Bohol's Roving Eye: August 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

When the Boholano Blogger Finally Met the 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up!

When Your Blogger first caught sight of Ariella Ara Arida during the early days leading to the 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition, it was a journey like no other. While other pageant websites, experts, fans and bloggers rarely had her as a favorite or a frontrunner, Your Blogger thought otherwise.

2015 Miss Panglao Pageant Chairman of the Board of Judges

There was that something about Ara that I knew would get her the nod of the esteemed panel of judges and get into the good graces of Madame SMA or Stella Marquez Araneta, founder of the country’s longest- running and most prestigious beauty competition

Encounter of a Lifetime, August 24, 2015, Alona Beach

Was it Ara’s smoky eyes and piercing stare? Or was it perhaps the bewitching and beguiling charm of the Laguna lass that made the difference?

A day or so before the Gold Edition winners were to be crowned, Your Blogger came up with his list of probable winners and had Ara rounding out his choices as His Sentimental Favorite.

The rest is history as they say and Ara went on to represent the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow, Russia where she became the first & only Filipina to have topped both the swimsuit competition & the worldwide online fan voting.

Ara Arida is 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up

Anyway, who would have known that Your Blogger would finally get the chance to meet her up close and personal? The 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant made it all happen. Not for a few minutes nor for an hour but for three unforgettable days in Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol.

Let the photos speak for the surreal experience

with Ara Arida during Chocolate Hills Tour

goofing with Bessie Besana, Atty Dannt Gapasin Jr & Ara
Bilar Man- Made Forest, Bilar, Bohol

enjoying the Loboc River Cruise

before boarding time

before the Judges' Briefing
Baybayon Restaurant, Alona Tropical Beach Resort
Photo Credits: DJ Arro

2015 Miss Universe New Zealand Candidates to Visit Bohol

Bohol has been selected as one of the country’s choice destinations that will play host to the 20 official candidates for the 2015 Miss Universe- New Zealand crown. The lovely candidates who will stay in the country for a 10- day goodwill visit will be accompanied by reigning queen, Rachel Millns.

reigning Miss Universe New Zealand 2014

Rachel Millns

This will be a perfect opportunity for Bohol to be known in the Asia- Pacific region and around the world since the Miss Universe New Zealand is always followed by their social media fans and families.

This piece of good news was relayed to me by a very reliable source from the high- end Panglao resort where the group accompanied by Manila- based Department of Tourism staff will be billeted.

Miss Universe New Zealand is not the first pageant to visit Bohol as part of its official pre- pageant activity. The first was the Miss Czech Republic Pageant that flew its official candidates to Bohol for photo sessions!

More updates!

Miss New Zealand during Miss Universe 2014

When Bessie and Mikee Met in Miss Panglao 2015

Miss Panglao 2015 Pageant was honored to have been graced by two fashion designers who are also actively involved in pageantry.

Your Blogger with Bessie & Mikee

Long before we met by chance at the Henann Resort poolside for the swimsuit shoot of Miss Bohol 2015, I already knew from top pageant blogger Norman Tinio that Mark Bessie Besana is a pageant coach & one of the stabilizing forces of Aces & Queens, the beauty camp that has produced not only Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon & Ara Arida who all achieved a Miss Universe Top Five placement from 2010 to 2013 ut also the Philippines’ first & only Miss World care of Megan Young in 2013.

Bessie revealed to me that he was based overseas for a corporate job before making the big career switch to pageant mentoring & fashion designing.

Bessie Besana gown for Shamcey

and a Bessie Besana jumpsuit for Ara

For their Miss Panglao 2015 judging duties, Ara wore Bessie Besana’s stretch floral and black jumpsuit that creates a perfect illusion of height. Shamcey wore a ruched off shoulder red gown with crochet applique.

Gayle Yu & Toni Gonzaga wear Mikee Andrei

Marian Grace in a Mikee Andrei during Miss Silka Philippines 2014

On the other hand, Mikee Andrei is a Manila- based designer who is a homegrown Boholano talent. The current President of the Fashion Designer Alliance Manila (FaDAL) has always been supportive of the thriving pageant and fashion industry in Bohol through wardrobe sponsorship and sitting as member of the panel of judges during pageants being staged in some of Bohol’s 47 towns and the lone city of Tagbilaran.

Mikee also supported Bohol’s entry Marian Grace Malubay during her Miss Silka Philippines 2014 stint in Manila last year. This summer, the designer also extended support to Gayle Yu through mentoring at Kagandahang Flores beauty camp and wardrobe assistance when she represented Calape, Bohol in the 2015 Miss Philippines Earth national finals.

God bless Bessie & Mikee!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Your Blogger Enjoys the Sand, Sea & Sun of Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol

Thank You Alona Tropical Beach Resort for the awesome stay. These photos were taken this morning at the beachfront of Alona Tropical Resort.

The azure skies, the turquoise waters, the gentle lapping of the waves...who could resist the sand, sea and sun of Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol, Philippines?

Thanks Immaculada Cleofe Leopardas for the photos

Kristin Jewel Cruz is Miss Panglao 2015

A 15 year old leggy 5’ 8” beauty named Kristin Jewel Cruz of Arbasto Foundation Inc. lived up to her name when she was named the 2015 Miss Panglao during last night’s glittering pageant held at the Panglao Town Plaza. Ms Cruz, who tripped during the Evening Gown Competition also bagged the most important special titles, best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown.

1st RU Miss SAGA, Miss Panglao is Miss AFI, 2^nd RU Miss RC

Named 1st Runner-up was Bernadette Tabaniag of San Agustin Academy and 2nd Runner-up was Cynthia Maris Caguioa.

Miss Arbasto Foundation Inc struts her stuff

The other girls who made the Top Eight were Miss South Palms Resort, Miss Bil-isan, Miss Lourdes National High School, Miss Doljo and Miss Danao

Video Highlights of 2015 Miss Panglao

Video Credits: Boris Heberer

Photo Credits:

Nestor Daarol
Ric Obedencio

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Henann Resort, Bohol's Biggest is Now Open!

OPULENT OPENING

Hennan Resort, Bohol’s biggest resort with its close to 400 rooms, three massive pools, luxurious amenities, the biggest convention center that can accommodate thousands and the widest and most spectacular white sandy beach, formally opened yesterday with more than a thousand VIP guests from Bohol, Iloilo City and Manila in attendance.

Henann Resort's gorgeous swimming pool
Photo Credits: Ric Obedencio

Henann Resort beachfront

Dr. Henry Chusuey , Chairman of the Henann Group of Resorts formally welcomed everyone to the Grand Opening. Panglao Mayor Nila Montero, 1^st District Congressman Rene Relampagos, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and Senator Franklin Drilon were also among those who spoke to the select group of guests who were treated to an array of scrumptious dinner, endless glasses of wine and entertainment from one of the country’s premier balladeers Mark Bautista.

Here are some photos from last night's Grand Opening as captured by the lenses of top Bohol photographers Ghen Lumayag & Richie Tabat