Miss Bohol 2018 Press Presentation

The 2018 Miss Bohol Pageant is officially on! The Bohol media finally got the chance to meet the 21 official candidates during the press presentation held at the Le Eng Restaurant of Bohol Tropics Resort.

Miss Bohol 2018 candidates preen for the press

After seeing and hearing the girls deftly parry the questions thrown during the Q & A session, the invited media concurred with lot of pageant observers that this year’s batch is very promising and has a lot achievers with impressive academic credentials.  

Ubay & Maribojoc flank lifestylebohol’s Sonieta Labasan 

Balilihan, Clarin, Tubigon, Valencia & Jagna

Tubigon, San Miguel & Corella

THE DARLING OF THE PRESS After the intense scrutiny and discernment from the girls’ responses to questions addressed to them, the mediamen cast their votes for the Darling of the Press award which will be announced and awarded on pageant night. The special award may not have a bearing on the pageant results but it is something to cherish and brag about because it’s not easy to win over the jaded media. 

Ardie Batoy with Clarin, Dimiao & Sagbayan

Charmers from Dauis , Loboc & Tagbilaran

MAGNA CUM LAUDE GIRLS: Jesseth & Roselle

Although there isn’t a specific criteria to guide the selection of the awardee, the unwritten rule is to look for composure, confidence & substance when answering questions plus the charm & personality of the candidate.  

EARLY FAVORITES  Netizens and pageant fans who watched the proceedings over DYRD Ang Kasaligan FB Page have picked the following as the standouts: 

1. Miss Bilar, a petroleum engineer & magna cum laude graduate, was a picture of composure & confidence.

2. Miss Loboc, an outstanding campus personality who excels in academics and extracurricular activities displayed a depth and maturity rarely seen from someone her age.

3. Miss Maribojoc, an international flight attendant, who was effortlessly beautiful.

4. Miss Ubay, an architecture graduate who dreams of a green architecture, was a statuesque beauty.

Other standouts were Tubigon, Sagbayan, Sevilla & Talibon. The prettiest & most charming faces belonged to Sagbayan, San Miguel, Valencia & Tagbilaran City.

Miss Bohol 2018 Project Chair Madame Pureza Chatto & Liza, Your Roving Eye & Ardie Batoy

Finally, here’s a gentle reminder for all the girls’ supporters and fans:

The press presentation should not be treated as a barometer or indicator on who will emerge as this year’s winners.  While giving the media and the public a chance to get to know more about the girls especially on their school & career backgrounds, plus information on the schedule of activities & venues, the press presentation is primarily an opportunity to promote & publicize the pageant.

All 21 candidates will compete in swimsuits, evening gowns & onstage interviews on pageant night.  The total scores combined with the talent night scores will determine the five candidates who will advance to the final round. 

DON’T FORGET: Talent Night: Friday, July 13, 8 pm, Bohol Cultural Center and Pageant Night: Saturday, July 21, 8 pm, Bohol Wisdom School Gym

Flashback: Miss Tagbilaran 1993 Sophia Lorraine M. Alvarez

Tonight’s big event here in Tagbilaran is looked upon with anticipation as we await the crowning of Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2014. You have to understand the excitement for after all, it has been three years since the pageant went into hibernation. Thanks to the present city administration led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap, this year’s fiesta celebration has been one exciting affair especially with the rebirth of the annual search for the city’s fairest who will represent us in the forthcoming Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant

As we await the crowning of the next Miss Tagbilaran in the next few hours, allow me to take you on a walk down memory lane with a reminiscence on the1993 edition of Miss Tagbilaran

The 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant would always be memorable for me not only for crowning a most deserving winner but also for it was the first Miss Tagbilaran pageant that I co- hosted with hosting legend Gerarda “Ardie” Batoy. You can just imagine how scared I was to be standing side by side  with Bohol’s emceeing icon. You see,she was the ultimate when it came to emceeing so just think how intimidating it was to be co- hosting with Ma'am Ardie  

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez in the Evening Gown Competition 

Aside from the aforementioned, the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant is unique for two other reasons: First, unlike the other Miss Tagbilaran pageants that were staged as part of the city’s fiesta celebration highlights, it is the only edition that was mounted as a highlight of the city’s charter day celebration which falls on July 1, 1966;  Secondly, it is the only Miss Tagbilaran Pageant that initially declared five ladies as Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest before declaring one of them as Miss Tagbilaran

TAGBILARAN CITY OFFICIALS CIRCA 1993:

The City Mayor that time was Hon. Jose Maria Rocha, Hon. Gloria Neri Lim was Vice- Mayor while Atty. Dan N. Lim was City Administrator

The pageant was held at the DWCT Gymnasium, then the biggest indoor venue that could accommodate around 5,000 spectators.

Fifteen winsome ladies from all parts of the city competed in swimwear, evening gowns and interviews. After Bert Nievera, a classy balladeer and also known as Martin Nievera, serenaded the ladies and entertained the crowd with a repertoire of standards, the names that were part of  Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were revealed.

TAGBILARAN’S FIVE PRETTIEST:

Named Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were (called in random order) were May Castanares, Sophia Lorraine Maniwang Alvarez, Mia Nunag, Wilma Lim and another lady whose name escapes me at this particular moment.  
  

After Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest had been sashed and had received their floral bouquets, it was announced that one of them will be named Miss Tagbilaran 1993

AND MISS TAGBILARAN 1993 IS...

Before an overflow crowd of pageant spectators and supporters, Sophia Alvarez, a  BS Nursing student at Divine Word College, was proclaimed the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran. She was crowned by Scarlett Pizarras, 1992 Miss Tagbilaran runner up. 

It was a most deserved victory for aside from beauty & charm, Sophia was one of the most consistent in the Q & A which came as no surprise for she had always been a consistent achiever both in academics and in her extra- curricular activities since grade school

Graduated elementary 1986, Holy Spirit School, Second Honorable Mention. Graduated 1990 Divine Word College High School as Class Salutatorian. Graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, DWCT, 1994, Magna Cum Laude

Mutya 92 Runner up Scarlett Pizarras crowns the new queen 

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez takes her Victory Walk

PRESENTLY

Sophia then worked at ARIVAC (Division of Research Institute of Tropical Medicine) for two years and was a part- time clinical instructor for a short time before leaving for the US in 2000  

Years after, Sophia tied the marital knot with Joel Gentallan of Antequera, Bohol whom she met in college. Both have been based in Milford, Connecticut, USA since 2004. They were in Norwalk, Connecticut before that. ICU Nurse both in Norwalk Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. They are blessed with two sons; Justin Christian, 8 and Jovani Andrew, 5.

Joel & Sophia Gentallan with Justin & Jovani
Christmas 2013

ON LIFE LESSONS:

Sophia shares "Life is like a beauty pageant. You have to give it your all to be able to express and portray your inner beauty as well as self confidence because these traits will greatly matter and come in handy in the years ahead. People judge us every single day but knowing yourself more than anyone in this world is enough to face a hundred battles

Very well said Sophia and here's to a more beautiful life ahead of you

Cheers!