Katahum sa Buenavista 2016 Pageant Winners

 w/ Mayor Sample Tirol & Vice Mayor Dave Duallo

 & 2015 Katahum queen Nina Leopando

A stunning 15 year old half Spanish- half Filipina beauty was crowned Katahum sa Buenavista 2016 last Feb 10, the eve of Buenavista’s 56^th Foundation Day anniversary after she bested a field of 35 ladies who represented all of Buenavista’s barangays.

More than just being a pretty mestiza, Kashel Estoce who represented Brgy. Sweetland in the annual pageant, was able to eloquently express her thoughts during the two rounds of interviews. and that boosted by an evident classy & refined demeanor, won for her the crown.

During the final round, the five finalists were asked the same question: 

"Give us one word that would best describe the municipality of Buenavista and why"

Miss Estose replied" the word is hospitable" The first time I came here, I was warmly welcomed and made me feel so special and that I believe is also the reason why people keep going back to Buenavista"

WHAT’S IN A NAME? What started as Miss Buenavista has evolved into what is now known as Katahum sa Buenavista which literally means the beauty of Buenavista. A few years back, the town officials & the arts and culture people made a move to change the pageant title into what is now known as Katahum to reflect not only local culture & tradition but also to include the beauty of diversity in Buenavista.

After all, when the Spanish friars first came to the town, they were so awed and impressed by its beauty that they named the municipality as Buenavista which literally means a good view. The name Buenavista is a combination of two Spanish words namely buena which means good and vista which is Spanish for view or place.

FABULOUS & FAST- PACED PAGEANT The three- hour long Katahum sa Buenavista Pageant  is the biggest municipal- based pageant among Bohol’s 47 towns and it is to the LGU’s credit that all 35 barangays sent a representative for the beauty search. The pageant opened with a dazzling production number where all 35 candidates showcased their dancing talent dressed in their colorful barangay festival costumes.    The girls then competed in their swimwear and evening gowns.  After their pre- pageant scores for onstage interviews & talent scores were added to their pageant night scores, the field was trimmed down to the Top Fifteen.

After the Q & A, the five semifinalists who got the highest combined scores in Q & A plus beauty & charm were declared as the finalists.

Each of the five finalists acquitted themselves well as each gave a unique answer to the final question. Their responses were as diverse as the natural beauty & charm of the place but in the end, Lady Luck smiled at Kashel Estoce who was destined to be crowned as the girl who personified the beauty of Buenavista. 

Her pretty & charming mestiza features plus her very spontaneous and unaffected ways helped her sweep all three preliminary rounds in barangay festival costume, swimsuit and evening gown. She was also named Miss Photogenic.

 Your Roving Eye hosted the pageant

She was crowned by Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell Tirol, the 2015 Katahum queen Nina Leopando and Buenavista Vice Mayor Dave Duallo

 BEAUTY OF BUENAVISTA: 4^th RU, 2^nd RU, Winner, 1^st RU, 3^rd RU

Named her runners up were Miss Bato- Dashiel Minguito 1^st RU, Miss Poblacion- Charlene Marie T. Solana 2^nd RU,   Miss Asinan- Nesafe M. Ludia, 3^rd RU and Miss Cantuba Ma. Theresa T. Sanchez 4^th RU

 Special Award Winners

More than the beauty of the ladies, the title “Katahum sa Buenavista” refers also the beauty & gentleness of Buenavista’s people and the magnificence and splendor of the place which I got to check out when I was invited by youthful Mayor Ronald Lowell “Sample” Tirol  to emcee the pageant. More on the town in the next few blog posts.

 

 Three of the standouts who didn't make the Final Five

Some of the girls who I thought stood out and deserved to be in the winners' circle were candidates # 2, # 13, # 14 & # 20

 

  L-R: Kag. Rena Erojo, VM Dave Duallo, Christine Ires Lopez, Mayor Tirol
and Kag. Christine Torregosa

Special thanks also to the Project Chairs educator Jeanylette C. Ayson, Ph.D. , Kag. Rena Sotto Erojo & Kag. Christine Torregosa. In particular to Kag. Erojo for making me feel at home instantly.

 Katahum 2016  & Kag. Rene Erojo

Pageant Director: Mr. Jaymark Sotto 

Photo Credits: Ric Obedencio

Seen During Beauche's Big Night at the SMX

There I was at the SMX in Pasay City to cover the 6^th annual Beauche National Sales Assembly Beauche International that recognized the company’s top sales achievers not only in the country but also in the Middle East and even in faraway Canada.

 Opening Salvo for Miss Beauche International 2015

The mood inside the huge venue was upbeat partly because of another record- breaking year for Beauche that has entrenched itself now as the country’s number one Direct Selling Company.  

  top awardees Remy & Glenn Vitug

The exciting sales assembly was spiced up by the 2015 Miss Beauche International Pageant that drew 22 lovely & lissome ladies from all over the country. 

 Gorgeous Garcia- Hernandez
Mayor Tita Gallentes

 Youthful - looking Buenavista
Mayor Ronald Lowell G.Tirol

 with stunning Vanessa Cubrado

 The elegant Pilar Mayor
Necitas Cubrado

 with Guindulman Councilor
Marivic Anana Golosino

 with Distributor of the Year Anton Broas

 Miss Universe 1999 1st RU Miriam Quiambao

L-R: Sir Kiko Delos Reyes, Maam Che Delos Reyes, ex Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan

G- Hernandez Mayor Tita Gallentes, Loay Mayor Rosemarie Imboy & PB Member Boy Imboy

  with top designer Leo Almodal

  with Glenn Vitug

 With the stunning Vanessa Cubrado &
Carmen Mayor Ricardo Toribio

 L-R: Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell G. Tirol, Batuan Mayor Francisco Pepito

& Guindulman Mayor Ma. Fe A. Piezas

Aside from members of the press, pageant bloggers & lifestyle writers, also seen during the glittering affair were political figures from Bohol who hobnobbed with Manila- based businessmen, TV & movie personalities and with Beauche sales dealers & distributors and also to give their moral support to the visionary Beauche founder & CEO Madame Che Toribio de los Reyes, the influential Boholana newsmaker, dynamic political figure & respected community figure.

 Beauche Founder & CEO Che Toribio Delos Reyes addresses the audience 

Ma’am Che is living proof that one’s Cinderella story and humble beginnings should never be stumbling blocks to attaining one’s goals in life. At one point, during her keynote speech, she encouraged everyone to pay it forward by becoming instruments in making others’  lives better.

Now isn't that a class act? Beauty indeed not only on the outside but inside as well

Cheers Ma'am Che & the rest of the management, the staff, the dealers and to the Filipino consumers who have trusted & patronized the products.

Here's to the 10th year anniversary next year!

Baby Erico Vann Liam Aumentado's Baptism

AND BABY ERICO VANN LIAM HAS BEEN BAPTIZED

A child’s baptism is always a reason to rejoice among Catholic families. For Congressman Erico Aris Aumentado and former Miss Bohol Vanessa Cadorna- Aumentado, parents of Baby Liam, their third and youngest child’s christening at the Birhen sang Barangay Shrine in Cogon District this city was a cause for celebration.

  

Cong. Aris, wife Vanessa, sons Lawrence, Lance & Liam with
VG Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog& Fr. Jesus Labor  

FORMIDABLE SET OF GODPARENTS

 Baby Liam Aumentado with parents & godparents

Twenty of the couple’s political allies and social circle stood as godparents including Cong. Rene Relampagos, businessman Norris Oculam & Beauche CEO & Boholana newsmaker Madame CheToribio- delos Reyes. 

Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Sen. Guingona, Cong. Gatchalian& Cong. Martin Romualdez who were among the godparents couldn’t make it due to the haze that enveloped the entire Visayas that day.  

Baby Liam with parents Cong. Aris Aumentado & Mrs. Vanessa Aumentado


 

The Aumentado family later entertained their guests who came from social & political circles at the Henann Resort in Panglao, Bohol.

Seen during the affair were high profile guests such as Bien Unido Mayor Nino Boniel & his lovely airline pilot- wife Capt. Giselle Boniel , Buenavista Mayor Sample Tirol, Getafe Mayor Casey Camacho, Tubigon Mayor Marlon Amila, Danao Vice Mayor Tom Gonzaga & Panglao Mayor Nila Montero

Baby Liam with mom Van, Capt. Giselle, Madame Che& Ms. Vanessa 

City Councilor Lucille Lagunay & brilliant  Atty. Handel Lagunay 

Aumentado clan with former Bohol First Lady Greenie Aumentado 

  Standing: Linaw Resort’s Karin Wesemael, Congressmen Aumentado &Relampagos, Panglao Mayor Nila Montero. 

Seated: DTI Regional Director Aster Caberte, Beauche CEO & congressional aspirant CheToribio Delos Reyes, 

Vanessa Cubrado& businessman Norris Oculam

With  Van's cousins & close friends are LiezlTinio, Mitzi Lopez, Lirio Cadorna- Arbilon, Lilian Cadorna

 Emily Yap, Tagb First Lady Jane Yap, City Mayor Baba Yap & Councilor Jojo Bompat

 Cong. Aris with Dr. Jan Lopez, Nikki Arbilon, Joseph Cadorna & King Calamba

L-R: Businessmen John Yap, warren Yap, AGC’s Mar Uy&wife Neneng,
 Bohol Tropics’sGeesnell Yap, MarilouLumapas&DTI Dir. Aster Caberte 

 Your Roving Eye with Mrs. Van Aumentado, LirioArbilon& BMCI staf

 Congressional bet Madame Che Toribio Delos Reyes with Capt. Giselle Boniel, Your Roving Eye, 
Vanessa Cubrado,  Maam Greenie Aumentado, Bien Unido Mayor Nino Boniel, Cong. Aumentado, 
Getafe Mayor Camacho,  Councilor Jojo Bompat, Mayor Camacho & Buenavista Mayor Sampol Tirol

  Cong. Aumentado with Ubay barangay captains

 WITH THE CADORNA'S (Van's side - mama, sisters & nieces)

 Vanessa Aumentado with college friends

Providing elegance to the occasion were the gorgeous Vanessa Cubrado, stunning Leizl Tinio, charming Lirio Cadorna- Arbilon, Mitzi Lopez, pretty Angel Villamor- Bompat, Lilian Cadorna, beautiful Tagbilaran First Lady Jane Yap, the sophisticated Geesnell Yap, glamorous NenengUy, socialite Marilou Lumapas and the elegant Emily Yap