Meet the 2026 BPHSN International Homecoming Queen: Margarita Llido-Torn

Last night, Margarita "Jijing" Llido- Torn who represented the Phoebes of Class 1976 was crowned the 2026 BPHSN Grand International Homecoming Queen in glittering  ceremonies at the MetroCentre Hotel & Convention Center.

2026 BPHSN Queen

Her crowning was a date with destiny. 

She was crowned exactly 100 years after her mom, the late Ascension Gaviola- Llido was crowned the first Miss Bohol and the first Boholana to represent the province in a national beauty pageant, the 1926 Miss Philippines search which replaced the Philippines Carnival Queen.

The newly- crowned homecoming queen finished her elementary and high school education in the bustling coastal town of Jagna, Bohol. 

She took her Pre-nursing in Velez College Cebu City and Graduated in BPHSN in 1976. 

After passing the Philippine Licensure Examination for Nurses, she worked as an OR nurse in the Divine Word Hospital managed by the Benedictine Sisters. 

L-R: Regencia, Torn, Hardnett & Anselmo

Named as Princesses Adela Refamonte- Regencia of The Glasgows Batch 85, Milagros Himalaloan - Hardnett of The Theresians Batch 84 and Romana Narisma- Anselmo of The Melchorians Batch 74 

The ladies with their consorts

During the presentation of candidates

The queen with her batchmates

She put her hospital work on hold in 1978 so she can take care of her Mom Ascension in Cebu City. 

She worked briefly as a medical representative of the United American Pharmaceutical Company before she acquired her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in CCC. 

From 1979 to 1984, she worked as a company nurse at the Floating Casino before moving to the new building in Nivel Hills Cebu City. 

She made her big move in 1984 when she left for New York to accompany her elderly mother. 

She then moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, met and exchanged lifetime vows with the man of her dreams, the wonderful Howard Torn. 

After getting her Registered Nurse License , she worked in John Knox Health until 2007.  

Her greatest passions are fishing, tennis and traveling. She is a member of the Women’s International Fishing Association and is a world record holder of the International Game Fishing Association in Fly Fishing division. 

She still competes in women’s fishing In Inshore and Offshore divisions all over the world as well as being competitive in Singles Tennis division. 

At present, she continues to travel, fish, play tennis and enjoy her life to the fullest.

Bianca Gaviola is Miss Universe Philippines Bohol 2024

Aside from sharing the same family name, Ascension Gaviola and Bianca Gaviola also became Bohol's first official winners of pageants that send  the winners to the nationals. 

Ascension was crowned the first- ever Miss Bohol and became the first Boholana to represent the province in the first nationwide search for Miss Philippines in 1926. 

After 98 years, another Gaviola has become the winner of another inaugural search with Bianca crowned as the first winner of the Miss Universe Philippines Bohol title which concluded with a glittering coronation last night at the Bohol Cultural Center.

Along with the other winners of the different city, provincial and regional pageants of MUPH, Bianca will be flying to Manila for the nationals.

Miss Bohol 2016 Extends Registration Deadline

Eleven lissome lasses from the municipalities of Sevilla, Lila, Balilihan, Panglao, Dauis, Tubigon, Danao, Garcia- Hernandez, Alburquerque, Loboc & the capital city of Tagbilaran were among the early registrants who showed up for the Miss Bohol 2016 Candidates’ Orientation & Briefing.

PAGEANT ORGANIZERS JCI Chocolate Hills Lady Jaycees, the pageant organizers for the past three years announced the good news that the deadline for candidate’s registration has been extended to Wednesday, June 15. 

 STARTING EM YOUNG: New generation JCI Choco Hill Ladies

smile for lifestylebohol readers

The civic- minded ladies who also organized the Mutya sa Tagbilaran pageant from 1989 to 2000 gave the candidates and their handlers an overview of the pageant, rules governing the pageant and gave the girls the opportunity to introduce themselves and deftly answered the questions asked during the forum that immediately followed.  

 First Lady Pureza Chatto shares insights while fellow
JCI Chocolate Hills lady Red Cabagnot, Yelle Jubac
& Queenie Fullante look on  

Pageant Chair Bohol First Lady Pureza V. Chatto who went straight to the orientation venue from the airport warmly welcomed the girls with an inspiring pep talk.

 Smiles from Dauis, Tubigon, Loboc, Balilihan & Alburquerque

 L-R: Boholana beauties from Loboc, Danao, Panglao, Tagbilaran City & Garcia- Hernandez

L-R: Lovely ladies from Sevilla, Alburquerque, Tubigon, Balilihan, Lila & Dauis 

 Miss Bohol 1992 Celevel Ranoco a high- ranking Saatchi & Saatchi 

exec is flanked by Loboc, G- Hernandez, Tagbilaran City & Panglao

MISS BOHOL 90TH ANNIVERSARY This year, almost half of the provinces all over the country including Bohol will celebrate the 90^th year anniversary of their respective searches for candidates to the first nationwide search for Miss Philippines that debuted in 1926. 

 It has been 90 years since Ascension Gaviola

was crowned the first Miss Bohol

Pres. Manuel L. Quezon decreed then that holding a nationwide search for the first Miss Philippines will generate more publicity for the annual Manila carnival. The honor of being the first Miss Bohol & first Boholana representative to a national beauty pageant goes to Ascencion Gaviola of Jagna.

DATES TO REMEMBER Important dates to remember for Miss Bohol 2016 are 

Talent Night: July 9, Saturday, 8 pm, Bohol Wisdom School Gym  

Grand Coronation Night: July 17, Sunday, 8 pm, Bohol Wisdom School Gym 

  

Jagna: Beauty Capital of Bohol

Aside from its famous delicacy Calamay, the coastal town of Jagna is also famous for its beautiful women. Ascencion Gaviola is officially recorded as the very first to be crowned as Miss Bohol and the first Boholana to compete in a nationwide pageant that was sanctioned by then Pres. Manuel L. Quezon in 1926.

Jagna also set a record in Miss Bohol for its seven consecutive placements in the Top Three from 1989 to 1995. 

 Jagna’s Trinity of Beauty

But its reputation as the home to some of Bohol’s most beautiful women was set in 1992 when Jagna became the first municipality to win the Miss Bohol crown in three successive years.

 

 Jagna’s  Six Aces of Beauty

Jagna salutes its beautiful women who have given the town a reason to celebrate in the annual beauty derby. 

YEAR	NAME	PLACEMENT
1926	Ascension Gaviola	Miss Bohol
1977	Agnes Abrenilla	6th RU
1983	Elizabeth Gales	3rd RU
1989	Yasmin Aviles	2nd RU
1990	Tiffany Yap	Miss Bohol
1991	Recelle Adlaon	Miss Bohol
1992	Celevel Ranoco	Miss Bohol
1993	Socorro Llido	1st RU
1994	Genevieve Jamisola	1st RU
1995	Shiela Sumalinog	1st RU
2001	Maryknoll Daniel	2nd RU
2003	Fatima Rana	Miss Bohol
2012	Idy Cagas	Miss Bohol
2015	Rebecca Rocha	3rd RU

  1977: 6th RU

   1983: 3rd RU

   1993: 1st RU

   1994: 1st RU & Best in Swimsuit

   1995: 1st RU

    2001: 2nd RU

   2015: 3rd RU

Ascension Gaviola: The First Miss Bohol Titleholder

THE FIRST MISS BOHOL No one can give the exact date that the most prestigious beauty competition in the province made its debut. Photographic evidence however has proved that there was a pre- World War II Miss Bohol. The honor of being the first officially recorded Miss Bohol titleholder goes to lass from Ubay named Ascension Gaviola who was crowned Miss Bohol 1926.

  Ascension Gaviola: first Miss Bohol

Ms Gaviola entered local & national pageant history books for she was not only the first Miss Bohol but also was the first Boholana to compete in a national beauty competition, the very first Miss Philippines search which highlighted the 1926 Manila Carnival. The same contest picked Miss Batangas Anita Agoncillo Noble as the winner from among beauty delegates coming from different provinces of the country. 

The other winners were Miss Zamboanga Carmen Fargas as Miss Pearl of the Orient Seas, Miss Manila Rosario Genato as Miss Luzon, Miss Samar Aurora Reyes as Miss Visayas and Miss Lanao Bala Amai Miring as Miss Mindanao.

 

Aside from Miss Bohol, the other candidates in the 1st national beauty contest were Leonila Reyes (Miss Agusan), Cristina Victoria (Miss Baguio), Rosa Reyes (Miss Bataan), Isabel Melendez (Miss Bukidnon), Leonor Tantoco Reyes (Miss Bulacan)  Andrea Baduria (Miss Camarines) Rosario Picazo (Miss Capiz) Lucille Morales Maxey (Miss Davao) Arminda Martinez (Miss Isabela) Loreto “Etong” Relova (Miss Laguna)  Rosario Luces Luna Cayetano (Miss Marinduque)  Elia Sanchez (Miss Masbate) Amparo Neri (Miss Misamis) Martha Adduan Maddela (Miss Nueva Vizcaya) Carmen Fernandez (Miss Palawan) Rosario Hernandez Panganiban (Miss Pampanga) Corazon Sison  (Miss Pangasinan) Remedios Santos (Miss Rizal)  Isolina Puno Palma (Miss Tarlac) and Nita San Agustin (Miss Tayabas)

During the contest duration, the provincial candidates were accommodated at the houses of selected families.

HOW MISS PHILIPPINES WAS CHOSEN The anticipated pageant commenced with the parade of the beauty delegates who rode in flower-decorated cars. 

After passing through the major thoroughfares of Manila, the girls transferred to their own lighted “chariots”, each bearing the name of their respective provinces upon arrival at the Manila Grand Carnival Auditorium, Luneta Park. 

They were then wheeled around the auditorium to be viewed by the crowd and the judges who rendered their decision in a secret balloting.

And so it was through this process that the very first Miss Philippines was chosen. 

TRIBUTE FOR FORMER MISS BOHOL TITLEHOLDERS Although she did not clinch the crown, she went home richer and wiser from the experience. She eventually got married to Chief Santiago Llido of Jagna.

Come July 18, the Grand Coronation Night for Miss Bohol 2015, Ms Gaviola and the rest of the former Miss Bohol winners who either personally or whose families responded to the pageant organizers' request to submit photos along with personal info will be honored through a video as a pageant highlight. 

Dear readers, if you know of a Miss Bohol titleholder whose name might have been overlooked, please email Your Blogger:

brewmeister777@gmail.com

Thanks to Josh Nunez, Miss Gaviola's great- grandson who submitted this photographic evidence

Special Thanks to alex r. castro of www.manilacarnival.blogspot.com