Bohol's Wedding & Events Industry Organizes its Own Group

The long- cherished dream to organize the individual service providers of Bohol's weddings and events industry was finally realized early this year.

Official Logo

Who would have thought that it would take a pandemic to spur the industry to support and help one another by banding together through an organization that would be recognized and supported by both private and public sectors.

As Bohol slowly eased up on the restrictions, as economic activities were revived and as borders reopened, bes.ph, Bohol's biggest group of event professionals came into being.

BES.Ph (Bohol Event Suppliers PH) is composed of planners, coordinators, florists, hair & make-up artists, program hosts & event emcees, designers, boutique owners, music & dance entertainers, light & sound providers, meal caterers, modeling agents & handlers,  photographers & videographers.

SET OF OFFICERS 

Led by its founding president,  Chandrina Elluiska Wallace, the group's officers were inducted by Gov. Art Yap at the Bohol Provincial Capitol.

The rest of the officers are: VP INTERNAL: John Gudmalin, VP EXTERNAL: Lister Dela Cruz, SECRETARY Drake Bustrillos ASST SECRETARY Ferome Jusgorge Almine TREASURER Kim Villamor ASST TREASURER Prince Paul Ranara AUDITOR Joseph Ray Aguinaldo ASST AUDITOR Deonico Guden

PR OFFICERS Jay Angelia, Girlie Soria, Marvin Bantigue & Amabelle Milallos

BOARD OF DIRECTOR Janrey Cadelina, Ryan Sadudaquil, Roger Magtagad, Christian Barrete, John Vincent Mercado, Michael Yu & Raul Gatal

THE REASON FOR BEING 

The group's president (known as Chan Chan  to  ndustry insiders and clients) , shared that the group was organized primarily to give every member a voice to be heard, help upgrade, standardize and professionalize industry practices. 

At the same time, to strengthen and help the members especially during the pandemic which adversely affected the industry. 

In addition, with the implementation of new protocols and safety measures, the industry will police itself and guide the members on the conduct of events under the new normal.

GROUP PROJECTS & EVENTS 

Coming up, a feature on the group's accomplished and proposed projects and events.

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

For more details, just click the Bohol Event Suppliers PH for their FB Page 

Staying at the Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort in Panglao

It was a most enjoyable weekend indeed with your Roving Eye at Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort. 

With its sleek and modern design, the luxury vacation place reigns supreme at the Alona Beach in Panglao. Bohol’s first international chain resort has 80 swanky rooms equipped with modern amenities and each with its own balcony.

It was quiet and devoid of the usual holiday makers and travelers when I checked in one serene Friday morning. 

It was understandable considering that the resort had just reopened to the public after almost a year of self- imposed lockdown

From the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic and up to the present, the resort has  expanded and enhanced their cleaning protocol with the launch of the new WE CARE CLEAN program. 

Based on the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the program addresses everything from guest room and common area cleanliness, to streamlined processes that minimize contact between guests and associates while maintaining the customer service expected from a Best Western-branded hotel.

There is the mandatory temperature- taking, social distancing, contact tracing forms and use of hand sanitizers before proceeding with the check in.

Presently, the resort is open on weekends but will gradually reopen to the required occupancy level. 

Guests can relax by the pool, on the beach or in the seaside garden. There’s a children’s playground, fitness center and a bar. 

As the sun sets, hie off to the scenic Teraza Rooftop Deck for a truly unforgettable cocktail experience then dine in style at the hotel’s Alon Restaurant.

Breakfast at the hotel was a delight since I had an unobstructed view of the pristine waters of Alona Beach. 

Afterwards, I took a refreshing dip at the pool all by myself. Would I be returning soon? Of course, the hotel is a paradise especially for those who are planning a stay cation and work at home mode. 

There is a fast Wi-Fi connectivity and the business office is so accommodating. All these while having unlimited access to coffee and pastries. 

It was such a whirlwind stay that I was dillydallying when it was time to check out. 

Eva Patalinjug Is National Director of Magandang Filipinas Pageant

Magandang Filipinas, the newly- established national beauty competition is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Eva Psychee S. Patalinjug as its national director.

Ms. Eva Patalinjug

Ms. Patalinjug, a renowned multi- titled national beauty queen, is also a registered nurse, an entrepreneur, a former Sanguniang Kabataan leader and womens rights advocate.

With two prestigious national beauty titles, her ties with  industy stalwarts and familiarity with the pageant scene, Magandang Filipinas is confident that Ms. Patalinjug will steer the pageant in attaining its noble aim of celebrating beauty that inspires and encourages through advocacy-driven campaigns, social responsibility and community building as core values.

"It's a great honor and privilege to have been given the role of National  Director of Magandang Filipinas, a new yet promising pageant that is full of potentials.

From fulfilling my dreams of becoming a beauty queen, competing internationally, taking up law and becoming a new mom, this role has made everything full circle. I hope to be able to impart all the learnings I have acquired to aspiring beauty queens.

As this is a new pageant, I humbly ask for all your support. Let's give and take as we will all learn from this fulfilling and  life-changing experience. Cheers!”

 - Eva Patalinjug

The Magandang Filipinas Pageant is presented by Magandang Filipinas Productions & Boombox Media Philippines

Check out the official Instagram & Facebook  page of Magandang Filipinas for more details

Submission of application form deadline: May 30, 2021

Baby Deidra Jianna R. Araco Celebrates Her 1st Birthday

Celebrating milestones amidst the pandemic has been quite a challenge especially with stringent safety protocols that have to be in place.

Baby Diedra Jianna and 

her dainty birthday cake

Deidra Jianna R. Araco turned one year old recently and young parents Jade Araco and Deah Angele Raynaldo made sure that their firstborn's natal day would be marked with an intimate and safe celebration.

After all, birthdays are bright rays of sunshine and symbols of hope in a world that is slowly recovering from the ravages of a global health crisis.

Jianna's birthday bash was held at Reyna's Pavillion last April 17 with only the immediate family members and godparents in attendance.

SUPPLIERS:

Event Stylist: Blue Grass Project

Birthday Cake: Lola Lilia's

Photographers: Wendell Banilao & Christian Lungay

Pastries & Dessert: Sweet Niest

Giveaways: Sticker Republic

Flamingo Dress: Charlow Arbasto

Happy Ruby Birthday Vanessa Aumentado

Today, Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, First Lady of Bohol's 2nd Congressional District marks a very important milestone in her life. Today, May 21, 2021, is not just any birthday. It is her Ruby Birthday celebration. And as they always say, life begins at 40.

Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado 

Indeed, because today is the beginning of her pursuit for another facet in her life which is public service and giving back to the community.

Coosome Twosome: Mr. &. Mrs. Aumentado 

Twenty years ago, she was thrust into the public eye when she represented her hometown Duero in the Miss Bohol 2001 Pageant. During the past two decades, the public saw how she blossomed into the self-assured and confident woman that she is right now. 

Aumentado Family: a picture of simplicity & love

She has earned two bachelors' degrees, settled into marital bliss with Cong. Aris Aumentado, became a hands-on mom to three children; Lawrence, Lance and Liam and became a very capable and hardworking representative of her husband in various activities and events in their district. 

As she enters this new phase in her life journey, I am joined by countless Boholanos in prayer and  to cheer for her continued success.

Happy happy birthday Vanvan and long may you reign! Cheers!

A Boholana Lawyer Makes It As Miss World Philippines 2021 Candidate

Miss World Philippines 2021 is going to be an exciting and interesting pageant for Boholano pageant fans after a Boholana made it as one of the 45 official candidates.

Mara in her Noel Estopito gown

Atty. Mara Louise A. Ruiz, J. D.  is not your typical beauty queen. She finished her law studies with 2nd honors at the Ateneo de Manila, June 2018. She took and passed the November 2018 bar exams. 

After the outstanding performance of Bohol's Glyssa Perez that gave her the Miss Philippines Tourism crown and the Beauty with a Purpose award during the 2019 edition, expect another sterling performance from this beauty & brains from Bohol.

With Joan Flores & Mika Leonardo

With Tracy Perez & Mika

Among this year's batch of candidates are pageant veterans like Dindi Pajares, Kathleen Paton & Ganiel Krishnan. MUP 2020 alumnae  Tracy Maureen Perez and Riana Agatha Pangindian are also in. Interestingly, Shaila Rebortera, DDM who was EB's Miss Millennial 2018 and Miss Bohol 2013 1st RU is also one of the candidates. 

It took MWP almost four months to screen and deliberate on the list of official candidates who were whittled down from more than 300 applicants. 

Congratulations once again and good luck to Atty. Mara Ruiz on her first foray in pageantry. Cheers! 

Mexico is the 69th Miss Universe

Finally, after a year and a half of anxious waiting, a new Miss Universe has been crowned.

First of all, indulge me as I gloat with the final results versus my prediction list. I got 18 of the 21 semifinalists, 9 of the top ten and got 3 of the final five. 

VIVA MEXICO

Andrea Meza is the 69th Miss Universe

Andrea Meza, a  26 year old software engineer from Chihuahua, Mexico was crowned the 69th Miss Universe in glittering ceremonies at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA. 

She beat a field of 74 delegates after surviving two rounds of interviews. She was Miss World 2017 1st RU prior to winning the Miss Universe crown.

RUNNERS UP

Her court includes 1st RU Julia Gama of Brazil, 2nd RU Janick Maceta of Peru, 3rd RU Adline Castelino of India 4th RU Kimberly Jimenez of Dominican Republic

The rest of the top ten included Thailand, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Australia.

With the removal of the continental grouping, it was a Latina domination with 12 of the spots going to the Americas. Asia proved to be a strong group with seven girls including Vietnam the Fan Vote winner. Europe had two while Africa went home empty handed.

The rest of the 21 ladies came from Colombia, Argentina, Philippines, Curaçao, Nicaragua, Great Britain, Myanmar, France, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

SHOCKING LOSS

The exclusion of pageant powerhouses  Venezuela and South Africa was the shocker of the night along with the polarizing Canada. 

Pre-arrival fave Philippines didn't quite live up to the hype and cracked under the intense pressure from fans and detractors. Inspite her tentative and underwhelming swimsuit presentation that cost her a top ten spot, you can't deny her luminous beauty and allure. 

On the other hand, despite their sheer beauty, Nepal, Romania and Czech Republic didn't make it due to their weak sashes. 

FOOTNOTE

A lot of pageant fans across the net took to social media to question the results however this blogger is quite pleased with the outcome coz Mexico was in my final list of girls who would be duking it out for the crown. 

My initial pick for the crown was Puerto Rico's Estefania Soto whose luminous beauty, eloquence and elegance would have made her a great titleholder but it wasn't meant to be.

There are things that we pageant fans aren't privy to especially the closed door panel interview. Let us be reminded that the final Q&A isn't the be all and end all of the selection.

The judges had to factor in everything including inputs from MUO on the qualities they want from a winner. So there.

Let's be happy that despite the challenges of this pandemic, MUO was still able to mount a pageant albeit one that wasn't the usual that we have been used to seeing.

Congratulations once again to the winners! 

Who Will Be the 69th Miss Universe?

In this age of social media savvy & advocacy- driven campaigns, of political correctness, tolerance & diversity, pageantry has redefined its aims and purpose.

On the eve of the crowning of the 69th Miss Universe, we will remind everyone how the search has evolved into something that is more than just sashes, stilettos, swimwear and satorial sensations. 

For one, Miss Universe has dropped the words beauty pageant and in its stead, the word competition is now used. Today, it takes more than just physical allure to take home the crown. One has to be a smart, relatable empowered advocate.

From uber gorgeous glamazons, Miss Universe is now on the lookout for authentic ladies who can be inspirational models and advocacy spokespersons.

From 74 ladies, the all- female selection committee will trim down the field the field to the top 20 based on their preliminary swimsuit and gown performances and the closed door panel interview. They will be joined by the Fan Vote winner for a total of 21 semifinalists.

MY TOP TWENTY FIVE

So based on social media hype, my gut feel and pageant fans' support, here are the 25 ladies who will duke it out for the crown;

BRAZIL

CANADA

COLOMBIA

COSTA RICA

CURACAO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FRANCE

ICELAND

INDIA

INDONESIA

JAMAICA

MEXICO

MYANMAR

NEPAL

NICARAGUA

PERU

PHILIPPINES

PUERTO RICO

ROMANIA

RUSSIA

SOUTH AFRICA

THAILAND

USA

VENEZUELA

VIETNAM

So who are leading among these topnotch ladies?

After seeing the girls during the presentation show, viewing their intro videos and checking their videos and photos at the Net, here are the girls who I think will be the strong contenders for the crown:

MY SENSATIONAL SIX

Puerto Rico & Mexico

India & Peru

Thailand & Philippines 

The Miss Universe competition is easily the biggest and most popular international beauty competition but I have a concern about its predictability especially the last decade. 

Every year, the same countries have been making the cut. Nowadays, you have to factor in the pageant's popularity in home countries and potential business partnership. 

Some of the standouts from this year's batch like the girls from Nepal, Myanmar, Romania and Nicaragua might not make it simply because they have weak sashes. It would be a pleasant surprise if we have new countries making it to the semifinals starting this year. 

MY MISS UNIVERSE 2020

With an all- female selection committee, Puerto Rico would be a frontrunner for the crown. She may look a bit mature for some, but she has a charming and non-threatening beauty that would sit well with a panel of female achievers. 

Plus she does have great speaking skills, sounds natural and unrehearsed, and radiates that quiet elegance and self-assuredness that one acquires with age and experience. Qualities that would endear her to the panel of women achievers and fellow contestants.

My Miss Universe 2020

Estefania Soto

Puerto Rico 

Good luck ladies and may the best girl in the universe win!

The Search Is On for the 1st Magandang Filipinas!

In a country where pageants are a source of national pride, the birth of another national beauty competition is always a welcome news.

Aptly named Magandang Filipinas, the title is an homage to the Philippines not only as a country of breathtaking and scenic natural wonders but also as the home of some of the world's most beautiful women.

In the midst of the challenges and uncertainties brought by the pandemic, Magandang Filipinas ushers in a new era for pageantry as it redefines beauty to include social responsibility, advocacy drives and community building thus making it more timely and relevant.

The pageant gives the candidates a platform to highlight and support the advocacies & causes that they're passionate with.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

For interested applicants, here are the minimum qualifications:

- female 18-26 years old

- at least 5'6"

- has never been married nor given birth

-at least a high school graduate

Requirements:

- one (1) headshot

- one (1) full body photo

-authenticated birth certificate/ passport

-completed application form

Application form submission deadline: May 30, 202

PRIZES

The inaugural winner of Magandang Filipinas will receive P200, 000 cash prize, the chance to represent the country in an international beauty pageant and lend her voice to her chosen advocacy.

MEET THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR:

Ms. Eva Patalinjug 

Magandang Filipinas National Director is Ms. Eva Patalinjug, renowned multi titled national beauty queen, women's right advocate & youth leader.

Check out Magandang Filipinas FB Page for details