Topics of Interest

Monday, September 27, 2021

Leren Mae Bautista for MUPH 2021

Leren Mae Bautista of Laguna is a pageant veteran who has represented us in two international competitions. She represented the Philippines at the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2015 where she was crowned the winner. She was also our bet to the 2019 Miss Globe pageant where she emerged as 2nd RU. 

Leren Mae Bautista 

Joining MUP 2021 is her swan song, her last hurrah so to speak because this is her last year of age eligibility. 

With the Miss U pageant goung back to its Trump era format where beauty and ferocity of pasarela are given a premium, she should be one of the last five girls standing on Sept. 30. 

Although pageant fans and experts are unanimous in saying that she is one of the standouts, her liability is her perceived average speaking skills. But i digress because just like any skill, it can be remedied and with the 70th Miss Universe edition barely three months away, we need someone who is prepared and will stand out in an arena of international beauties. 

Will she go all the way or will she have the same fate as Sandra Lemonon last year?

Good luck Ms. Bautista! 

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Meet the Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival 2021 Grand Winners

It was a unique way of mounting the Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival 2021 Ritual Dance contest.

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero 

With strict implementation of the safety protocols like social distancing, safety masks and handwashing, the festival came up with a virtual edition where only the ritual dance category was retained. 


All ten barangays of Panglao sent a dance contingent each with a reduced number of dancers. 


With the shift from face- to- face interaction and live performances to cable TV viewers and users of social media like FB Live and YouTube, dance trainors, choreographers & barangay officials had to recalibrate and adjust their respective presentations to get the judges' nod and audience approval without losing the essence of the contest. 


The video presentations were also a great way of promoting the barangays' places of interest as they also showcased their white sandy beaches, swanky resorts, businesses and famed landmarks like the watch tower, the parish church and their international airport. 


The three- hour event which showcased all pre- taped presentations was beamed as a live presentation from Panglao Cultural Center with only the town & barangay officials led by Mayor Nila Montero, contest judges, the event emcees, technical crew and safety marshalls in attendance. 


The panel of judges chaired by multi awarded director & choreographer  Victor Hao Cuenca also had socialite Lady Cely Chiongbian, cultural impresario Marianito Luspo, arts & culture advocate Fiel Araoarao-Gabin and dance diva Nila Itac as members. 


Spicing up the event were the national & provincial officials who gave video greetings In between the presentations. 


Named Grand Champion for the third straight year was Brgy. Bil-isan led by Capt. Albert Bompat and Justine Milay as Best Choreographer

Grand Champions
Brgy. Bil-isan also scooped four special awards, namely; Best Andas, Best Choreography, Most Creative Interpretation and Best Hudyaka Ambience. 

Rounding out the top five winners were 1st RU Brgy. Bolod, 2nd RU Brgy. Poblacion, 3rd RU Brgy. Tangnan and 4th RU Brgy. Danao. 

1st RU: Brgy. Bolod

2nd RU: Brgy. Poblacion 
3rd RU: Brgy. Tangnan 

4th RU: Brgy. Danao

Other special awards were Best AVP to Brgy. Bolod and Best Festival Costume to Brgy. Danao. 


All the winners & non- winners received cash prizes, and trophies from Mayor Nila Montero, ABC President Hon. Higenio Lorejo & SK Fed President Jonah Loretero


Brgy. Libaong

Brgy. Tawala 

Brgy. Lourdes

Brgy. Looc

Brgy. Doljo
Beyond the pomp and pageantry, the festival which fused music and colors into one joyous activity was Panglao’s way of giving homage & thanksgiving to their patron saint Sr. San Agustin for the gift of life and for blessings received through his intercession. 

Congratulations to everyone involved! Special thanks to the creative team headed by Junary CaƱabano
Emcees: Chandy, Mary Rose & Raul 

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Cheers to Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival 2021

Panglao has indeed grown by leaps and bounds. From a s sleepy & humble fishing and farming community, it has become Bohol tourism’s crowning jewel. 

From its green international airport to its gleaming and posh resorts, private villas and podge podge of international cuisine, Panglao was on its way until the pandemic brought global trade, travel & tourism to a screeching halt last year.

Bohol Beach Club 

Overnight, the bustling tourist- driven paradise practically turned into a ghost town. 


Three months after the province closed its borders and implemented a lockdown, the town's visionary leader Mayor Nila Montero became the first municipal mayor to reopen its town to local tourists. 


But before its implementation, the town officials led by the lady mayor, sat down with the town's stakeholders and drew a plan that would make sure that safety protocols and guidelines  would be in place before reviving its economy. 


Today, despite the challenges from meager resources, skepticism from critics and the dark cloud of a pandemic hovering above, many of the town's businesses that closed during the lockdown have slowly reopened albeit cautiously. 


Business has been generally slow compared to pre- pandemic times but there is a general sense of optimism.


The clamor to mark the town fiesta prompted the local leadership to mount a simple and scaled down Hudyaka sa Panglao fiesta celebration. It was a go then for all involved after  securing the green light from the IATF to stage its annual town fiesta.


Activities designed to give a little cheer to the residents of Panglao included the virtual editions of its "Pasidungog: Tribute Night for Former Panglao Leaders", Hudyaka Festival Queen Search and the Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival Ritual Dance Competition. 

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero 

In a message beamed through FB and other social media, Mayor Nila Montero emphasized that surmounting the obstacles and surviving the challenges brought by the pandemic is reason enough to celebrate and give thanks to the town's patron saint Sr. San Agustin. She also praised the townsfolk of Panglao for their resilience and for their strong and unwavering faith and religiosity. 


The late Loy Palapos aptly coined the festival’s name as “Hudyaka” which in the Cebuano dialect, literally means merrymaking, happiness or gaiety.  


Now on its 36th year, the festival was organized as an opportunity not only to celebrate the feast of the town’s patron saint San Agustin but also to reflect  Panglaoanons' strong faith through an established cultural identity and to express the gratitude to their patron saint.


San Agustin Parish Church

Through the festival, the town is able to showcase the other side of Panglao; its way of life & rich cultural heritage aside from its stretches of white sandy beaches and dive sites.

South Palm Resort 

The success of the just- concluded Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival shows that a paradigm shift, along with strict guidelines and protocols, would ensure that there are viable ways of veering away from the traditional.


Cheers to the people of Panglao!