Miss Tagbilaran 2010: Meet Ms. Fer Mary Baliquig

One of my favorite local beauty queens ever is Fer Mary Baliquig, the 2010 Miss Tagbilaran and 2010 Miss Bohol Sandugo 1^st Runner Up

She would later on be discovered in Facebook by noted beauty pageant mentor and now Miss Grand Philippines franchise holder John dela Vega who would then groom and train her for Binibini

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN

Fer Mary’s entry into and subsequent journey in pageantry began when Your Blogger encouraged her to join in our school’s English Week celebrations where she, together with other chosen college freshmen beauties were asked to participate in a segment that would simulate the Parade of Nations in Miss Universe. 

You see, I was her English 2 (Writing Class) mentor and I was immediately drawn to her statuesque frame and smooth kayumanggi complexion.

Fer Mary Baliquig prepares for Miss Tagbilaran 2010

It was a pleasant surprise to me when I found out after a writing assignment that this budding beauty CAN actually express herself in written English. I realized there and then that she was a potential beauty queen for she had the beauty, the stance & the communication skills. It was just a matter of honing and polishing her for pageantry.

Your Blogger with Miss Tagbilaran 2010 Top Three 

Noted Boholano designer took her under his wings and thus began her journey in pageantry. In 2009, she joined Dampas District’s official preliminary for Miss Tagbilaran where she placed 2^nd Runner Up. Not bad for a first- timer. The training and the grooming continued.

Fer Mary during Miss Tagbilaran 2010

The following year, she competed in Miss Tagbilaran where she reigned supreme. She impressed both the judges and audience alike with one of the most memorable Miss Tagbilaran Personality Interviews:

Fer Mary Baliquig during Personality Interviews

THE WINNING ANSWERS OF MISS TAGBILARAN 2010:

DURING THE CASUAL INTERVIEW:

EMCEE: “You are the tallest candidate in this year's Miss Tagbilaran pageant.Do you consider your height as a big advantage over the others?”

FER: “Yes but I have more to offer than just my height. I have the charm, the confidence and the personality”

EMCEE: “So how would you describe the ideal Miss Tagbilaran 2010?” 

FER: “Raul, you are looking at her right now” 

DURING THE FINAL QUESTION:

EMCEE: “Without naming names and without mentioning slogans, describe your ideal president” 

FER: “Honest. My ideal president should be honest because honesty is the answer to solving the problems of graft and corruption and most importantly, it will be the key to our country's progress and development.”

From Miss Tagbilaran, it was onwards to Miss Bohol Sandugo 2010 where she was picked as one of the solid locks for the title. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and she ended up as 1^st Runner Up to the vivacious and bubbly Amir Sol from Tubigon who clinched the title in a very convincing and well- deserved victory.

Fer Mary Baliquig in her EJ Relampagos gown
during Miss Bohol Sandugo 2010

After the pageant, I lost contact with Fer until the exciting news from EJ’s camp that Fer was seriously considering a plan to join Bb. Pilipinas in 2012. She was already a Cebu City- based call center agent when the 2012 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant beckoned her.

TRAINED & DISCOVERED BY TEAM JDV

Prior to the screening, she had to fly to Manila where she was groomed and trained by the House of Dela Vega for the country’s most prestigious and longest- running national pageant.

Fer Mary Baliquig during 2012 Bb Pilipinas Opening Number 

Although she did make it as one of 24 girls who were chosen as official candidates and was in many pageant lists as most likely to enter the Top 12, she didn’t make the cut. 

From Bb. Pilipinas, it was on to Miss World Philippines 2012 where she met the same outcome. 

during 2012 Miss Philippines World 
Swimsuit Competition

Come to think of it, to be selected as official candidate in two very prestigious national pageants from hundreds of applicants from all over the Philippines is already an achievement in itself.

MWP 2010: Fer Mary with eventual winner Queenierich Rehman
who placed in the Top 15 of Miss World 2012

On hindsight, I guess it was the lack of support from Tagbilaran and Bohol that did her in. Many don’t realize how expensive and difficult it is to prepare for a national pageant especially for the girls who come from the province.

IN THE PURSUIT OF HER DREAMS

She has taken everything in stride and has put her previous pageant experiences in their proper perspective. Right now, she is based in Manila where she is pursuing her dreams and waiting for the right time to turn those dreams into realities in the near future.

So don’t count Fer Mary yet. Who knows? She is more than ready to spring a surprise when you least expect it. She is right under the wings and getting ready to take her spotlight

Good luck Fer Mary!

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended

Mayumi Lugod: Boholana TV News Anchor

Did you know that a young Boholana is currently an anchor for UNTV? 

LEY ANN "MAYUMI" LUGOD

Ley Ann Lugod is a news anchor and TV host of UNTV. She is is one of the network’s homegrown talents having started her career in UNTV with programs such as “Kami Naman” and “Bread Tambayan.” 

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Ley Ann was given her first news anchoring stint in the evening newscast “Ito Ang Balita” along veteran broadcasters, Daniel Razon and Rolly Gonzalo.

ITO ANG BALITA

Ito ang Balita (This is the News) is the late afternoon one-hour & flagship newscast of UNTV, covers and reports the headline-grabbing issues and subjects in the country. 

Aired Monday to Friday at 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM (PST UTC+8). 

This was first aired in 2003 but began its hiatus in 2005 and it return to the air in 2007. 


The newscast is now simulcast on radio thru UNTV Radio La Verdad 1350 kHz AM in Mega Manila.

BEAUTIFUL & BRAINY BOHOLANA 

Endowed with natural beauty and acting skills, Ley Ann played a role in Kuya Daniel Razon’s film debut, “Isang Araw Lang the Movie” in 2009. 

She is a homegrown Boholana who is a product of Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center and Holy Name University High School both in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

2006 Miss HNU 1st Runner Up

She represented the high school department in the 2006 Miss Holy Name University Search where she placed 1st RU to Miss Nursing Carleen Angelica Yap.

Affectionately called Mayumi by friends and family in Bohol, she has also participated in several beauty pageants such as Ms. Makati Tourism, where she took home the crown in 2007. 

Here's the link to : 2007 Miss Makati: Mayumi Lugod

She was also a finalist for the Mr& Ms. Philippine Youth 2012.

She is also a part- time model 

for DermGem publicity stills

QUICK ACTION TEAM ANCHOR

Taking a more serious track, Ley Ann now co-hosts UNTV’s emergency response program Quick Action Team (QUAT).

Click to check out her full profile:  Ley Ann Lugod: UNTV Talent

QUAT (Quick Action Team), a rescue-based educational program hosted by Ley Ann Lugod and Benedict Galazan, has added actor Kier Legaspi who is fielded with UNTV’s News and Rescue Team. 

Quick Action Team | Tue 5:00 pm

http://www.untvweb.com/en/programs/quick_action_team.html

UNTV NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMING

As part of its unwavering service to the Filipinos, UNTV News and Public Affairs Department launched its new tag line, “Tulong Muna, Bago Balita,” in which its news teams were trained to save lives in actual emergency situations.

UNTV is the home of Ang Dating Daan and since 2004, it has become a 24-hour TV station, airing not only ADD Programs, but also news, public service and information programming.

UNTV continue to offer smart TV programs that seem to be faring well with its accumulated mainstream audiences. 

Hitting its ninth- year anniversary last July 24, UNTV, despite the UHF channel’s affiliation with the religious organization Dating Daan, was hailed by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for producing news related-programs that put public service first before the news. 

Good luck and More Power to Mayumi! 

Watch out for this lovely and well- grounded Boholana who is biding her time as she awaits her full potential to come out

The Best is Yet to Come Mayumi 

Let the Boholana in You Shine Through! 

Photo Credits:

Copyright infringement not intended

Random Thoughts on Beauty Pageants

During the 2011 Miss Batuan Beauty Pageant

Miss Tagbilaran 2009

L-R: Your blogger, Paulaine Magallanes 2nd RU, Daisy Quilicot Miss Tagbilaran 09, Mescellane Cajels 1st RU and my co- host 2006 Miss HNU & 2009 Miss Bohol International Carleen Angelica P. Yap

Hello everyone!

Glad to be back after a self- imposed hiatus from the blogging scene. Aside from numerous emceeing engagements and endless holiday parties, I was downed by an acute intestinal infection thus the need to slow down and recuperate.

Anyway, my opening salvo for the New Year is focused on my thoughts on the pageant girl. She can be your determined sister, gorgeous girlfriend, starry- eyed neighbor or hopeful classmate who dreams of being the next Janine Tugonon.

My 2nd time to emcee Miss Earth in Bohol circa 2005

After 20 years of being involved in the different aspects of beauty pageants whether in hosting, organizing, promoting and judging beauty pageants in Bohol from the barangay level to the ultimate when I had the opportunity to organize and emcee the pre- pageant events of the 2002 and 2005 editions of Miss Earth, considered one of the three most prestigious international beauty competitions that were held here in our beautiful province, I have developed the highest respect for beauty queens and scores of hopefuls

During my early days in pageant emceeing, I couldn’t help but bite my lips and try to maintain my composure.

I admit that I would be the first to guffaw especially when the girls commit some gaffes especially during the interview segments of the pageants.

But the years have a way of making us see things in a different light. 

Time indeed mellows our brash and snooty ways and in their stead is a more sympathetic and a more understanding stance towards these beauty aspirants

Can you imagine what these girls have to undergo just to have a shot at the elusive crown only to see it slip from their grasp because Fate and Destiny simply didn’t cooperate? How heartbreaking indeed.

All those long and sleepless nights of rehearsals and having to polish their pasarela and rehearsing their talents and going through the answers to the possible questions that might be asked during the interviews. All their efforts gone for naught!

Paulaine Magallanes sizzles in her bikini

The mere thought of parading in front of thousands of critical and self- righteous pairs of eyes is enough to drive one crazy.

Secondly, the jeers, sneers, and snide remarks from people would smash one's self- esteem to smithereens.

Finally, everyone awaits with bated breath if a poor contestant will fall on her face or tumble down from the slippery steps from the stage which I strongly suspect have been designed by a sadist and meant to make the poor girls fall.

With regards to the humiliating question & answer portion, I believe some of the tongue -tied candidates are not really stupid nor were they absent from their grammar classes in high school and college. It boils down to tension, sheer nervousness, and mental block. 

with Olivia Culpo's look-a-like from Bohol, Cathy Remperas

By the way, why do we equate fluency in English with being smart?

Interviews should be based on the candidate's personal data to check on her warmth, sincerity and personality projection.

Let us stop asking questions about global warming, the economic crisis that is besetting the world, political views, and even world peace.

For one, this is not a quiz bowl, this is a contest on pulchritude, poise, and personality. As long as a candidate can express herself in passable English, then it should be enough.

Meschellane Cajels reacts after being named Miss Panglao 2012

 For every victorious and ecstatic smile from the newly- crowned beauty queen are the dashed hopes and crushed dreams of also- rans.

Girls, remember, beauty queens are not born, they are made so find the best mentor and equip yourselves with determination, perseverance and discipline so you will arrive at the pageant arena ready to rumble as you battle it out for the crown.

Enjoy the pageant experience, make new friends and learn from the journey

Before I go, here are some food for thought: 

with good friend Mae Collyer- Virtucio who has the 
beauty of Venus & the eloquence of Demosthenes

 A girl is crowned as the queen not because she is the most beautiful nor the smartest. It's a matter of destiny, luck, and timing.

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