Tagbilaran's Bet is Miss Bohol 2018

The almost two- month quest for Miss Bohol 2018 concluded a little past midnight with the crowning of Tagbilaran City’s bet, Raclaire Stephan Dinsay Cesar Trigo as the new titleholder. The 18 year old BS Psychology major student was also named Miss Talent. She emerged as the top favorite after winning both the Best in Swimsuit & Best in Evening Gown special awards. 

Class & elegance during the gown competition

During the final round, all five finalists were asked one same question “Do you believe that Bohol has built back better after the 7.2 quake that hit the province in 2013?” 

Raclaire’s musicality & showmanship  won for her the Miss Talent award

Ms. Trigo started with a tentative answer after being disrupted by some unruly audience members but she quickly recovered and answered on the affirmative. She reinforced her answer by stressing on our warm, friendly hospitable ways that would surely make visitors feel welcome and make them come back and bring with them more tourists and visitors. 

L-R: 3^rd RU Bilar, 1^st RU Maribojoc, Miss Bohol 2018 Tagbilaran City, 2^nd RU Dauis, 4^th RU Ubay

Photo Credits:  Miss Bohol Sandugo FB Page

FINAL FIVE Rounding out the final five were 1st RU Miss Maribojoc Trixie Escabarte a registered nurse & former int’l flight attendant, 2nd RU Miss Dauis Hannah Cemine, a licensed midwife, 3rd RU Miss Bilar Jesseth Nez Pasagad, a petroleum engineer and 4th RU Miss Ubay Anasela Gaviola, a BS Architecture graduate.

SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS Other special award winners were Miss Maribojoc who was named Best in Production Number and Darling of the Crowd, Miss Dauis was voted by fellow candidates as Miss Congeniality, Miss Sagbayan was named Miss Photogenic, Miss Loboc was voted SMART Texters’ Choice and Miss Bilar was Best in Interview and Darling of the Press.

All 21 candidates competed in the swimsuit, evening gown & onstage interviews. Their scores combined with their talent night scores determined the final five.

PANEL OF JUDGES The panel of judges included Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 Teresita Ssen Marquez, Bb. Pilipinas International 2018 Ma Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Earth Philippines 2017 Celeste Cortesi, Manhunt Philippines 2015 Don Mcgyver Cochico, footwear designer Jojo Bragais, Atty Regal Oliva, Atty Nad Bronce and pageant bogger Norman Tinio.

Governor Edgar Chatto & First Lady Pureza Chatto, City Mayor Baba Yap & First Lady Jane Yap along with Pauline Amelincx, Miss Bohol 2017, crowned this year’s Miss Bohol

IMPRESSIVE BATCH Your Roving Eye is impressed with this year’s batch of candidates. There were two Magna Cum laude bachelor’s degree holders, a licensed teacher, an architecture graduate, a petroleum engineer, a licensed midwife, a licensed nurse & international flight attendant and among the undergrads were editors in chief of their school publications, honor students, SSG officers. The girls definitely have raised the bar for the succeeding batches of girls for Miss Bohol.

Although the glamorous highlight to the Sandugo Festival was a spectacular fusion of technology and artistry, it was marred by the collective booing of some disgruntled members of the audience who were displeased with the results. A twist was added to the program proceedings. Instead of announcing the names of the five finalists, the hosts announced first the names of the also- rans until only the last five remain on stage. The twist was met with mixed reactions. While adding more suspense to the pageant, it was also a disconcerting moment especially for the favorites who didn’t make it.  They had to put on a brave front while doing their final walk on centerstage.

As newly- crowned Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Stephan Trigo takes on her year of reign, let us set aside our differences in opinions and instead, offer her our congratulations and support. In doing so, we heal the wounds of divisiveness, show how gracious we can be even with or without the crown and prove to one and all that the annual Miss Bohol Pageant is indeed a celebration of beauty and friendship.