Good Luck to Bohol's Bet for Miss Philippines Earth 2015

Gayle Suzette Garces Yu of Calape  takes with her the big responsibility of representing our province Bohol and her hometown Calape in the forthcoming Miss Philippines Earth 2015 Pageant.

 Gayle with Bohol Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim

 with the Bohol Provl Sanggunian

Her beautiful journey towards the crown begins today when she flies off to Manila for the series of pre- pageant events and challenges leading to the grand coronation on May 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and to be telecast over ABS CBN Channel 2

filming her ecotourism video in her hometown

Among her preparations were the filming of an ecotourism video that hopefully will help promote the province’s tourism potentials, courtesy calls to top govt official in the province, assembling a stylish wardrobe and immersing herself on current events & environmental issues.

Gayle at the mangroves in her hometown
photo: Christian Paul Naparota

Being a Features Editor of her school paper during her college years and being a registered nurse would surely help a lot when she and the rest of the beauties from all over the country and from overseas face the media during the girls’ first official public appearance.

Your Blogger will be updating you with candidate’s journey.

Good luck Gayle!

Gayle Suzette Garces Yu is Bohol’s Bet for Miss Philippines Earth 2015

Twenty three old Gayle Suzette Garces Yu, a registered nurse, bested a field of nine ladies before a jampacked crowd at the Island City Mall (ICM) Activity Center last Sunday, March 29 & earned the right to represent the province of Bohol in the forthcoming national finals of the 2015 Miss Philippines Earth Pageant. 

Aside from being the recipient of the Miss Javita Coffee & Miss Creamsilk Beautiful Hair corporate awards, Ms Yu was also the People’s Choice Awardee, Best in Swimsuit & Best in Interview. 

Her ecotourism video that promoted the tourism potentials of her hometown Calape was also adjudged the best.

Selected as the Best in Eco-Tourism Video, during the Miss Philippines Earth 2015-Bohol Search.
Posted by Miss Philippines Earth 2015 Bohol Search on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

As the inaugural winner of Miss Philippines Earth- Bohol Search, Gayle will be flying off to Manila on April 9 for the month- long series of challenges & pre- pageant activities leading to the Miss Philippines Earth 2015 Grand Coronation Night on May, SM MOA Arena & telecast live over ABS CBN. 

When interviewed, Ms Yu remarked " This is totally unexpected. Right after college graduation, I flew to the US, took and passed the NCLEX. I was about to start work but had to come summer of last year to take care personally of my mom who was battling the Big C. After my mom lost her battle with cancer, I was all set to go back to the US when I heard of the pageant. As a campus writer during my high school & college years, environmental issues have been one of my passions" I dedicate my triumph to my mom Grace who I'm sure is proud of my accomplishment" This is also for my dad and my sister and brothers, relatives & friends"

L-R: 1st RU Genina Abrau, Ms Phil Earth Bohol Gayle Yu 2nd RU Olive Zoilo

Named 1^st RU was the very charming Jenina Abrau from the Municipality of San Miguel who topped the Evening Gown Competition with her flawless & elegant presentation. 2^nd RU was the very polished & well- prepared Olive Zoilo of Tubigon. Named Miss Talent was Imaculada Cleofe Leopardas of Baclayon.   

Miss Talent is Imma Leopardas

Best in Gown is Genina Abrau

All the candidates competed & were judged in the talent, Hanz Coquila swimsuits, evening gowns, interviews and submitted a three minute ecotourism video before the winners were proclaimed & crowned.

THE PANEL OF JUDGES

Judging the Bohol search were reigning 2014 Miss Philippines Earth- Water Kimberley Covert, Carousel Productions’s International Franchise & Branding Manager Director Astrud Margaret Schuck, renowned Boholano pageant & event director Michael Ryan Tago, Miss Tagbilaran 1987 & cultural impresario Fiel Angeli Araoarao Gabin & Your Blogger

Ms Phil Earth Bohol & Runners Up with the Judges

BEAUTIES FOR A CAUSE

As with the ongoing provincial & regional screenings & searches, the Miss Philippines Earth- Bohol search included a swimsuit & evening gown competition, talent competition, a three- minute ecotourism video where the girls promote the tourism potentials & environmental situation of their respective towns/ cities. With the Miss Philippines Earth Pageant’s focus on having its candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth, more weight is given to personality and also to ecological and environmental intelligence in the interview portion.

Since 2008, Miss Philippines-Earth has broadened its coverage to include candidates from various provinces, cities, and municipalities. The decision to transform Miss Philippines Earth in a larger-scale was made to further the cause of Miss Philippines Earth and with more participants involved, Carousel Productions would be able to reach more people and communities involved in its environmental advocacy. The reigning titleholders dedicate their year to promote environmental projects and to address issues concerning the environment. They also serve as spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other environmental organizations. The grand winner will represent Philippines in Miss Earth pageant.

The Miss Philippines Earth & the Miss Earth pageants are both owned by Philippine- based Carousel Productions with Alturas Group of Companies as Miss Philippines Earth Bohol franchise holder

Photo Credits: dagzpoy, Sideroom Studio

1957 Miss Bohol: Olivia Solis

 Miss Bohol 1957: Olivia Solis

BOHOLANOS IN THE LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS

Year 1957 is an important year for Boholanos for within that time period, Carlos Polistico  Garcia, a homegrown Boholano, would assume the highest elective position in the country by ascendancy and later to be affirmed & validated with a convincing 44% share of the total votes in the four- cornered fight for president. 

That same year in the local beauty scene, the Boholano public in general and pageant aficionados in particular were mesmerized and captivated by the luminous  beauty & charm  of a lass from the town of Calape who was crowned the 1957 Miss Bohol. Newspapers and word- of- mouth immediately hailed her as one of the most beautiful Boholanas to ever win the crown.  

CALAPE CHARMER
She had the movie actress- sounding name of Olivia Solis who hailed from the town of Calape. 

Olivia was so beautiful that she was deluged with offers to do Visayan movies during the 60's. She became a very popular lead actress in Visayan films. 

She became an even bigger star after the Visayan serial radio drama song "Dawata na Olivia" which was composed especially for her became a huge hit in the Visayas and Mindanao during the 70's. 

publicity shot of Olivia Solis when she was active

 in the Visayan film industry back in the 70's

VISAYAN MOVIE ACTRESS
The Visayas boasted of its very own Cebu City- based film industry that had its dialogue in Cebuano. It peaked between the 1950s and 1970's decade. During its heyday, it had its own film studios with Visayan- speaking actors and actresses that included Olivia Solis.

The 1970's saw the emergence of more Visayan talents in the mainstream Tagalog film industry. Actresses such as Olivia Sanchez, Chanda Romero, Caridad Sanches, Alma Moreno, Tessie Sevilla, Rebecca Torres, Aurora Villa, Eva de Villa, Rosita Fernandez, Virgie Postigo, Virgie Solis, Olivia Solis, Cora Real, Diana Arong, Luz Celeste, Annabelle Rama, Suzette Ranillo, Lady Ramos, Pilar Pilapil, and others stepped into the limelight.

This exodus eventually contributed to the unexpected demise of the Visayan film industry because the popular box office draws have left Cebu for Manila.

LATER YEARS
She later became a US resident but she returned to the Philippines when her husband became a Cebu City councilor in the late ‘90s.

I had the chance to see her in person and introduce her to an adoring hometown when she graced the 2000 Miss Calape Pageant which I emceed.

She was greeted with the loudest cheers and applause when she was acknowledged during the pageant.

Indeed, she has the timeless looks and elegance of a classic Hollywood movie star.

She proved to be the lucky charm for Melanie Wallace, the 2000 Miss Calape winner.

Miss Wallace was able to duplicate Ms Olivia Solis' achievement when she was crowned later that year as Miss Bohol Sandugo.

Presently, she is based in Hawaii where she spends her time for meaningful pursuits such as outreach and supporting her husband’s community involvement.

Timeless eleganc

Today, the ageless Olivia Solis shuttles between 
the Philippines & the U.S. to visit her grand kids

 

Here's the Song "Olivia"  composed by Cengo Arias & interpreted by Del Horest

Here's another version of "Olivia" by Richard Hunter

Video Credits: CebuanoMusic & Dadskyz 
Song Credits:  Antopina Records

For the list of Miss Bohol winners from 1955 to 2012, here's the link:

http://raulgatal.blogspot.com/2012/09/salute-to-miss-bohol-titleholders.html