurants Service Technology from BISU.

Farwah Nijah Soriano (Pilar)- 32-27-35; 5;5”; Farwah is a student of Holy Name University. She wishes to date Prince Harry because she has always dreamed of becoming a princess. She believes that joining Miss Bohol is not about being there as herself but embodying her town Pilar. This is her way of thanking her fellowmen for believing in her.

Mary Rose Butalid (Panglao)- Rose, 16, is the youngest of this year’s Miss Bohol candidates.  If she wins Miss Bohol, she wants to focus an advocacy that would address kids’ pre-mature indulgence of technology advancements like computer games and social media and bring back their interest in reading books through putting up mini-libraries mot especially in rural communities in Bohol.

Imaculada Cleofe Leopardas (Barbara Pearls Cosmetics)-33-26-36; 5’7”; Ima was a student leader and a former editor-in-chief of her school paper in high school. She loves to compose songs and write poems. She lives her life keeping in mind the best lesson she got from her parents- to respect everyone regardless of their status, gender, beliefs and culture.

Liezel May Turtoga (Getafe)- 31-23-35; 5’7”; Liezel is a part time model. She loves to sing and dance. As a big fan of “Frozen,” she is proud of her Getafe’s Pandanon Island and Banaco Mangrove Forest.

Geraldine Topsnik (Tagbilaran)- This 17-year-old half-German half-Filipino describes herself as a “full Filipina and a true Boholana” and aspires to become a successful businesswoman. She loves to cook and bake.

Genina Abrau (Sierra-Bullones)- 34-25-35; 5’5”; Nina is a scholar of DOST. She is a graduating student taking up Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at BISU. She is a student leader and a senator in her school. She is a fan of anime and wishes to visit Japan someday.

Maria Tiffany Tabigue (Balilihan)- Tipan is currently the tourism officer of her town. She was tasked to call the girls in her hometown to join Miss Bohol but she was chosen instead. She was a former SK chairperson in her barangay.

Natasha Amethyst Torralba (Duero)- 34-27-37; 5’3”1/2. Nash is an active member of different youth organizations. She loves to watch movies with her younger siblings. The best advice she learned from heartbreak is to embrace pain because that will make her stronger.

Christine Mae Cuarto (Jagna)- 31-22-33; Mae aspires as a good policewoman. She graduated BS-Criminology at BIT-International College-Jagna. She is also a DJ of “Radyo Natin” Jagna. She joins Miss Bohol to improve her personality and confidence.

Queenie Melody Fullante (Dauis)- 36-25-36; 5’3”; She is a half-Bengali half-Filipina who works as an NGO worker that provides shelter to disaster hit areas.  She grew up under the care of her aunt while her mother is working in Manila. She finished Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at UB. She hopes to be a merchant to be able to travel and meet people from all walks of life.

Diozel Namoco (Dimiao)- 34-23-36; 5’3”; Zhel is a graduating student from HNU. She dreams to manage her own 5-star hotel someday. She loves to watch TV and read books.

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