Flashback: Miss Tagbilaran 1993 Sophia Lorraine M. Alvarez

Tonight’s big event here in Tagbilaran is looked upon with anticipation as we await the crowning of Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2014. You have to understand the excitement for after all, it has been three years since the pageant went into hibernation. Thanks to the present city administration led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap, this year’s fiesta celebration has been one exciting affair especially with the rebirth of the annual search for the city’s fairest who will represent us in the forthcoming Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant

As we await the crowning of the next Miss Tagbilaran in the next few hours, allow me to take you on a walk down memory lane with a reminiscence on the1993 edition of Miss Tagbilaran

The 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant would always be memorable for me not only for crowning a most deserving winner but also for it was the first Miss Tagbilaran pageant that I co- hosted with hosting legend Gerarda “Ardie” Batoy. You can just imagine how scared I was to be standing side by side  with Bohol’s emceeing icon. You see,she was the ultimate when it came to emceeing so just think how intimidating it was to be co- hosting with Ma'am Ardie  

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez in the Evening Gown Competition 

Aside from the aforementioned, the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant is unique for two other reasons: First, unlike the other Miss Tagbilaran pageants that were staged as part of the city’s fiesta celebration highlights, it is the only edition that was mounted as a highlight of the city’s charter day celebration which falls on July 1, 1966;  Secondly, it is the only Miss Tagbilaran Pageant that initially declared five ladies as Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest before declaring one of them as Miss Tagbilaran

TAGBILARAN CITY OFFICIALS CIRCA 1993:

The City Mayor that time was Hon. Jose Maria Rocha, Hon. Gloria Neri Lim was Vice- Mayor while Atty. Dan N. Lim was City Administrator

The pageant was held at the DWCT Gymnasium, then the biggest indoor venue that could accommodate around 5,000 spectators.

Fifteen winsome ladies from all parts of the city competed in swimwear, evening gowns and interviews. After Bert Nievera, a classy balladeer and also known as Martin Nievera, serenaded the ladies and entertained the crowd with a repertoire of standards, the names that were part of  Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were revealed.

TAGBILARAN’S FIVE PRETTIEST:

Named Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were (called in random order) were May Castanares, Sophia Lorraine Maniwang Alvarez, Mia Nunag, Wilma Lim and another lady whose name escapes me at this particular moment.  
  

After Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest had been sashed and had received their floral bouquets, it was announced that one of them will be named Miss Tagbilaran 1993

AND MISS TAGBILARAN 1993 IS...

Before an overflow crowd of pageant spectators and supporters, Sophia Alvarez, a  BS Nursing student at Divine Word College, was proclaimed the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran. She was crowned by Scarlett Pizarras, 1992 Miss Tagbilaran runner up. 

It was a most deserved victory for aside from beauty & charm, Sophia was one of the most consistent in the Q & A which came as no surprise for she had always been a consistent achiever both in academics and in her extra- curricular activities since grade school

Graduated elementary 1986, Holy Spirit School, Second Honorable Mention. Graduated 1990 Divine Word College High School as Class Salutatorian. Graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, DWCT, 1994, Magna Cum Laude

Mutya 92 Runner up Scarlett Pizarras crowns the new queen 

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez takes her Victory Walk

PRESENTLY

Sophia then worked at ARIVAC (Division of Research Institute of Tropical Medicine) for two years and was a part- time clinical instructor for a short time before leaving for the US in 2000  

Years after, Sophia tied the marital knot with Joel Gentallan of Antequera, Bohol whom she met in college. Both have been based in Milford, Connecticut, USA since 2004. They were in Norwalk, Connecticut before that. ICU Nurse both in Norwalk Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. They are blessed with two sons; Justin Christian, 8 and Jovani Andrew, 5.

Joel & Sophia Gentallan with Justin & Jovani
Christmas 2013

ON LIFE LESSONS:

Sophia shares "Life is like a beauty pageant. You have to give it your all to be able to express and portray your inner beauty as well as self confidence because these traits will greatly matter and come in handy in the years ahead. People judge us every single day but knowing yourself more than anyone in this world is enough to face a hundred battles

Very well said Sophia and here's to a more beautiful life ahead of you

Cheers!