40 the Band to Rock Tagbilaran City Fiesta, April 30

Cebu’s iconic 40 the Band took Bohol by storm last January 26 for a one night engagement at Coclea Lounge Bar. Before an enthralled crowd made up of the young once, the baby boomers and the retired partyphiles, the famous Cebu- based band didn’t disappoint as they dished out 80’s & 90’s music made up mostly of new rock, pop rock and new wave music. 

4o the Band is back!

the Band visits KISS 102.3 FM

 amazing showmanship

It was one memorable night when we were magically transported back to those good old days in Cebu when we would slam dance to 40’s music at the Shakey’s Mango Avenue branch over pitchers of ice cold beer. Those were the days when teeners and partyphiles alike worshipped them as the gods of rock. 

friends old and new came 

Due to insistent clamor and positive word- of- mouth, 40 the Band is back! So let’s relive those good old days at Coclea Concert Grounds as we down those bottles of beer with friends old and new while rocking and rolling to the music of 40 the Band and featuring guest performances from JAM 403

Ticket admission at P300.00

Here are photo highlights of that night in January when Bohol’s certified partyphiles had a great time with 40 the Band: 

even the ladies had a night out sans the hubby 

Damsel from Dao is Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019

 Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019
Photo Credit: TJ Medrana

Twenty two year old Celina Villoceno, daughter of Mr. Romulo Villoceno & Mrs. Severina Villoceno and the youngest of six siblings ended the 23 year drought of Dao in the annual Mutya sa Tagbilaran pageant after she was crowned the winner of this year’s edition. 

The crowning of the BS Tourism Management degree holder from Holy Name University as the city’s bet for the forthcoming Miss Bohol 2019 was well received and generally accepted by many at the pageant venue. It was certainly one of few instances when everyone was in near unanimity with the judges' ultimate choice.

The 5’ 7” tall beauty with the angelic face and fair complexion won six of the 16 special titles and sponsor awards before besting a field of 15 beauties who represented their respective barangays in the pageant. 

The queen in her winning form

Photo Credit: Richie Noel Tabat

Aside from the Miss Photogenic & Best in Evening Gown special titles and Miss Talent top three finalist, she was also the recipient of the following sponsor awards; Miss Globe, Miss CIGNAL, Miss Oro China and Miss Beauty Wise. 

The last two girls before & after the announcement 

Photo Credit: Richie Noel Tabat

According to Rhigel Dulfo, managing director of Ramp Models Association of Bohol (RMAB) where Celina is one of the top runway mannequins, her years of experience as a model helped a lot in showing grace under pressure & maintaining her poise during the crucial rounds. True enough, she radiated charm, confidence and luminous stage presence during the swimsuit & evening gown competitions. 

She also hurdled the two rounds of interviews. At her chitchat with pageant hosts Venus Raj and Tim Yap, she mentioned about overcoming her lack of confidence before deciding to join the very prestigious beauty & personality search and explained how passionate she is with her environment- based advocacy. 

Fifteen ladies who won their respective barangays’ preliminary searches vied for the Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2018 crown. 

After the spectacular opening salvo that smoothly segued to the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition followed but it was an entirely different evening gown competition that we have been used to watching. 

Aside from being a showcase of top designer Roy Erwin Tizon’s silvery sartorial sensations in different silhouettes, it was also a rare musical treat. Just before the evening gown competition, the stage parted and revealed a full orchestra composed of musicians from Cebu, Bohol and Manila. 

Joshibiah Gaa de Juan.conducts the orchestra

Collectively, they were introduced as the Mutya sa Tagbilaran Chamber Orchestra and played original pieces composed specifically for Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019. The 7-piece suite was entitled, "Elements" (Fire, Moon, Stars, Water, Earth, Wind and Recap) by Alejandro Consolacion II (on piano) and conducted by Joshibiah Gaa de Juan.  It transformed the glamorous highlight into a magical moment that blended visual and auditory delight for audience.   

After the swimsuit & gown competitions and the onstage interviews, the field was trimmed down to the final five. 

Each of the five finalists picked the name of the judge who would ask the final question. 

After the Q & A and the final look at each finalist, the judges made their final decision.

L-R: 3^rd RU Mutya Pob III, 1ST RU Mutya Ubujan, Mutya sa Tagb 2019,  2^nd RU Mutya Booy, 4^th RU Mutya Bool

Photo Credit: Richie Noel Tabat

FINAL FIVE Rounding out the final five were 1st RU # 14 Gypsy Balahay of UBUJAN, 2nd RU # 13 Carla Mae Telmo of BOOY, 3^rd RU # 6 Marie Fraser of POB III and 4^th RU # 7 Fretzie Joyce Astronomo of BOOL

FINAL RESULTS

FINAL PLACEMENT	NAME	AREA REPRESENTED
Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
1st Runner Up	# 14 Gypsy Balahay	Ubujan
2nd Runner Up	# 13 Carla Mae Telmo	Booy
3rd Runner Up	# 6 Marie Fraser	Pob. III
4th Runner Up	# 7 Fretzie Joyce Astronomo	Bool

SPECIAL AWARDS 

NAME OF AWARD	WINNER	AREA REPRESENTED
Darling of Social Media	# 12 Angel Calimbayan	Pob I
Miss Photogenic	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss Congeniality	# 7 Fretzie Joyce Astronomo	Bool
Best in Production Number	# 13 Carla Mae Telmo	Booy
Best in Casual Interview	# 7 Fretzie Joyce Astronomo	Bool
Best in Swimsuit	# 6 Marie Fraser	Pob III
Best in Evening Gown	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss Talent	# 5 Dennissa Lorelle Owen	Cogon
Miss Talent Top Three	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss Talent Top Three	# 13 Carla Mae Telmo	Booy

SPONSOR AWARDS

NAME OF AWARD	WINNER	AREA REPRESENTED
Miss Ramasola Award	# 14 Gypsy Balahay	Ubujan
Miss Globe	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss SMART	# 3 Alkalee Pernia Bangalao	Cabawan
Miss CIGNAL	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss Bohol Tropics Resort	# 3 Alkalee Pernia Bangalao	Cabawan
Miss Alturas	# 13 Carla Mae Telmo	Booy
Miss Oro China	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao
Miss Beauty Wise	# 8 Celina Villoceno	Dao

PANEL OF JUDGES The panel of judges included three international beauty queens, namely; 2018 Miss Asia- Pacific International Sharifa Akeel, 2018 Miss InterContinental Karen Gallman and 2016 Miss International Kylie Versoza. 

Top designer Cary Santiago and hair & make up maven & respected pageant mentor Jonas Borces along with Bohol First Lady Pureza Chatto, actress & public servant Chiara Sotto, entertainment personalities Tootsie Guevarra Angara, Jake Cuenca & Beauty Gonzales. 

CROWNING MOMENT: Mayor Baba Yap, First Lady Jane Yap & First Daughter Janah Yap with 

Gov. Edgar Chatto & Bohol First Lady Pureza Chatto with Mutya 2018 RaClaire Trigo 

Phpto Credit: Richie Noel Tabat

Pageant hosts Tim Yap & Venus Raj

with top designer Roy Erwin Tizon 

PAGEANT HIGHLIGHTS & SIDELIGHTS  ( coming up)

Part 2: The Tragic Story of Amparo Munoz

Amparo Muñoz Quesada was born on June 21, 1954 in a family of six children in Vélez Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. She had light to reddish brown hair and green eyes and even at an early age, had already shown a hint of the promising beauty that would win for her country its first and only Miss Universe crown.  

Amparo Munoz

Because of their family’s limited financial resources and humble surroundings, it was her childless godparents who raised her and send her to elementary school. Old- timers reminisce how Amparo as a young girl was very shy and withdrawn and seemed to be oblivious or unaware of her beauty. Despite the simple clothes she wore, everyone would turn to look at her every time she walked along the streets. 

During those innocent times, she already had the allure & the fiery temperament of the Spanish senorita that proved to be irresistible for most men. It was the exact beauty that would earn for her fame and fortune and later on cause her downward spiral and heartbreaking endbut that’s getting ahead of the story. 

At 17, she earned her first salary as saleswoman in a department store in Mérida. Then she was employed at a French boutique and passed models in malls of Andalusia.

Prior to winning many beauty pageants, she was preparing herself for a career in the entertainment industry. After college where she enrolled in shorthand and typing courses for possible employment as a secretary, she moved to Madrid where she studied acting, modeled, and appeared on television commercials. 

She eventually worked as a secretary in an advertising company which became her link to fulfilling a destiny in the world of pageantry. As she was submitting the advertisements and press releases at Sur de Malaga newspaper, the editor saw her and struck with her beauty & charm, he encouraged her to compete in the Senorita Costa Del Sol regional pageant whose winner goes to compete in Senorita Espana.   

Amparo Munoz is Miss Espana 1973

The reluctant beauty followed his advice, submitted her application form and much to her surprise & disbelief, she won and earned the right to compete for the Senorita Espana title. 

COMING UP: Part 3

Meet the Miss Panglao Queen 2019 Winners

The exciting & spectacular search for a new set of spokespersons for Bohol’s empowered LGBTQ community culminated with the crowning of the new set of Miss Panglao Queen titleholders composed of five beautiful, confident & well- spoken beauties.

France scoops six of the  17 special awards 

FABULOUS FOURTEEN Fourteen lovely transgenders wowed the audience & impressed the judges in three competition areas namely; swimsuits, fantasy costumes and evening gowns. Their scores from these judging areas combined with their scores from the closed- door panel interview determined which contestants will advance to the penultimate round where they had to hurdle the same final question.

Thailand was the flag bearer of Tagbilaran's LGBTQ community

SPONSOR FAVORITES. The beauties from France & Thailand collected 11 of the 17 special awards & corporate titles from the sponsors and thus established themselves as the frontrunners. True enough, France & Thailand advanced to the final round along with PERU, MEXICO, USA, PHILIPPINES & BRAZIL.

Giving the pageant more credibility, prestige and glitter was the special participation of nationally- recognized beauty queens like 2018 Bb Pilipinas- Globe Michelle Gumabao, 2018 Miss InterContinental 1^st RU Katarina Rodriguez, 2017 Reina HispanoAmericana Wynwyn Marquez, 2013 Miss Philippines Earth Angelee delos Reyes, 2016 Miss Bohol & 2017 Miss World Philippines First Princess Glyssa Bingas Perez, 2018 Bb Pilipinas Top 15 Finalist Sandra Lemonon, 2018 Miss Manila 2^nd RU Kristi Banks & 2018 Showtime’s Miss Q & A Juliana Parizkova. They asked each of the seven finalists the same final question through individual video clips.

After responding to the final question “What is the number one problem that is faced by members of the LGBTQ community and as a Miss Panglao Queen titleholder, how do you plan to address that problem?”  the judges had one final deliberation before agreeing on the results.

MEET THE FIVE QUEENS FOR 2019 

2019 QUEENS: L-R:Philippines, Brazil, Thailand, France, Mexico, Peru & USA

Crowned as the 2019 Miss Panglao Queen winners were Miss France Candice Aparicio as MISS UNIVERSE, a 21 year old model under Shutter Model & Talent Management, Cebu City. 
 

Miss Thailand Red Elnas as MISS WORLD, Miss Mexico Ericka Panoga as MISS INTERNATIONAL, Miss Brazil Win Heart Mejias as MISS EARTH and Miss Peru  Princess Johanna Datul as MISS TOURISM.  

Named as finalists were Miss USA Angelia Godfrey and Miss Philippines Mia Danica Martinez.  

THIS YEAR'S TOP WINNER: A sight to behold whether on or off the stage

SPECIAL AWARDS & CORPORATE TITLES. The top two winners also scooped the most number of  awards. Miss France was Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, Miss Philippine Travel Factory Inc. , Miss Island View Holiday Villas, Miss Supreme Fitness First and Best in Evening Gown. 

the top winner proudly shows off the sashes & floral bouquets

Miss Thailand won the following awards; Miss Mario Leisure Dive Resort, Miss Air Asia, Miss e- Wedding Image Model, Darling of the Crowd and Miss Alona Tropical Beach Resort.

Miss Philippines was named  Best in Production Number and Best in Interview. Miss Peru was Best in Swimsuit and Miss Brave Diver Center Resort Corp. Miss Brazil was Best in Fantasy Costume           while Miss United Kingdom was the Darling of Social Media

MISS PANGLAO QUEEN 2019 WINNERS

NAME	COUNTRY	TITLE
Candice Aparicio	# 9 FRANCE	MPQ-   UNIVERSE
Red Elnas	# 5 THAILAND	MPQ-   WORLD
Ericka Panoga	# 14 MEXICO	MPQ-   INTERNATIONAL
Win Heart Mejias	# 2 BRAZIL	MPQ-   EARTH
Princess Johanna Datul	# 13 PERU	MPQ-   TOURISM
Angelia Godfrey	# 6 USA	Finalist
Ma. Danica Martinez	# 4 PHILIPPINES	Finalist

 COMPETITION AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Best in Fantasy Costume	# 2 BRAZIL
Best in Swimsuit	# 13 PERU
Best in Interview	# 4  PHILIPPINES
Best in Evening Gown	# 9 FRANCE

SPECIAL AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Miss Congeniality	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Photogenic	# 9 FRANCE
Darling of Social Media	# 10 UNITED KINGDOM
Best in Production Number	# 4 PHILIPPINES

 CORPORATE AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Miss Philippine Travel Factory Inc.	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Mario Leisure Dive Resort	# 5 THAILAND
Miss Island View Holiday Villas	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Supreme Fitness First	# 9 FRANC
Miss Brave Diver Center Resort Corp.	# 13 PERU
Miss Air Asia	# 5 THAILAND
Miss e- Wedding Image Model	# 5 THAILAND
Darling of the Crowd	# 5 THAILAND
Miss Alona Tropical Beach Resort	# 5 THAILAND

LIVING A DREAM Given the chance to compete in the annual Miss Panglao Queen pageant was a dream come true for most of the candidates. Coming from diverse backgrounds and with most of them pursuing professional careers and successful in their work and passions, they epitomized the beauty, charm and brains of the LGBT. 

  the evening gown competition would always be the most glamorous part of any pageant

From more than 30 applicants who screened for the contest, fourteen were selected to be part of the 4^th edition of the pageant which has established itself as one if not the most prestigious pageant for transgenders in Bohol. After acceptance as an official entrant, the contestants adhered to the organizers’ strict moral clauses, attend seminars & activities that tackle LGBTQ issues & challenges and to participate in community outreach & advocacy projects.

But more than the chance to glam up and become a beauty queen, it was also the opportunity to bring a voice and awareness to the problems & challenges faced by the LGBTQ community whether it’s discrimination, lack of respect & acceptance, inequality, & violence. Now that is what being an empowered & confidently beautiful individual is all about. 

Councilor Aya Montero poses with the new set of queens

PANGLAO GIVES BACK TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY Panglao Mayor Nila Montero gave her all- out support for the pageant as a way of recognizing the talent and the creativity of the LGBTQ community. In the same vein, Councilor Aya Montero expressed her gratitude for the contribution of the LGBTQ members for their creative genius & talent especially in visual & performing arts.

A jampacked crowd of supporters and pageant fans trooped to the Panglao Island Cultural Center where the empowered LGBTQ community’s best bets were given the chance to shine and bask in the adulation and love from the community. 

Credit goes to Mr. Deo Guden, the pageant’s creative juggernaut who made sure that the contestants & organizers would have nothing but positive reinforcements on self- worth & validation and the adoring cheers from the fans & supporters. 

Aya Montero & Deo Guden join judges Bisnar, Hao, Salinana, Andrei, Aumentado, Relampagos & Yamada

PANEL OF JUDGES was composed of Maria Vanessa Aumentado, Miss Bohol 2001 & First Lady of Bohol’s 2^nd Congressional District & wife to Cong. Erico  Aris  Aumentado.

EJ Relampagos,  Bohol’s Diamond Fashion Guru & inaugural president of the Bohol Designers Circle & the brains behind the Tagbilaran Fashion Week

Vanity Kintanar Salinana, 2010 Mandaue Carnival Queen & 2012 Queen of Cebu Universe, London, UK- based artist

Victor Cuenco Hao, artistic director & choreographer of the University of Cebu Dance Company, ambassador of goodwill to international events & world cultural festivals, chairman & artistic director of the yearly Sinulog Grand Finale, the Sinulog Festival Queen search & the recently- concluded Binibining Cebu 2018, NCCA Commissioner on Dance & managing director of VHC Productions.

Addy Yee Bisnar arts & culture connoisseur, festival & competition judge, adviser of internationally- acclaimed University of Cebu Dance Company & the Don Juan Hip Hop Group & CPA & MBA degree holder from Southern California

Ms. Marjoe Yamada, fashionista, university professor and behind fine dining restaurant Persona Mesa voted consistently by TripAdvisor travelers as one of Bohol’s 10 best restaurants 

Chairperson of the panel of judges was Mikee Andrei, fashion designer, regular contributor of Wedding Essentials Magazine, Aces & Queens head stylist & designer to renowned national beauty queens