Montero Family's Triple Celebration at Alona Tropical Beach Resort

It was with jubilation, gratitude and magnanimity when the Monteros tendered a triple celebration at their breathtaking Alona Tropical Beach Resort a week ago. Movers and shakers from Bohol’s political scene, society figures, namedroppables and throngs of supporters & wellwishers came for the celebration. 

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero & Cong. Aris Aumentado

It was the belated birthday celebration of Frank Montero, his grandsons Aaron Franko Montero Nuñez and Yussoff Montero Cerna, the baptismal dinner for granddaughter Anya Nikola Montero Cerna and the thanksgiving dinner for Mayor Nila's recent legal triumph. 

Charming Cerna Clan of Salipada & Nekolai with

their kids Amir, Yussof, Nika & Anya w Fr. Joel Ruyeras

High profile guests included the Dela Serna family, DA Region 7 Asst. Director Atty. Salvador Diputado, brilliant writer  Donald Sevilla, Joy Sevilla & Boy Pernia. Hardworking congressman Aris Aumentado came with his gorgeous wife Vanessa C. Aumentado.

Beauties & the Best

FAB FOUR. Celevel Butler, Nekolai Cerna, Evelyn Du & Aya Montero

Atty. Yvann Lucero, Mary Ann  Mapait,  Avril Espinosa, Archt. David Tan Jr. & Erma Pandan

OFFICERS & GENTLEMEN. Birthday boy Frank Montero with law enforcement 

guests that included Police Supt. Santos and Police Supt. Navida 

After feasting on an array of mouthwatering fare, everyone enjoyed the entertainment provided by Deep Blue, Bo Young & Brownbuds, Bohol’s undisputed reggae & ska band. The party & revelry wound down just past midnight and just before we bid adieu to the Monteros and to the other guests, we couldn’t help but hum the catchy melody of the band’s repertoire while having a big smile plastered on our faces. 

JP Maslog, Zach Lucero, Aya Montero, Ruby Mijos & Nekolai Cerna

L-R: Raul Gatal, John Borgman, Celevel Butler, Vanessa Aumentado, 

Cong. Aris Aumentado & Maricel Madrona 

Standing L-R: Majoy Abugho, Raul Gatal, RCPI Pres. Romeo Balaba, 

Henann VP Alfonso Chusuey, Nekolai M. Cerna, Ruby Mijos & Jude Madera 

Seated: Marites Caindec, Evelyn Du and Councilor  Aya Montero 

 EXPATS & EXPERTS. John Borgman & son Milton, Breit Butler, Montero sisters, 

Raul Gatal  & jetsetting Celevel Butler

And who wouldn’t be in a jubilant mood? The soiree was proof positive that you just can’t put a good woman or a good family down. 

Henann’s Alfonso Chusuey with Bo Young’s April Remolador

BOHOL ARTISTS: Mike Yu, Joseph Dumadag, Maxi Tallo & Celevel Butler

Bohol Hosts Miss Universe 2014 Batch Reunion

It was the most beautiful day of the year in Panglao when around 20 of the 2014 Miss Universe candidates came for their batch reunion. 

 

 L-R: Miss Norway 2014, Miss Philippines 2014 & Miss USA 2014

Photo Credits: TJ Medrana Photography

Among the girls who came for the reunion were Philippines, USA, Ukraine, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ghana, Panama, Belgium, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, Austria, Norway, Mexico, Sta.Lucia, Ecuador, Singapore, Great Britain and Dominican Republic 

Three of the Top Five finalists Ukraine, Netherlands & USA joined the reunion

Miss Universe- Philippines 2014 Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa played host to the girls during their brief yet fun & memorable stay in Bohol. Before departing from Bohol, the girls were treated to a mid- day cocktails & refreshments at Alona Tropical Beach Resort care of Mayor Nila Montero & Councilor Aya Montero.

Here are some of the beauties while enjoying the sand, sea and sun of Alona Tropical Beach Resort.  

Alona Tropical Beach Resort’s Deo Guden, Rico Guigue & Kris Acero join the

Miss U 2014 beauties from Norway, USA, St Lucia, Panama & Belgium

Alona Tropical Beach Resort gives a warm welcome for the girls

The Miss Universe girls sizzle in the sand, sea & sun of 

Alona Tropical Beach Resort 

Noel Barrameda leads Amorita Resort staff in welcoming the girls

Hon. Aya Montero poses with Sta. Lucia, Panama, Philippines & Indonesia

after briefing them on the tourism potentials of Panglao Island & Bohol

According to Geah Marie Dollisen, Panglao Tourism Office, who helped with the preparations, the ladies confided to her that for most of them, this was their first time to visit the Philippines especially Bohol. Miss South Africa told her that she was familiar with Bohol already and thanks to their annual reunion, she was able to visit her dream place. 

 Miss Mexico joins Geah Marie Dollisen for a selfie

 

The girls couldn’t resist a photo at the picturesque Chocolate Hils

Gov. Chatto, Provl Administrator Ae Damalerio, Rommel Gonzales, Peter Dejaresco

& DreamCat owner welcome the girls during their cruise

 Miss Belgium, Miss Mexico & Miss Dominican Republic relax onboard  DreamCat

Aside from the white sandy beaches of Panglao, the girls also visited the Chocolate Hils in Carmen and went for a lovely cruise along the picturesque waters of Loboc River. The girls are already planning to bring their families and friends to visit Bohol.

After the girls bid adieu to Bohol and to their newfound friends, Your Roving Eye realized that pageants are not really the cutthroat competitions that they are pictured to be. The Miss Universe 2014 girls have bonded well and have been holding batch reunions since 2015. The Philippine reunion is their fourth. 

Hudyaka sa Panglao 2017 Highlights

This year’s Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival exceeded almost everyone’s expectations. From the nightly carnival rides & varied entertainment fare that brought excitement & glee to the townsfolk down to the many invitations from friends in this tropical paradise.

  Ed & Cely Chongbian with Fiel Gabin

  Marianito Luspo & Val Sandiego

Buffet tables groaned with delectable fiesta fare and of course, the obligatory selfies and beso beso. Beyond the pomp and pageantry, the festival which fused music and colors into one joyous activity was the Panglaoanon devotees’ way of paying homage and thanksgiving to their patron saint for blessings received through his intercession, by way of celebration.  

Your Roving Eye, Mike Quintia & wife Nikki join Cong. Aris Aumentado,
Nekolai Montero- Cerna & hubby Liplip Cerna

As Panglao progressed through the years from a humble and sleepy fishing and farming community into a bustling ecotourism community, the festival answers the need for the town to showcase its way of life & rich cultural heritage to the visitors and tourists who flocked to Bohol tourism’s crowning jewel.

 PANGLAO PRIDE: Catherine Tabaniag & Marissa Cloma

 The highways and the side streets leading to the town plaza and along the parade route were closed to traffic. Panglaonanons, revelers and visitors alike had to brave the heat and glare of the sun just to witness and participate in the merrymaking.

All ten barangays of Panglao sent dance contingents and competed for prizes and bragging rights in both street dance competition and the focal/ ritual competition. Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation, Inc. Executive Director, was the chair of the judges for "Hudyaka sa Panglao" 2017 street dancing competition and Marianito Luspo for the focal/ ritual competition.

 Thousands jampacked the town plaza for Hudyaka 2017

 Your Roving Eye with Garcia Hernandez Mayor Tita Gallentes

Panglao has so much to be thankful for. After harvesting a bounty of  awards for Best Municipal Police unit, Panglao won  recently the Third Most Competitive award among 1,500 local government units in the country, under the 3rd-6th class municipality category, in this year's Annual Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) by the National Competitiveness Council.

 Mayor Montero received the award during the 5th Annual Regional Competitiveness Summit two weeks ago at the PICC in Manila.

 WOMAN EMPOWERMENT: Fiel Gabin with Mayor Tita & Panglao Mayor Nila Montero

Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes confirmed the award conferred on the Panglao LGU, adding that the town was also named among the top 20 finalists in the search for Galing Pook Awards 2017. The LGU's entry program was “A Purok-Based Approach in Basic Education Reforms/Turo-Turismo: Strengthening Partnership and Industry Linkage for Effective K-12 Implementation.”

Miss Iran & Miss Israel in Miss Global 2016

It might sound like a worn- out cliché but it’s true that pageant girls do aspire for world peace. Take the case of the ongoing Miss Global 2016 Pageant.

Last September 17 & 18, a bevy of beauties from all corners of the globe converged in Bohol not only to visit its natural wonders and to sample the renowned warmth and hospitality of Boholanos but also to compete in the swimsuit preliminaries.

 Showdown of Swimsuit Statistics
photo credits: Ric Obedencio

Your Roving Eye and Mr. Ric Obedencio, veteran newsman were given access to cover the girls’ swimsuit photo and video shoot at the spectacular Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol. We had the chance to get to know some of the girls including Miss Norway whose mom is from the neighboring island of Cebu. 

The girls from Tunisia, Sri Lanka & Sweden who were in the pool of the host resort obliged us with a photo. Madagascar was such a pleasant & pretty lady who shared to us that she already posted about Bohol on her social media accounts.

  Miss Iran projects in front of Alona Tropical Beach Resort

 Melika Razavi poses with a tourist 

It was the talked- about photo shoot of Danielle Celine Bouskila, 25, of Israel and Melika Razavi, 27, of Iran that proved to be the scenestealer. It was a sight to behold as the two Middle Eastern beauties gamely posed in their two- piece swimsuits. 

 Danielle shows off her nonchalance

 Danielle gets ready for her glamshot

Although we were not able to photograph them together as the crew had to work on a tight schedule, it was enough that the countries were able to declare a truce even if it was on the beauty pageant stage.  

Now who said beauty pageants can’t be arenas for diplomacy, friendship and world peace?

Good luck and may the best lady win!

The Sand, Sea & Sun of Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol & Miss Global 2016

It was a warm warm welcome indeed for the 2016 Miss Global candidates when they set foot on the province of Bohol last September 17. I am referring not only to the friendliness and hospitality of fellow Boholanos but also the sun, sea and sun of Panglao Island.

The girls were in the province for a quick tour around the Chocolate Hills & other tourist spots, do their swimsuit & video shoot and prepare for the swimsuit competition.

The girls were amazed with the beauty and splendor of Bohol especially the white sands of Alona Beach in Panglao, Bohol. 

Even before they left for the grand coronation night to be staged in Manila a couple of days from now, they have posted in FB, Twitter and Instagram about their Bohol visit! 

 Miss Global candidate poses by the beach

locale: Alona Tropical Beach Resort

Miss Tunisia & Miss Sweden

 Miss Thailand

 Miss Namibia

 Miss Sri Lanka

Talk about effective tourism spokespersons!

Photo Credits: Ric Obedencio