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.

Two Boholana winners in the 2018 Mutya ng Pilipinas Golden Edition

The 2018 Mutya ng Pilipinas Pageant was a trending topic for Boholanos last year for two reasons; First, the prestigious nationwide pageant was celebrating its golden anniversary and to mark the occasion, 50 lovely Filipinas from all over the Philippines and from overseas communities pitted pulchritude, poise & personality for the top Mutya ng Pilipinas crowns. 

Pauline Amelinckx: Pride of Bohol

Secondly, Bohol was represented by a well- loved and a social media darling, Pauline Cucharo Amelincx.  The 5’ 9” half Filipina & half Belgian stunner from Tubigon who was crowned Miss Bohol 2017 and Miss JCI Philippines 2017 was one of the strongest and among the most prepared Boholana beauties that we have sent to a national pageant.

Pauline Amelinckx scooped most of the special awards

Pauline Amelinckx in her Filipiniana & evening gown

 with Franco Soberano, Mutya 2001 Darlene Carbungco & Anthony Tamayo

She didn’t disappoint and harvested most of the special awards that were at stake. Before the pageant night ended, Pauline clinched the Mutya ng Pilipinas- Global Beauty Queen and will represent the country in the Miss Global Beauty Queen competition, to be held in Seoul, South Korea this May. 

 Two Boholana winners in the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018  Pageant

Pauline's dad is Belgian while Jade's dad is Australian

SPECIAL MENTION goes to Jade Roberts of Australia, a flight attendant, a model and stage thespian who won the  Mutya ng Pilipinas- Overseas Communties title during the same pageant. Her mom Venus Roberts is a Boholana who traces her roots in Calape, Bohol, the neighboring town of Tubigon where Pauline comes from. Jade, along with her mom, made a courtesy call to the town officials of Calape led by Mayor Nelson Yu right after the pageant. 

Her mom’s maiden name is Venus Sepe and hails from Desamparados Calape Bohol. She graduated elementary from Calape and studied first year high school in BPI Calape. The rest of her education was in Cebu.  Mrs. Venus Roberts says that every time they have a holiday in the Philippines, they always manage to go home to Calape, her hometown.

She said that Jade loves Bohol so much especially the friendly and warm Boholanos and the kids most especially. Jade loves kids because she used to teach younger kids to read & write when she was in grade school as Sister Mora, her school principal, always requested her to let Jade go with her on weekends to teach reading to kids from a small remote area in Halls Creek Western Australia. Jade’s mom owns a business in Halls Creek Western Australia & Northern Territory.

Technically, Bohol had two winning candidates in Mutya ng Pilipinas, the second longest running beauty search in the country. 

Calape town officials led by Mayor Yu pose with Jade Roberts, mom Venus & relatives

Jade Roberts with Calape Mayor Nelson Yu

Miss Calape 2017 Swimsuit Competition

Swimsuits have single- handedly drawn in heated arguments and heightened interests in beauty pageants. One would think that in these modern times, asking candidates to slip into two- piece swimsuits would be such a breeze but no.

To be in one- piece or in two- piece?  As far as the Miss Calape 2017 organizers were concerned, choosing the swimsuit design turned out to be one of the most difficult decisions. From the day that the list of official candidates was released up to the last few days leading to the coronation night, the girls were divided when it came to selecting a swimsuit design that would be acceptable for all.

The organizers were so glad that the girls had minds of their own and they really stood their ground when it was suggested that they wear two- piece swimsuits.

Actually, the swimsuit competition is there for a purpose and not as an excuse to flaunt those perfectly- sculpted bodies in identical swimwear.

So why is there a swimsuit competition? Joining a beauty pageant is like applying for a job. Being a beauty queen is a full- time job with a hectic schedule for the winners. It’s not all glamour.

Behind those parties, special guest appearances and photo shoots are the constant travels, endless speaking engagements and personality enhancement classes. You need to be fit, healthy and have the stamina to endure and survive a year of reign as queen.

 Miss Calape 2017 Swimsuit Competition

And how do organizers determine a girl’s qualification and mental stamina? During the swimsuit competition which highlights the candidates’ physical fitness and showcases womanhood’s beauty and symmetry. 

How they look and appear in their swimsuits reflect on their discipline, attitude & drive. Furthermore, swimsuits are empowering and liberating to women for it gives them the liberty to be in control and to be comfortable with their bodies.

We all know already that beauty pageants have evolved from mere bathing suit parades back in the 1950's into the modern- day quest for the complete package who can be an effective spokesperson, a role model, a beauty product endorser and a woman who radiates inner beauty as well

Nowadays, the obligatory quarter- turns which are likened to a cattle call or meat parade have been dropped and the mention of vital statistics, age, height, hair & eye color has been to avoid being labelled as promoters of women as objects of fantasies.

So here are the candidates in Miss Calape 2017 in their one- piece swimwear:

 

 Miss Bentig I 

 Miss Labuon 

 Miss Calunasan 

 Miss Sta. Cruz 

 Miss Bentig II


 

Miss Abucayan Norte 

 Miss Mandaug 

Miss Desamparados 

 Miss Tultugan 

 Miss Catmonan 

Based on the individual assessment of the judges, it was Candidate # 5 Miss Bentig II Angelika Concha who clinched the Best in Swimsuit award not only for her stratospheric height, legs that go on for miles and miles but also because of her captivating & winsome smile and confident strut onstage. 

Photo Credits: 

Vic Nielen of Vieuma Photography
Paul Albert

Miss Calape 2017 Evening Gown Competition

The evening gown competition would always be the most elegant part of any beauty pageant for it showcases each candidate as she sashays onstage in the most classy and most regal way. 

The choice of gown could either make or break the chances of the candidates as the judges give points for their overall presentation but in the end it’s how the girls carry the gowns that really matter. After all, it’s “Best in Gown” and not the “Best Gown” award that is given to the candidate who tops this segment. 

 Miss Calape 2017 candidates shone & glittered in their Kim Villamor gowns

Here are the ten candidates in their evening gowns all created by Kim Villamor during the recently- concluded Miss Calape 2017 Pageant.

Miss Bentig I

 Miss Labuon

 Miss Calunasan

 Miss Sta. Cruz

 Miss Bentig II

 Miss Abucayan Norte

 Miss Mandaug

 Miss Desamparados

 Miss Tultugan

Miss Catmonan 

At the end of the evening gown competition, Miss Sta. Cruz, Michaella Cubillo Fronteras was named by the judges as Best in Evening Gown. She had one of the best gowns that was in glittering matte gold that complemented her sun- kissed complexion and of course, she also had one of the best gown presentations while onstage.

Miss Sta. Cruz even caught the eye of ABS CBN's Tony Labrusca 

Photo Credits: Vic Nielen of Vieuma Photography

Theoprolia Clarin of Sevilla: Bb Pilipinas- Bohol 1968

Theoprolia Clarin:  Bb Pilipinas- Bohol 1968

 The year was 1968. It was the height of the swinging 60’s and Bohol’s loveliest ladies were all giddy with excitement. 

The reason for all the hoopla? 

Binibining Pilipinas Charities led by Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta had granted the Bohol Jaycees, then an all- male socio- civic organization, the franchise to organize a local Bb Pilipinas search that would select Bohol’s official representative to the 1968 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant.

That year, a sweet and charming beauty from Sevilla was named Bb. Pilipinas- Bohol 1968 and, along with Emma Mumar, got the chance to represent Bohol in the nationwide beauty search for the Bb Pilipinas- Universe crown held by Pilar Pilapil of Cebu.

 Ma’am Polia is as lovely as the day she was crowned Bb Pilipinas- Bohol 1968


  

 Bb Pilipinas 1968 Poolside Press Presentation

 Bb Pilipinas Borad of Judges included movie queen Susan Roces

On January 4, 1969 barely a year after competing in the national finals, she exchanged lifetime vows with  a Bohol Jaycee stalwart that she met during the Bohol pageant. The debonair and popular Jaycee member was smitten with the beautiful Sevilla lady that he pursued her and the rest is history.

 Ma'am Polia obliges Your Roving Eye with a photo

The name of the lady?  Theoprolia Clarin who is affectionately called Polia or Pol. And the gentleman? He was Mike Parras.

The marital union produced four children, namely; Gerthrude Rizza, Marcel Mikelo, Estelle Liana and Cecile June.

Your Roving Eye is very grateful to the well- bred and very poised Ma’am Polia who graciously said yes to a request for some photos to go with this feature two days before she went back to the United States with her youngest child Cecile June. 

Thanks also to Estelle Liana for the additional info.  

  

Flashback: Miss DWCT 1990 Personality Search

Here’s something I dug up from my pageant archives and memory bank. The roll of publicity stills for the 1990 Miss DWCT Personality Search. 

The then annual quest for the campus queen was to be the highlight of DWCT College Days celebration. 

There were seven girls representing the colleges and the high school department and I was to be the emcee for the pageant. 

The girls who won in their respective colleges’ preliminary searches were already outfitted with their uniform red evening gowns for the pageant was scheduled on Valentine’s Day.

Everyone was so excited as the line- up was topnotch but tragedy struck. Just two days before the pageant, a devastating earthquake struck Bohol and thus forced the school to cancel the campus celebrations.

 for discounts & deals, visit Lazada HERE

It had to take one whole year before the girls could compete onstage. Miss CAS & Miss Teacher’s College were replaced by their successors since they already graduated. Miss Nursing who hailed from the beauty capital of Jagna begged off for health reasons and so was replaced by another Jagnaon beauty who eventually won the Miss Bohol crown in 1991.

Can you imagine that all these happened a quarter of a century ago?

So who was crowned Miss DWCT 1991? Well, I suppose it would be in a future blog story.