Miss Philippines is Miss Earth 2014

Congratulations to our very own Jaime Herrell for winning the 2014 Miss Earth title. She bested a field of 83 beauties from around the planet.

L-R: Venezuela Miss Water; Philippines Miss Earth 2014 ; Russia Miss Fire & USA Miss Air

(Photo credit: Events2Images) 

Your Blogger had the privilege of being seated beside her when we judged during the 2014 Miss Panglao Pageant last August 25

 Your Blogger with Jaime Herrell when we both judged the 2014 Miss Panglao Pageant
Photo Credits: Norman Tinio

Up close & personal, she is really beautiful & has oodles of charm & wit.

Truly deserving to be called Miss Earth 2014

TRIVIA: She is the second of only two Filipinas to have won the Miss Earth crown. The first was Karla Henry. Both represented Cebu in the national pageant prior to representing the country in the international pageant.

Yvethe Marie Santiago Aims for a Miss Supranational Back-to- Back Victory

Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2014 Yvethe Marie Santiago is currently in Krynica-Zdroj, Poland where she bids for a back- to- back Miss Supranational victory for the Philippines. The odds are against her of course, but knowing Yvethe, I’m pretty sure she’s giving it her all. She wouldn’t have graduated with a BS Accountancy degree Cum laude and be a Certified Public Accountant if she didn’t do her homework

So what is the Miss Supranational Pageant all about?

Miss Supranational was born in 2009, with its first edition held in the city of Płock (Poland).  The next two editions continued in this city, and in 2012 the competition travelled to the capital city of Warsaw.  In 2013, the pageant went abroad for the first time; being hosted by the city of Minsk in Belarus.

The reigning Miss Supranational is our very own Mutya Datul

Miss Supranational beauty contest, to enter its 6th edition this year, is organized by the Panama- based World Beauty Association (WBA), S.A. that has been established on the basis of twenty years of experience in the event industry and the organization of beauty contests. The organization’s president is Tryny Marcela Yandar Lobon

F.A.Q. – Frequently Asked Questions about Miss Supranational:

What are the age requirements for Miss Supranational?

- Delegates must between 18 and 26 years old.

How is Miss Supranational Chosen?

- A panel of judges evaluates the finalists during the live televised final in the basis of stage presence, runway skills and overall beauty.

How are the semi-finalists chosen?

- The top 20 semi-finalists are chosen based on the overall performance during the three weeks of competition and during a preliminary interview.

What are the duties of Miss Supranational?

- To work for charitable causes as well as traveling the world promoting tourism, goodwill among all nations and a healthy image.

What are the qualities an aspirant to the Miss Supranational crown must possess?

- Overall beauty is the main criteria; however, our organization likes its winners to be fresh, with some modeling experience and photogenic qualities, as the titleholder will get jobs as a model for sponsors and companies.

ROSTER OF WINNERS

2009 - Oksana Moria (Ukraine)

2010 - Karina Pinilla (Panama)

2011 - Monika Lewczuk (Poland)

2012 - Katsyarina Buraya (Belarus)

2013 - Mutya Datul (Philippines)

Will Yvethe Marie Santiago give us a reason to smile on December 5? Methinks yes. At the rate that she has been turning heads and standing out effortlessly, our lovely Bicolana will surely deliver whenit matters the most

Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines & Miss Spain 

   Miss Philippines with Miss Poland Katarzyna Krzeszowska

WORLD- CLASS PINAY BEAUTY

By the way, three of the candidates have Filipino blood in their veins. Yvethe had a photo with them already. They are Miss Wales Harriet Cole,  Miss Australia Yvonne Amores & Miss England Zandra Flores. Ms Flores by the way had competed in all major pageants in the Philippines before finally bagging a crown in England this year.

L-R: The misses from Wales, the Philippines, Australia & England

For the meantime, let’s follow her journey towards the Miss Supranational crown

Good luck! 

http://www.misssupranational.com/

Boholana Beauty Represents the Philippines in Miss SCUBA International 2014

Amanda Arbitrario

Panglao’s very own Amanda Arbitrario who bested a field of 12 finalists from around the country for the title of Miss Scuba Philippines 2014 is already in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to represent the country in the Miss Scuba International 2014.

The beauty competition aims to drum up conservation campaigns to educate and inspire people to do their best in safeguarding the oceans, as well as underwater.

Considering that last year’s Philippine rep Christine Love Bernasor placed 1^st RU, Amanda isn’t feeling the pressure. “I would rather focus on making friends and promoting my country’s dive spots and tourist attractions particularly Panglao and Bohol”. 

At the same time, I want to enjoy this once-in-a- lifetime experience and   and be a representative that Bohol would be proud of”  Well said, Amanda!

 Amanda explored the dive spots of Balicasag Island
 before flying off for Malaysia

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero is extending to Amanda the same support she gave to another Panglao beauty Anna Maris Igpit when the latter competed in Miss World 2006. 

“Amanda’s perfectly- timed victory in Miss SCUBA Philippines means that Panglao has found a spokesperson & defender of its aquatic resources”.

We are absolutely thrilled that another Boholana and a Panglaoanon at that is representing our country in an international contest. May she bring home the crown! Let us join hands as we pray for her success on Nov 28” 

and

  Mayor Nila Montero & Vice- Mayor Pedro Fuertes

Good luck! Here’s another trivia for pageant aficionados: Amanda is the third Boholana after Anna Maris Igpit and Ella Buhion Evangelista to represent the country in an international pageant after winning or placing in a national preliminary. 

 Your Blogger with Amanda, Karla Henry Miss Earth 2008 & 
Anna Maris Igpit Bb Pilipinas- World 2006 

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended

Meet the Guys behind Electro Circuit

One balmy Thursday evening, we responded to an invite from Electro Circuit’s organizers for a brief chitchat at Eping & Marge Estavilla’s Crabhouse by the Bay.

 L-R: Agag Lim, LJ Lumayag, Eping Estavilla, JA Uy, Ikoy Mercado

LJ, Jay, Agag & Ikoy, four enterprising Boholano gentlemen of diverse backgrounds & varied interests yet bound by one commonality: all four love to hang out with friends & associates in trendy night spots after a week of hard work. Collectively, they call themselves Room 4 Events

That love for clubbing and hanging out with friends led to the idea of staging “Electro Circuit”, a dance party of epic proportions and part of a circuit party. They have created such a buzz for the event that they already have received inquiries from as far as Palawan, Gen Santos & Leyte on the possibility of bringing Electro Circuit to their respective places.

So here’s the gist of a two- hour exchange with the guys who assured us that partying will never be the same again in Bohol

SO WHAT’S A CIRCUIT DANCE PARTY? 

A circuit party is a large dance event. It extends through the night and into the following day. Each participating bar is represented by one or two of its top DJ’s whose live performances are featured in a large dance event in this case during Electro Circuit where the music is amplified with a large sound reinforcement system, typically with large subwoofers to produce a deep bass sound.

SO WHY A CIRCUIT PARTY? 

We want to introduce the concept of a circuit party to the new generation of Boholanos.  Basically, a circuit party is a number of affiliated events where each participating bar is represented by one or two of their top resident DJs. For this circuit party we go island hopping for we have Cebu’s Club Alchology,LIV Super Club and Barcode.  Bohol has Time-Out Bar, Club Sphere and U-Bar.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM ELECTRO CIRCUIT?   

The December 5 event that combines clean wholesome fun with  nonstop  electronic dance music will be highlighted by awesome LED projected images, beam lights, visual effects show & smoke machines to heighten the sensory experience And the best highlight? Cebu’s club regulars, Bohol’s cool crowds & the most good- looking dudes & dudettes including the founders & members of RMAB (Ramp Models Association of Bohol) who will be celebrating their 5^th year anniversary in the same event.

AS THE EVENT ORGANIZERS, HOW DID YOU MANAGE THE WORK DETAILS?   

LJ oversaw the event planning & management, Ikoy handles the production & operational aspects of the event, Ag Ag is handling the marketing & promotions in collaboration with publicists & PR guys while JA Uy took charge of the Finance, Sales & Sponsorship concerns

WHERE CAN WE SCORE THE TICKETS?   

We are lucky to have a vast network of friends & associates who have responded to our request for assistance especially in the distribution & sales of tickets.  Tickets are available at the following: Crab House Restaurant, Chriscent Ville Hotel,Dong Juan, K and N Productions, Shiang Ma Nou, Sophie Paris Shop, JCI Boholana Kisses Members, Alpha Phi Omega Sorority and Fraternity Members, Ramp Models Association of Bohol Members, Bohol Designers Circle Members. 

By the way, the earlier the public buys the tickets, the more discounts. For more details, please check out our official FB Page “Electro Circuit: Neon Party & DJ Music Festival”

Photos by Ghen Lumayag Photography 

Support Rebuilding Bohol: Gift of Joy Benefit Concert, December 13

Rebuilding Bohol: The Gift of Joy Benefit Concert

After an earthquake struck Bohol a year ago, Loon town was the hardest-hit with 20 people dead and left its Our Lady of Light Church reduced to rubble. The most heartbreaking though for the town’s school children and parents was the loss of 32 of its 64 day care centers. 

 Only the Our Lady of Light remained intact and unscathed from the church

Encouraged by the overwhelming response for help and with the backing & support of the Lopezes of Loon & other civic- minded Loonanons, Dr. Rosendo M. Lopez III stepped forward to organize “Gift of Joy”,a fund- raising concert, to support the rehabilitation of the town’s day care centers & to bring attention to the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in the municipality

 Your Blogger with Dr. Rosendo M. Lopez III

CELEBRITY PERFORMERS

  Kirby Asunto

Remember the 14-year-old Filipino-American pop soprano singer who was handpicked by Manny Pacquaio to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the highly-publized boxing bout between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, Nevada in June 2012 and who became a worldwide trending topic in Twitter at that time?

Kirby Asunto has finally grown up into a budding beauty whose musicality has wowed American music & entertainment critics. Yet, despite the accolades, Kirby feels it is important she should go back to her Visayan roots and help her kababayans who are in need.

So when she was asked by Rosemarie Lopez- Pinlac, US- based sister of Dr. Rosendo Lopez  who is a very good friend of Shirley Asunto, Kirby’s mom, to be the headliner for the December 13 fundraiser concert sans the usual professional fee, she promptly said YES.

Kirby, who is on the verge of international pop music stardom is a perfect example that philanthropy starts at a young age.  

STELLAR SUPPORT FOR MS. ASUNTO:

Arnel Pineda 

Providing strong support to Ms. Asunto are Arnel Pineda came to international prominence in 2007 when he was chosen in a worldwide search for the new lead singer of the American rock band Journey

Jacob Benedicto 

Jacob Benedicto PBB All In Housemate. Known as the “Cutie Crooner of Paranaque”, he is a total stage performer and was in fact, a semifinalist of the “The Voice of the Philippines Season 1”

 Marlo Mortel

Marlo Mortel is an actor and singer from the Philippines best known for his role as Nicolo Angelo Cortez at the television drama Be Careful with My Heart. Mortel is under of ABS-CBN's talent management Star Magic.

Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA 

Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, showed his outmost passion for music and discovered God's gift of singing when he was only five years old. The nurturing batons of his parents and the greeneries of his birthplace, Napo in Loon, Bohol, have indeed left their mark in the young boy who grew up to be a living melody of God's love.

He joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1981 and was ordained as priest in 1990. He graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree both in Philosophy and Theology at the University of Santo Tomas. 

Prior to his present assignment as Rector of  Basilica del Santo Nino in Cebu City, he was the Dean of the Conservatory of Music at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City and former Dean of Theology.  

EVENT ORGANIZER

Backed up by K & N Productions, Bohol’s premier events management outfit that has more than 10 years of proven track record and experience in producing events, the people behind the fundraiser are confident with the organizational capability and integrated resources to mount this fund raising concert with resounding success.

Join us in “Gift of Joy” at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium, December 13, to celebrate a new beginning, a new life & hope that Christmas brings & listen to the purity of an angel’s singing voice.  

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended

Kris Tiffany Maslog Janson's Send Off Photos for Miss Intercontinental 2014

^{Good luck to Kris Tiffany Maslog Janson 2014 Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental as left for Magdeburg, Germany early today and bids to become the first Filipina to be crowned Miss Intercontinental. The pageantfinals is set on December 4.}

^{The lovely Binibini is Miss Cebu 2009 and was a recent guest in Bohol as Chair of the Panel of Judges during Miss Panglao 2014}

^{Photo Credits: Copyright Infringement not intended}

10 Reasons Why You Should Join #ElectroCircuit

Everybody’s talking about it! Electro Circuit, Bohol’s most awaited dance party!

The Hottest DJ’s. Bohol’s Coolest Crowd. The Most Awesome Venue!

December 5, 2014, Crabhouse by the Bay, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Even Your Blogger is joining Electro Circuit

Text by LJ Lumayag of K&N Productions and one of the founders of Room 4 Events

Beauty Queen's Tragic Death

Miss Honduras World 2014 Maria Jose Alvarado

She had packed up already & all set to go as she excitedly looked forward for November 19, the day she was supposed to leave for London to compete in Miss World 2014.  

That date turned out to be a day of mourning not only for her family but also for the entire nation of Honduras when  the bodies of Miss Honduras World 2014 , Maria Jose Alvarado, 19 years old, and her sister Sofia Trinidad, 23 years old, were found buried in a field in the village of Cablotales.

Miss Honduras and her sister were shot to death in an "act of passion" by a jealous boyfriend at his own birthday party and buried in a river bank in the mountains, police said. Alvarado and her sister were attending a birthday party for the older Alvarado’s boyfriend at a local spa when he allegedly became angry that Sofia was dancing with another man, according to witness statements.

He allegedly shot Sofia to death then killed Alvarado when she tried to flee. Sabillon called the killings an "act of passion" inflamed by jealousy.

A week earlier, police confirmed the disappearance of María José Alvarado, Miss Honduras World, with her sister Sophia Trinidad Alvarado. It was learned that on Thursday, the beauty queen came to Santa Barbara from Tegucigalpa to spend a few days with her parents before traveling to London, where she will represent Honduras in the Miss World contest.

She was crowned Miss Honduras World 2014 last April

Eduardo Zablah, director of this pageant in Honduras, confirmed that the two women went missing on Thursday, after they were spotted leaving a party in the Santa Barbara region.

Organisers of the Miss World pageant issued a statement expressing their condolences, and announcing a tribute this weekend in honour of the dead women. 

MESSAGE FROM JULIA MORLEY, Chairman, Miss World Organization

To everyone around the world who has been touched by the awful news from Honduras this morning. 

We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Maria Jose Alvarado & Sofia Trinidad at this time of grief.

We are receiving messages of condolences and support from our Miss World family across the world, who all share our sadness at such a tragedy.

We will be holding a special service with all of the Miss World contestants on Sunday, where we will be honoring the lives of Maria Jose Alvarado and Sofia Trinidad, and say prayers for them and their family.

We will also be having a special fundraiser to keep their names alive forever and donate the money to a children’s home in Honduras, chosen by their mother. 

Miss Honduras’ profile and photo were already posted in the pageant website’s Miss World 2014 Candidates’ Gallery

·      Crowned Miss Honduras in April 2014, Maria Jose Alvarado was due to fly to London for the Miss World contest

·         Her profile on the Miss World site records that she was a student with "aspirations of a career in government, specifically as a diplomat"

·         Quote from profile: "I encourage you to make of Honduras a travel destination, the best is yet to come!"

In a story headlined "The shattered dream of Maria Jose to represent Honduras at Miss World", La Prensa reports that the 19-year-old had already packed her bags to travel to London this week to represent Honduras at the Miss World pageant in December. 

In a country that puts beauty queens on a pedestal, the news has been met with shock and grief. Honduras has decided not to send another contestant in her place as a sign of respect.

Our thoughts and prayers for the families of the Alvarado sisters in their hour of grief

Photo Credits:

Copyright infringement not intended