Flaviona Joaquin is Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2023

Dampas became the first barangay to win the Mutya sa Tagbilaran crown twice when its bet, the tall and talented Flaviona Cana Joaquin who composes and sings her own compositions bested a field of 16 hopefuls representing the 15 barangays and the Tagbilaran City College.

Flaviona Joaquin is Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2023

A consistent honor student since her elementary days, the budding songwriter & singer who comes from a musically- inclined family that includes Julia Faith, is also actively involved in campus and community organizations. 

She wowed a separate panel of judges earlier during the preliminary closed- door panel interview when she sang a line from her own composition.  She has been a consistent honor student from her grade school days in Holy Name University to her senior high school days at the EnSciMa Academy. Aside from the crown, she was also named Best in Swimsuit after the swimsuit round.

She was crowned by the outgoing queen Bella Acero who was assisted by the chair of the panel of judges Senator Raffy Tulfo, Gov. Aris Aumentado, Mayor Jane Yap, First Gentleman Baba Yap and Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi.

The Crowning Moment

L-R: 3rd RU, 1st RU, Mutya 2023, 2nd RU, 4th RU

MEET THE RUNNERS UP: 

Her runners up included 1st RU # 9 BOOL Ma. Jesalyn Uy 2nd RU # 6 POB 2 Debien Cuyos, 3rd RU # 10 TIPTIP Ma. Christina Schott, 4th RU # 8 MANGA Sarah Anne Gerber.

COMPETITION FORMAT

After all the girls competed in both the swimsuit and evening gown rounds, their scores in the two rounds were added to their scores from the closed- door panel interview and talent competition. 

The ladies who got the highest five scores moved to the final round where they underwent a final Q & A. The judges then ranked the girls based on beauty, charm, Q & A & the overall impression.

PAGEANT NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

the girls in their Charlow Arbasto wrap dresses

Best in Swimsuit

Best in Evening Gown

Jake Ejercito serenades Miss Tiptip

The Final Five

Flaviona reacts after winning the crown

L-R: VM Jala, Mayor Yap, Sir Chief Baba & Gov. Aumentado

SPECIAL TITLES & SPONSOR AWARDS:

Miss Tiptip received five of the 15 special titles & sponsor awards. She was named Miss Photogenic, Miss Samsung, Miss IBEX, Miss Converge & Miss Globe. Miss Mansasa received the Miss Congeniality and Miss Talent awards while Miss Pob. III who impressed the preliminary judges with her impeccable wit, engaging personality and sunny disposition got the Miss Texter's Choice & Miss Bohol Tropics awards.  

Miss Bool who topped the Roy Tizon evening gown competition with her subdued catwalk and elegant stance was named Best in Evening Gown and Miss Copier's Choice awardee. The rest of the special award recipients were Miss Booy who was named Miss South Palms Resort, Miss Pob I was Best in Production Number and Miss Pob II who got the Best in Interview award.

STRONG EMPOWERED WOMEN

This year’s edition of Mutya sa Tagbilaran paid tribute to women empowerment. the global phenomenon of reaffirming a woman’s status through opportunities in literacy, education, training and awareness creation which the present leadership in Tagbilaran is doing for its women sector. 

In doing so, it promotes Tagbilaranon women’s sense of self-worth and the power to restore their dignity as women who contribute to their community’s progress & development. 

At the same time, it celebrates and recognizes the leadership qualities and capability of women leaders as embodied by its first lady mayor, Hon. Jane Yap.

During the spectacular opening number that fused artistry and dazzling cutting edge digital technology, images of our women leaders like 2^nd Dist. Congresswoman  Vanessa Aumentado & 3^rd Dist. Congresswoman Alexie Tutor & Tagbilaran City Police Station's Chief of Police PLTCOL Regie Real were flashed on the wide screen.

SAULOG TAGBILARAN 2023

Congratulations and thank you to the artistic & creative team behind Mutya sa Tagbilaran for giving Tagbilaranons the rare opportunity of watching a superb world-class production. It was a fast- paced two- hour production that was graced by Asia's Fearless Diva, Jona and spiced up with performances from the Vergara Siblings, Technotronix and the Vanguardians. 

It was indeed the most glamorous highlight of Tagbilaran Saulog 2023 as the city prepares for its city fiesta in honor of its patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker. For more of the Saulog activities, just check out its FB Page.

Photo Credits: 

Gerald James Cabal Photography

Chris Ramasola

 

Bohol’s Blue Grass Project Wins in Hong Kong Flower Show 2023

Barely a year after representing & winning for the Philippines the Best Creative Design Award- Professional category at the 12^th International FDSS Floral Design Competition held in Singapore last year, the Bohol- based Blue Grass Project of Boy Dumadag & Michael Yu won another international award.

Blue Grass Project was conferred the Grand Award at the 2023 Hong Kong Flower Show for Unique Feature International Category. 

Dubbed simply as “ROTOR” their award- winning floral installation was predominantly made from wicker, bamboo, raffia, dried botanicals, pebbles, wire, metals. Rotor made use of gloriosa superba, eustoma, dianthus, alocasia amazonica, gypsophila, pink cordeline, anthuriums, garden roses and tillandsia.

The design was a tribute to people’s tenacity and resilience in the midst of obstacles and challenges. During an exclusive interview, Mr. Dumadag and Mr. Yu explained that the rotor is the moving part of a turbine that provides the lift that enable rotary wings to fly.

“After pandemic lockdowns in Bohol, Philippines that halted trade, travel & tourism for two years and followed by super typhoon that devastated the entire island, it was imperative that Boholanos rise and pick up the pieces again. Our people were able to hurdle that dark chapter because we were able to restart the engine that would enable us to move forward. That engine, that force, that persistence became our driving force. We are therefore the rotors of our own lives.”

The storyline and the design concept resonated with the floral exhibit’s organizers, judges, participants and visitors alike because they could relate with Blue Grass Project’s journey. In fact, the floral show was also put on a two- year hiatus before it reopened again this year. Huge crowds came in droves to Victoria Park to celebrate the return of the annual Hong Kong Flower Show in Causeway Bay after it was cancelled in 2020 due to safety concerns brought by the COVID19 pandemic

The annual flower show is organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD.  

The Philippines also won the Merit Award Unique Feature Category & the World Flower Council – Philippines Chapter got the judges’ nod for the Grand Award for Design Excellence.   

Bohol Loop Dive Expo 2023 Takes Its First Plunge This April!

More than a hundred underwater photographers, dive enthusiasts & instructors will converge in Bohol from April 13 to April 30 for the inaugural staging of Bohol Loop Dive Expo or BHOLDEX 2023, the first of its kind in Bohol. 

The dive loop will take the event participants to a series of one- day dive expeditions and underwater photography contests and free dive exhibitions in newly- discovered dive spots from the coastal municipalities of Dimiao, Valencia, Garcia- Hernandez, Jagna, Duero, Guindulman, Anda, Mabini, Ubay. 

Gov. Aris Aumentado is flanked by your Blogger 
& Vice Gov Dionisio Victor Balite

In between, there will be welcome events in the participating towns where the loop divers will be treated to the host town’s food, culture and entertainment. The loop dive event kicks off on April 13 with an opening program & dinner to be hosted by the Tagbilaran City LGU led by Mayor Jane Yap at the Bohol Tropics Resort and culminates with a closing program & awarding ceremony on April 30 at Villa Tomasa Alona Q in Alona Beach, Panglao.

Seen at the BHOLDEX launch were Prov'l Administrator Aster Caberte, 

Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap & Tourism Chair BM Tita Baja

The Panglao Association of Dive Operators (PADO) is organizing the event to help establish newly- discovered dive spots in Bohol after an intensive six- month dive assessment activity. This would ultimately boost the status of Bohol as a premier dive destination led by the Bohol Marina Triangle, the trifecta of dive spots in Panglao, Pamilacan and Balicasag.

Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado, on the other hand, stressed the importance of solidifying Bohol’s position as one of the country’s top tourist destination through the discovery of new tourism offerings and diverse travel & tour options. 

Gov. Aumentado expresses his support 

At the same time, the governor who is also the Regional Development Council Chair for Central Visayas said that the event is also aimed at raising the awareness level for the protect, secure & restore these dive destinations to their pristine state. 

EVENT PARTNERS: Cebu Pacific, TWD, Pacifica Dive Shop, Civil Aviation Authority, the Bohol Provincial Government, Department of Tourism, Dive 7, Tourism, Promotion Board, Coca Cola Bottlers, ArMode. 

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNERS. Bohol Chronicle, KISS 102.3 FM. BHOLDEX 2023 is still open for event sponsorship. Please visit Bohol Loop Dive Expo Facebook Page for details