John & Joyce: Here's Their Paean for Love!

It was just how Joyce & John wanted their wedding at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Songculan, Dauis to be. Intimate, romantic and solemn.  

  Jubilant newlyweds John & Joyce

Joyce happens to be the Makati & overseas- trained Boholana dermatologist and daughter of Emma & the late Julius Castillo while John, an HNU Medical Center Foundation Inc. staff nurse, is the son of Engr Juanito and Grace Anino.

 Mr. & Mrs. John Anino with their parents

SEEN:  Dr. James Sombrio, Dr. Corazon E. Lim, Atty. Popot Marapao, 

former Miss DWCT Virna Dadang- Albuera & Jahel Diccion  

 With her uber cute & pretty flower girls
Priyanka Heart U. Castillo  &  Bianca M. Tasker

Their modern Filipiniana- themed wedding is still being talked about for being ground- breaking, so to speak, in so many ways. For starters, fresh blooms were conspicuously absent from the event styling to the bride’s bouquet. 

 Bridal Bouquet

For her bouquet, paper roses, peonies, trick carns, mums, with the traditional "gungi" stick decor from the olden times fashioned from coconut midribs and paper, and buri fibers

A Herculean task but the creative duo of Boy Dumadag & Michael Yu of Blue Grass Project, incidentally in Japan right now as RP’s bets to the 2015 International Flower Show, was up to the task.

Finally, the wedding paved the way for labels and dictates on societal norms to be discarded as far as traditional roles in weddings were concerned.  Hats off to the forward- thinking couple

 Last- minute touch- up from designer EJ Relampagos
The bride with her Man of Honor Steve L. De Castro and her bridesmaids

PRINCIPAL SPONSORS were Dr. Ronald L. Ramiro, Dr. Venerando T. Yap, Dr. James G. Sombrio, Dr. Gerito H. Egos, Dr. Theodore A. Dumaluan , Arch. Socrates B. Fucanan, Mr. Casimiro R. Bompat, Jr., Dr. Jane R. Ramiro, Ms. Winefreda C. Gadugdug (represented by Ms Anita Gadugdug , Dr. Imelda G. Jumangit , Dr. Corazon E. Lim , Ms. Arsenia B. Bonite , Dr. Emma F. Cahatol & Dr. Maria Delia R. Maluenda

Congratulations & Best Wishes again to the couple! Cheers!

A million thanks to Ms Gretel Ong of BQ Corporation for making sure that the reception tendered by the newlyweds at Panglao Island Nature Resort’s Garden Square would be perfect. 

Photo Credits: Mark Ramasola & Artline Studio

Jagna: Beauty Capital of Bohol

Aside from its famous delicacy Calamay, the coastal town of Jagna is also famous for its beautiful women. Ascencion Gaviola is officially recorded as the very first to be crowned as Miss Bohol and the first Boholana to compete in a nationwide pageant that was sanctioned by then Pres. Manuel L. Quezon in 1926.

Jagna also set a record in Miss Bohol for its seven consecutive placements in the Top Three from 1989 to 1995. 

 Jagna’s Trinity of Beauty

But its reputation as the home to some of Bohol’s most beautiful women was set in 1992 when Jagna became the first municipality to win the Miss Bohol crown in three successive years.

 

 Jagna’s  Six Aces of Beauty

Jagna salutes its beautiful women who have given the town a reason to celebrate in the annual beauty derby. 

YEAR	NAME	PLACEMENT
1926	Ascension Gaviola	Miss Bohol
1977	Agnes Abrenilla	6th RU
1983	Elizabeth Gales	3rd RU
1989	Yasmin Aviles	2nd RU
1990	Tiffany Yap	Miss Bohol
1991	Recelle Adlaon	Miss Bohol
1992	Celevel Ranoco	Miss Bohol
1993	Socorro Llido	1st RU
1994	Genevieve Jamisola	1st RU
1995	Shiela Sumalinog	1st RU
2001	Maryknoll Daniel	2nd RU
2003	Fatima Rana	Miss Bohol
2012	Idy Cagas	Miss Bohol
2015	Rebecca Rocha	3rd RU

  1977: 6th RU

   1983: 3rd RU

   1993: 1st RU

   1994: 1st RU & Best in Swimsuit

   1995: 1st RU

    2001: 2nd RU

   2015: 3rd RU

Jagna: Bohol's Calamay Country

One cannot mention the word Jagna without images of the iconic calamay swirling in one’s mind.  Calamay, a sweet sticky delicacy made from sticky rice, coconut milk  & a secret original concoction has become a way of life and a source of income for the town. 

In fact, so revered is the calamay that the LGU partnered with the original calamay makers of Brgy. Can-upao, businesses and civil society organizations for the celebration of the first ever Calamay Festival last  April 28-30, 2015 at the Jagna Municipal Plaza. 

Rebecca Rocha: continuing the beautiful tradition of an impressive Miss Jagna 

Highlighting the festival was the selection of Rebecca Rocha as Miss Jagna Festival Queen 2015 who represented her town beautifully in Miss Bohol 2015 

All Roads Lead to Jagna

As Jagna celebrates its annual town fiesta in honor of St. Michael the Archangel tomorrow September 29, waves and waves of fiesta- goers, guests and visiting Jagnaanons have inundated the town. You have to understand that Bohol festivals and feast days are part and parcel of Boholano culture. These annual fiestas that honor the towns’ patron saints are an offshoot of the fun- loving, hospitable and religious culture of Boholanos.   

 The focal point for Jagna’s town fiesta

You add the “everyone is a relative “perspective and fiestas also become opportunities for family reunions and school homecomings. Bohol fiesta celebrations are elaborate & spectacular and preparations include the decorations & buntings that spruce up the town and the church, sponsored nightly entertainment, street dancing, trade fairs & beauty contests. 

 Ocmeja Clan celebrates Mama Maria’s 80^th birthday
Venue; El Mar Bar & Restaurant

 With Bohol top designer EJ Relampagos & New Jersey- based Fritz Ocmeja

Blogger can attest to the sea of humanity especially in the town poblacion where one can really feel the festive atmosphere when he and Bohol top designer EJ Relampagos went to Jagna for 

Mama Maria Ocmeja’s 80^th birthday celebration.

 Elegant Ima in her EJ gown

On our way back to Tagbilaran, we dropped by the jampacked venue for the DepEd Night where one of the candidates, Ima Casenas Cagas, was dressed in a fabulous EJ Relampagos gold & black glittery creation. She was declared Best in Evening Gown.

 

 Jagna's most famous product: Calamay, calamay & more calamay 

The bustling coastal town of Jagna, one of the commercial trading centers of the province with daily market and port operations, is another gateway to Mindanao. I remember taking the interisland vessels in Jagna everytime I had to go back to school, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City. 

 Sinoog Estokada: Good Versus Evil

Tomorrow, the Jagna Festival “ Sinoog Estokada: a War Dance” will be staged as the highlight of the Jagna town fiesta.  According to Jagnaanon blogger’s entry on this religion- based cultural festival, the Sinoog Estokada is a war dance that depicts the war between Jagnaanon Christians and the invading Muslims from Mindanao. 

The war ends with the Jagnaanons emerging as victors with the help of Jagna’s patron St. Michael the Archangel.  

The dance is performed with a drum accompaniment and the dancers, all male recite verses. Later on it was changed into a war dance between good and evil with the rhythm of a march.

Though Sinoog Estokada has been in the Jagnaanon culture for centuries, this year marks the 15th year since it was first officially celebrated.

Photo Credits:

CEs Galve Facebook

Jagna, Bohol Facebook

Eda in Her Exquisitely Elegant Evening Gown Presentation

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not what the candidate wears that gets the star billing in the evening gown competition. It’s the poise, the grace & confidence in the way the candidate carries herself

Eda  Calimbayan Cimafranca: Elegance


 

Although the gown’s design can also make or break a girl’s chance of making a positive impression in this area of judging, judges always look for class and elegance in what is considered the most glamorous part of the competition. 

Complete List of Miss Bohol Winners

Eda is shown with Will DeVaughn 

Here are some of the photos that captured Miss Bohol 2015 Eda Calimbayan Cimafranca’s winning attitude and the aura of confidence when she stepped onstage in her evening gown.  

Sixteen year old Eda exuded so much elegance & elan in her evening gown presentation that even when her heels snagged her gown’s hemline which resulted in a slight trip could not get in the way to bagging the Best in Evening Gown special award. 

Photo Credits: Ric Obedencio 

Aces & Queens Wants You for Pageant Year 2016!

What do Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon & Ara Arida have in common aside from making the Top Five in Miss Universe?

 outstanding Aces & Queens alumnae

Well, all the aforementioned ladies are outstanding alumnae from Aces & Queens. Include three of the reigning Bb Pilipinas 2015 queens Pia  Alonzo Wurtzbach, Christi Lynn McGarry & Ann Lorraine Colis. And of course, the first and only Filipina to clinch the Miss World crown Megan Young. 

 four successive Miss Universe Top Five placements

The last quarter for 2015 has not yet been ushered in but Aces & Queens is already sounding off the clarion call for qualified Filipinas from Aparri to Jolo who will compose the members of the beauty camp’s Class of 2016.

Have you ever aspired to become a beauty queen & inspirational model?

A & Q Wants YOU!

Take the first step and follow the directions.

Who knows? You just might be the next big thing in Philippine and global pageantry!