The Miss Bohol Reunion: A Story of Enduring Friendship

Twenty- two years ago, buddies Juny Binamira & Dominic Butalid were tasked to handle the pageant's swimsuit photography at Ananyana Resort. It was for the girls who missed the first photo shoot. The group included Miss Duero Ma. Vanessa Cadorna while Raul Gatal who was the pageant emcee for most of the 90s was in the pageant committee as well. 

A Reunion of Friends

 

Since only a handful of girls were involved in the shoot, there was more time for small talk and more time for the photo session. Mr. Butalid even gave his fearless prediction that Vanessa would be among the top three girls who would slug it out for the crown. And he was proven right of course.

With her communication skills, charm & personality, she was the unanimous choice of the judges as Best in Interview and finished strongly as 1^st RU. But we all know what happened afterwards. When the eventual winner resigned as Miss Bohol 2001, Vanessa accepted the pageant organizers’ request for her to assume the title and the responsibilities that go with it.

L-R: Juny, Dominic, Vanessa & Raul

Fast forward to the 1st Bohol Dive Expo 2023 last summer where all four had different roles to play. Juny, a seasoned diver and photography buff was in the panel of judges for the underwater photography contest. Dominic, who is currently the president of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce & Industry was one of the event consultants. Raul was one of the writers tasked to prepare the dive magazine as well as program emcee while Vanessa who is currently Bohol's First Lady being the wife of Gov. Aris Aumentado is 2nd District Congresswoman and Vice Chair of the Tourism Committee of the House of Representatives.

 All the memories came back during the opening night of the event where Cong. Aumentado was invited as guest speaker. Members of the press who were there took photos of the instant reunion. What a night to remember.

The Queen & the Emcee

Indeed, pageants can also be platforms where endand mutual trust can be forged not only among the candidates but also among the people behind the event.

Butalid Siblings Host Joint Birthday Celebration

It was a one cool party where everyone had a blast celebrating and toasting the birthday celebrants. Butalid siblings Dominic and Claire took time off from their busy schedules and gathered family, friends and associates to their double celebration held at the Coclea Lounge Bar one balmy evening. The Butalid matriarch, Equit Borja Butalid & siblings Val & Tim & immediate family members made sure that everyone had a good time.    

Butalid siblings Claire & Dominic with friends & classmates

Aside from the the overflowing drinks and the tons of food, there was also live entertainment care of Bo Young, an upcoming acoustic group whose soothing vocals and melodic rhythm were a big hit among the guests. 

BO YOUNG: soothing vocals & awesome musicality

The birthday bash that doubled as a mini- reunion of sorts with guests gravitating towards classmates from the celebrants’ respective batches was a fun & memorable occasion. Their father, the late Atty. Rolando Gatal Butalid, quondam city mayor of Tagbilaran & Bohol governor must have been proud where he is ensconced from up above.

Here are more of the photos from the double birthday bash

Dr. Reuel Relampagos & wife Gryll with Robert, Roxanne & their son John Ethan 

 Dominic Butalid, Roger Gatal with Nelson & Melissa Vargas

 RITZ BOYS REUNION: Lester Sarmiento, Lito Fernandez, 

Dominic Butalid, Rick Arbasto & Sammy Bolanio

HSS ALUMNI. SMB CFO May Lapez Amador, Julius Froilan, & Claire Buttalid.

Standing: Emma Casenas, Dr. Reuel Relampagos, Vince Amador & Meo Inting

WEDDING BELLS SOON. Bohol’s top legal eagle Atty. Popot Marapao & Dr. Jo Anne Liao

Taking a breather from the election sorties were cousins Greggy Gatal & Tim Butalid

Val & Evelyn Butalid, engaged couple Ghen Lumayag & Richie Tabat

 WELCOME HOME. GMA 7 bigwig Doy Gallares & wife Joan flank Pam Gallares  

top dermatologist Dr. Joyce C Castillo & Atty. Meriam Ballener- Tradio with Tito Boy Castillo

Business partners Keith Bumaat & Mark Lim Wong

Your Roving Eye with Dr. Reuel Relampagos & Bobby Uy 

Bambi Casenas, Atty. Cocot Marapao & top eventologist LJ Lumayag

Madge Borja with Ernie & Dolly

2011 Miss Batuan Pageant: The Crowning Moment

The unanimous choice for the crown

When my good friend from college Marietta Adlaon Quesada of Batauan, Bohol LGU gave me a call requesting for my assistance as Project Consultant and Pageant Emcee for the 2011 Miss Batuan Search, I couldn't say no. 

After all, Mommy Mayette, as we fondly called her during our student days is the go- getter type who wouldn't take NO for an answer. Besides, the refreshing and cool clime of the town up in Central Bohol would be a welcome change from the frenetic pace of Tagbilaran City

Endless crisscrossing from Tagbilaran to Batuan and back resulted in a grand and spectacular pageant night that drew mixed reactions from those who witnessed the pageant. Well, partly because so much was at stake in the pageant

The participating barangays and schools that placed in the Top Three were to be given cash incentives to finance or jumpstart any livelihood project or advocacies espoused

Kudos to the very credible set of judges that was never swayed by the very partisan crowd that rooted for the girls. 

In the end, the crown went to the girl who was deemed to have the complete package; beauty, bundles of charm & confidence plus the requisite interview skills.

The name of the winner? Ms Clareziel Digamon Ladringan 

Best in Gown & EJ Designer's Choice is Ms Rizal High School. She was 4th RU

Kristine Logrono, a former college student of mine was the outgoing queen

Bohol First Lady & Chair of Judges Pureza Chatto with the queen

L-R: #15 Ms Rizal High School, 4thRU, # 9 Ms Poblacion Sur, Matet Digamon Calapan 1st RU, Ms Batuan is #10 Ms Quezon Ms Clareziel Digamon Ladringan (Clariz), # 8 Ms Poblacion Norte Rhea Jean Polinar 2nd RU, # 1 Ms Santa Cruz Ms Shiela Dantes 3rd RU

Photo Credits:  Jojit Lanas

                             Glenboi Photography

Here is the link to the 2011 Miss Batuan Pageant Parade of Festival Costumes:

2011 Miss Batuan Pageant Parade of Festival Costumes

2011 Miss Batuan Casual Wear & Interviews

Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan and management consultant Dominic Butalid were among the judges

Former Bohol Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Norris Oculam was one of the judges

Photo Credits:

Jojit Lanas