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Wake
uppers:
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Food for the soul: Whatever mountain stands in your path,
whatever obstacle blocks your way, whatever difficulty immobilizes
you, the prayer full of faith can remove it.
***
It's
merry month of May! Over in Western countries, May likewise
signifies springtime and promise, when winter's chill gives
way to fair and temperate weather and the cycle of rebirth.
In the tropical country like ours, Maytime is a season of
festive rites and rituals. In Bohol, it's a one month "kainan"
from house to house.
For
beauty aficionados, May is the season of beauty pageants.
The latest is this year's edition of Miss Tagbilaran (known
as Mutya sa Tagbilaran in the past years).
As
usual, there were hits and misses in Miss Tagbilaran '08:
Residency
issue
Has
Tagbilaran City run out of beauties? This was a question raised
by observant beauty pageant aficionados when a lovely lass
from Panglao was crowned Miss Tagbilaran 2008. Yes, she deserved
the crown but the main issue is the residency requirement.
The truth is she's from Panglao. Stacy Mae Arisola who represented
Taloto has no residency in Tagbilaran City as she hails from
Garcia Hernandez town.
The
organizers indeed have a lot of explaining to do regarding
this matter. Further compounding the issue is the placement
of a girl from the town of Clarin as one of the runners- up.
There's no guideline that Miss Tagbilaran is an open contest
wherein contestants from other towns and provinces can join.
This
year's sterling committee (headed by Dave Maulas) was in bad
light when the "controversy" of the pre-screening
erupted in the air lanes. Even Dave was impolite to turn down
the phone when he was interviewed on dyRD's Pulso (hosted
by Batchoy Balba and Prof. Rene Real) about the "controversy."
It
started when Susanne Mae dela Cruz "presented" herself
as Miss Booy when in fact there's already Melle Angelie Doroy
who won the Miss Boy Search in July 2007. De la Cruz showed
no papers as she's endorsed by barangay Booy making the barangay
council headed Jun Telmo in quandary.
"Is
it improper to present yourself as a candidate without any
proof? And to know that there was a legitimate contestant
from that barangay?" True unimpeachable Very Reliable
Source (VRS) said.
The
pre-screening committee (which I think not needed because
not all barangays were represented) decided to choose top
10. Call it "manipulation" that Doroy was not included
in the top 10 (she landed 11th during the pre-screening) but
when it was thoroughly reviewed it was found out that Doroy
was actually the 9th placer. The committee had asked an apology
for the mistake they committed and instead of top 10 they
made it top 12 either to accommodate other "favorite"
girls and to cover the "shame."
The
pageant started on time and opened with the spectacular opening
number which showcased the dazzling and breath- taking costumes
of the 12 candidates and the superb performance of the Diwanag
Dance Theatre and Cultural Troupe.
Miss
Tagbilaran 2008 holds the distinction of being the first local
pageant to be held at an air- conditioned venue, the Bohol
Cultural Center.
This
year's batch of candidates is one of the most competitive
in recent years. After the swimsuit and evening gown competitions,
the top five were proclaimed and the interview portion immediately
followed. After an intermission number, the final three were
called and asked the final question. After the obligatory
farewell walk of last year's winner, the new Miss Tagbilaran
and her court were proclaimed and crowned.
The
minus points of the pageant include the very dragging choreography.
For instance, in the gown portion, each candidate was given
at least three to five minutes to show off her gown. By the
time the evening gown portion was halfway through, a sizable
number of the audience had either gone home or silently protesting
of the ordeal of sitting through the rest of the show. The
technical aspect of the show particularly the lighting effects
were disappointing to say the least.
Furthermore, the AVP's shown on the wide screen were very
amateurish.
Seasoned
host saves the show
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As
expected, Bohol's seasoned host, Mr. Raul Gatal, dazzled
the crowd with his witty repartees and competent handling
of the pageant's loopholes and technical difficulties.
Even Rovilson Fernandez, executive director of Maxim
magazine and partner of Marc Nelson in the Amazing Race
(where the pair won third place) was impressed with
Mr. Gatal's hosting.
According
to my VRS, Mr. Gatal was only informed that he was to
be the pageant host only two days before the pageant
night!
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Furthermore,
my VRS further revealed that "kinawawa ng organizers
si Mr. Gatal with a very measly talent fee." To think
that he actually saved the show! A seasoned host like Raul
deserves the best talent fee.
Challenge
Overall, this year's Miss Tagbilaran pageant was a fairly
decent production and definitely way better than last year.
Here's hoping that this would be serve as a challenge to the
organizers to continually improve the city's annual search
for its fairest and brightest young ladies. It becomes less,
less glamorous and prestigious.
***
"It's
been only a week and my guess came true," said Majuro
Ikagami who felt that Chocolate Hills would be removed from
list of nominees of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Majuro emailed
True about his concern of creating a Official Supporting Committees
immediately when the Chocolate Hills climbed the 6th place
in the New 7 Wonders.
Chocolate
lovers had reacted "violently" of the removal of
the Choco Hills and the shocking news that it can't be nominated
either. Local officials and tourism stakeholders wanted an
answer why Bohol's Chocolate Hills was deleted off the list
of nominees.
It
is sad to note that it did not just drop in rankings, it completely
got dropped off the site without a word or explanation. I
was thinking there should have been a press release about
it.. Apparently, not one of the n7w.com staff noticed its
disappearance along with other nominated sites.
Other
Boholanos presumed that it could be a nasty job of a computer
hacker. A hacker intentionally gains access to a secure internet
website, navigates and controls any information therein as
he taps into the system website according to a press release.
The
Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Tourism Committee Chair
and Board Member Ester Corazon Galbreath prodded the provincial
lawmakers to launch an appeal to the search organizers. She
said the organizers should explain how Bohol's marvelous Chocolate
Hills and Mayon Volcano were deleted from the list.
On
his part, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera steered the
SP to make a formal communication to the Department of Tourism
to ask for enlightenment on the matter, reports said.
Bohol
First District Representative and House Tourism Committee
Chair Edgar Chatto, upon knowing about the incident said in
interviews that would personally lead a Congressional inquiry
as to why it also happened.
Rep.
Chatto told the Provincial Tourism Council chairman Peter
Dejaresco that he to call the DOT and the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization to ask about the possible
de-listing of the wondrous hills from the nominees to the
new seven world wonders list.
The
point is they reacted "violently" when they didn't
know the real score why the Chocolate Hills was removed.
Blaming
the hackers would be unfair. The New 7 Wonders website is
secured, too.
If these officials have had read the guidelines they would
know what to do. Voting and campaigning aren't enough. A special
committee had to be set up because anytime the organizer would
send queries regarding the Chocolate Hills.
And
this is their response. Apparently, my concern was also their
concern.
From
Stephanie Mc Namara (smcnamara@n72.com) of new7wonders team
said to Majuro:
All
nominees remain provisional nominees until they have been
confirmed.
Confirmation
requires the nominee to set up an Official Supporting Committee,
at which point they become an Official Nominee. Any provisional
nominees without Official Supporting Committees cannotparticipate
and therefore are suspended until this situation is rectified.
For information on how to set up an Official Supporting Committee,
please visit:
http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nomination/osc/
New7Wonders decision is final as to whether to accept or decline
any participants following the rules of participation.
See what I mean? I just laughed at the fact that they had
no clue about the reason why it got deleted in the first place.
We're
just happy that the Chocolate Hills is back. Please continue
voting.
Café
Anembo
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Café
Anembo which is located along J.A Clarin St., Tagbilaran
City had successfully hosted "MEET THE RASTAFARIANS"
with BROWNBUDS MENDELS LEGACY on April 18 and ESTRANGHERO
on April 25. The event was jamly successful, chilled
with huge crowd. The same was another realization of
Cafe' Anembo's primordial objective, to support Boholano
music scene.
Thanks
to brother bands Pirates of the New Age, No Pets Aloud
and Timber.
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The
event sponsors were Punkstation Internet Cafe, Bohol Coconut
Palms Resort (BCPR), Dunkin Donuts, Habagat Outdoor Equipment,
Universal Press, Nature's Spring, BLPM Autocare Center, SNB
Construction, S.T.K Food Haus, Camille's Bakeshop, Haneille
Mart and Papa Doms Barbeque. Thanks Jofil, Morris, Kikoy,
Maw2x, Dakz, Niño Gucor and Edison Delantero. Special
thanks to Inday Ruffing, Sean and Kiss 102.3 FM for strong
support to Bohol's Local Bands.
"Cafe
Anembo supports Bohol's music scene. Will keep you posted
for our upcoming events," said Café Anembo's big
boss Rico "Superman" Lantaya.
Check
the regular gigs Jam Session (Wednesday), Acoustic Night (Friday
& Comedy Show on-Stage hosted by Inday Ruffing of Kiss
102.3 FM (Saturday). Ice cold beer and meals available at
very affordable prices.
You may reach Café Anembo at cafeanembo@yahoo.com,
09287701544.
JCI
Bohol CHOCOLATE HILLS implements YLEA
Here's
an email from Vilma Yorong (Ate Vi to all)
Senator
Francis CHIZ Escudero sponsored the annual Youth Leadership
Excellence Award (YLEA): Ang Batang Lider Award, one of the
flagship projects of the JCI organization. The objective of
the project is to recognize the leadership qualities and academic
achievement of elementary and high school deserving graduating
students both in public and private schools nationwide.
In
Bohol, YLEA was implemented by members of the JCI Bohol Chocolate
Hills lead by its energetic LOM President JCI Member Amor
T. Regner. Around thirty (30) elementary & high school
graduates were awarded by JCI Bohol Chocolate Hills despite
the limited time when the medals & certificates arrived
from JCI Philippines, Manila. JCI members took time attending
the graduations and awarded the YLEA medals and certificates
to the recipients.
2008
YLEA awardees were Magallano, Loverly - Grace Christian School
(High School), Epe, Nickson Felix - Grace Christian School
(Elementary); Binatero, Nesie Fe - IKA, Cortes; Sumampong,
Christian John - PMI, Loboc; Baguhin, Josephine & Bete,
Ramonito Geo - St. John the Baptist Academy, Garcia Hernandez;
Boligao, Maricar - St. Nicholas Academy, Dimiao; Gabi, Ma.
Christine - Manga National High School; Migriño, Ma.
Leonora - Mansasa High School; Daquio, Carl Rookie - CVSCAFT;
Labaria, Carle Elirozz - Bohol Wisdom School (High School);
Oroyan, Lilia V. - UB High School Evening Session; Montalban,
Remark - UB Day High School; Tan, Lalane H. - Collegio de
la Medalla Milagrosa, Jagna; Sampiton, Ralph Emmanuel - Royal
Christian School; Yap, Yasmin Iannah - Bohol Wisdom School
(Elementary); Payot, Loitreena C. - Fatima High School, Cortes;
Araneta, Julieto V. - Faraon National High School, Jagna;
Meyor, Maridel - Biabas High School, Ubay; Pamaong, Rosamae
- Cogon Night High School; Igdanes, Jammil Rashed R. - Panglao;
Calimbyan, Teresa - Sierra Bullons National High School, Sierra
Bullones; Genita, Aiza Nicca - Valencia High School, Valencia;
Maglajos, Lucille O. - Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School;
Lumantas, Deborah Anne O. - Tagbilaran Science High School.
The
Good Husband
Jack wakes up with a huge hangover after attending his company's
Christmas Party. Jack is not normally a drinker, but the drinks
didn't taste like alcohol at all. He didn't even remember
how he got home from the party. As bad as he was feeling,
he wondered if he did something wrong.
Jack
had to force himself to open his eyes, and the first thing
he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on
the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose ! ! Jack
sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and
pressed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect
order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house.
He
takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye
staring back at him in the bathroom mirror. Then he notices
a note hanging on the corner of the mirror written in red
with little hearts on it and a kiss mark from his wife in
lipstick: 'Honey, breakfast is on the stove, I left early
to get groceries to make you your favorite dinner tonight.
I love you, darling! Love, Jillian'
He
stumbles to the kitchen and sure enough, there is hot breakfast,
steaming hot coffee and the morning newspaper. His son is
also at the table, eating. Jack asks, 'Son... what happened
last night?'
'Well,
you came home after 3 A.M. , drunk and out of your mind You
fell over the coffee table and broke it, and then you puked
in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the
door.'
Confused,
he asked his son, 'So, why is everything in such perfect order
and so clean? I have a rose, and breakfast is on the table
waiting for me??'
His son replies, 'Oh THAT!... Mom dragged you to the bedroom,
and when she tried to take your pants off, you screamed 'Leave
me alone, I'm married!!'
Broken coffee table S239.99, hot breakfast S4.20, Two aspirins-
$.36,
Saying the right thing, at the right time is priceless.
***
You
can email me at leoudtohan@yahoo.com.
***
You can email me at leoudtohan@gmail.com.
Or send SMS at 09212446791. |
