Miss Ubay 2007 To Represent The Philippines in the 2018 Miss Intercontinental Pageant

Karen Boyonas Gallman 

Year 2017 was unprecedented when two Boholanas emerged as runners up in two of the biggest national pageants in the country. 
Glyssa Bingas Perez placed as 1^st Princess in the 2017 Miss World Philippines pageant while Catherine Cadayona Tabaniag was a runner up & Top Ten finisher in the 2017 Miss Philippines Earth Pageant.

This year 2018 has proven to be a bumper harvest for Boholana beauty queens who competed in the nationals. Bohol produced three national titleholders.

ANOTHER BB. PILIPINAS TITLEHOLDER. After Anna Maris Igpit- Taylor and Amanda Arles both from Panglao, Bohol were crowned 2006 Bb. Pilipinas- World & 2014 Miss SCUBA Philippines, Bohol produced another national beauty queen when Karen Juanita Boyonas Gallman who traces her roots in Ubay, Bohol was crowned as 2018 Bb Pilipinas- Intercontinental.

 Karen during the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 Pageant finals

Incidentally, the Miss Intercontinental 2018 pageant will be held in the Philippines with more than 80 delegates expected to participate in the 47th edition of Miss Intercontinental. Pageant finals is set for January 26, 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

  Karen was Miss Ubay 2007 but didn't compete in Miss Bohol

Miss Intercontinental has proven to be elusive to Fiipina beauties. The closest we had to winning was the 1^st Runner Up finish of both Katarina Rodriguez early this year and Christi Lynn Mc Garry back in 2015. Shall we see the crowning of a Boholana as the first Filipina Miss Intercontinental? We shall find out soon. 

Karen Sizzles in Her Swimsuit Shoot

Photo Credits: Raymond Saldana Photography

Karen was born in Sept 27, 1992 in Ubay, Bohol to retired World War II German soldier Gavin William Gallman and a native from Bohol Editha Boyonas. She had her formative years in Bohol where she also had her primary school education. 

Karen as Miss Ubay 2007
photo credit: Atty. Janice Parilla

The family later migrated to Brisbane, Australia. She has a degree in Business Arts major in Management at the Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia.

PART TWO IS COMING UP!

Boholana is Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2018!

Finally, after 12 long years, another Boholana won for Bohol its second Bb Pilipinas crown. Karen Juanita Boyonas Gallmann who traces her roots in Ubay was officially crowned as Bb Pilipinas- Intercontinental 2018 and will represent the country in the Miss Intercontinental pageant. 

Ms. Gallman was one of six Bb Pilipinas titleholders who were crowned in glittering ceremonies at the SMART Araneta Coliseum last weekend.

Forty beauties from all over the country competed during the pageant finals after hurdling the series of screenings. From the 40 candidates, 25 advanced to the swimsuit and evening gown rounds. 

The ladies were whittled further to the top fifteen who underwent the Q & A. A lengthy deliberation by the judges & the organizers then followed before the announcement of winners.

Ms. Gallman first competed in the 2012 edition of Bb Pilipinas where she was voted Miss Photogenic and selected as one of the Top Twelve finalists. This year, the 25 year old Business Arts major in Management degree holder from Griffiths University in Brisbane, Australia decided to give Bb Pilipinas another try. An analyst by profession, Ms. Gallman has to put on hold a job offer in London to fulfill her Bb Pilipinas duties and responsibilities.

Karen during the National Costume Show & the Parade of Beauties

Karen was born in Sept 27, 1992 in Ubay, Bohol to retired World War II German soldier Gavin William Gallman and to Editha Boyonas, a native from Bohol. She had her formative years in Bohol where she also had her primary school education. The family later migrated to Brisbane, Australia. 

Pegged by pageant websites and blogs as one of the frontrunners for one of the six crowns at stake, Karen gave a very polished presentation during the pageant night. Her stunning red sequined gown with the fit-and-flare silhouette was one of the sartorial standouts that evening and helped propel her into the final round.

Karen Juanita Boyonas Gallmann is Bb Pilipinas- InterContinental 2018

She gave pageant fans a momentary scare during the Q & A when she gave a tentative answer to the question from Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman “Do you agree that a third restroom should be built for transgenders? Why or why not?” 

Her answer: 

“I definitely agree there should be a third restroom for transgender because us women would like a privacy and also with men, and we have a separate room for the transgender. It just serves as an equality and privatization. Thank you.”

While I am in no position to cast judgment on her answer, Karen should be reminded that for a transgender to achieve equality, she should be given the chance to use the ladies’ restroom.

A friend remarked “Karen may have won a Binibini crown but she just lost favor with the LGBT community”

Hypocritical fans should understand that fluency with the English language is not an assurance that you can express your thoughts fluidly onstage. I believe it was a matter of sheer nerves that got to Ms. Gallmann especially in the make-or- break Q & A portion. 

The Boholana during the 2018 Bb Pilipinas pageant finals

Winning one of the six crowns in one competitive Binibini batch is a big cause for celebration. After the congratulatory hugs and kisses, Your Roving Eye is confident that Karen will buckle down to work and prove to one and all that she is one deserving winner.

Congratulations to the former Miss Ubay 2007 titleholder who is now a Bb Pilipinas queen!

Part 2: Bb Pilipinas Special Award Winners from Bohol

With the 55^th edition of Bb. Pilipinas taking place on March 18, Your Roving Eye will take you to a stroll down memory lane and give the spotlight again to the lovely Boholanas who won a special award or corporate sponsor award in the country's most prestigious beauty pageant.

Special awards are often the barometer used to determine who will most likely end up as the big winners at the conclusion of the coronation night. 

Corporate sponsor awards, on the other hand, indicate who made the best impression on the sponsors.

Here is the elite list of Boholanas who were special awards and corporate sponsor award recipients through the years: Only a handful of Boholanas have placed or made a mark in Bb. Pilipinas. In fact, only five of them have earned the distinction.

Here they are:

LUX LADIES

Three to five outstanding ladies who embody the qualities of Lux beauty soap are named as Lux Ladies during coronation night. More often than not, most if not all of the Lux Ladies end up as the big winners, runners up or finalists.

All five Lux Ladies made it to the Top 15 from a field of 37 beauties

In 1979, Peral Salig became the first of two Lux Ladies from Bohol. She was in good company. The others who made it as Lux Ladies were Criselda “Dang” Cecilio who was crowned Bb Pilipinas- Universe, Perla of course was 1^st Runner Up, Cathy Veloso was 2^nd Runner Up while Tina Orleans and Victoria Garcia made it as finalists.

Taina Manigque

In 1985, the Triumph Court of Fashion model Taina Manigque became the second Boholana to be selected as Lux Lady.

BEST IN EVENING GOWN

Anna Maris Igpit at 18 years old was the picture of elegance

In 2006, Anna Maris Arcay Igpit whose parents hail from Panglao, Bohol was proclaimed Best in Evening Gown. Three years of modeling and pageant experiences helped a lot in the very regal and elegant way that she showcased her evening and you cannot deny her stage presence and youthful charm during that particular segment.  

Candidate # 20 Anna Maris Igpit was a sight to behold in hewr swimsuit

Of course, the Best in Evening Gown award was just icing on the cake for she ended up with the Bb Pilipinas- World crown on her head at the conclusion of the pageant. 

2006 Bb Pilipinas Queens and Runners Up

Photo Credits: NJBP International

MISS TALENT

The first and only Boholana to be named Miss Talent in Bb Pilipinas is Richell Angalot. Her prior experience as 1^st Princess in GMA 7’s Starstruck reality talent search helped a lot as she oozed with confidence and charm during her talent presentation showcased weeks earlier before the pageant night. 

Richell Angalot is Miss Talent

Richell Angalot is Miss Araneta Center's Shoppers' Choice

Richell Angalot is also Miss Natasha Beauty

Aside from the Miss Talent special award, she was also the recipient of two corporate sponsor awards; Miss Natasha Beauty and Araneta Center's Shoppers' Choice.

2009 Bb Pilipinas Queens & Runners Up

Richell eventually finished as 1^st Runner Up.  

MISS PHOTOGENIC

will Karen Gallmann set another record for a second Miss Photogenic title on March 18?

Karen Gallman whose mom hails from Ubay, Bohol is the first and only Boholana to be voted as Miss Photogenic by the mediamen and press photographers who covered the event. Ms. Gallman won the Miss Photogenic title during her first attempt at Bb Pilipinas back in 2012.

Watch for the following BbPilipinas 2018 TV Specials, ABS CBN Channel 2:

Bb Pilipinas 2018 Primer            Sunday, March 11, 9 PM

Bb Pilipinas Pageant Night       Sunday, March 18, 9 PM

Boholana Beauties in Bb. Pilipinas

It's Bb. Pilipinas season once again and so we take a look back into the past and remember the beautiful Boholanas who placed in the country's most prestigious beauty pageant.

Back in 1979, a lovely lady from Loboc, Bohol won 1st RU and was chosen asMiss Lux in the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant and thus became the first Boholana to place in said pageant.

What made her feat truly remarkable was the fact that she made it on her own with no connections whatsoever and it was a very competitive batch that included Criselda Dang Cecilio, Bb Universe, Mimilanie Laurel Marquez who eventually won the 1979 Miss International title and of course the very controversial Ma. Theresa "Si Ako, Si Ikaw" Carlson, Bb. Young International who passed away in the mid- 200's under very mysterious circumstances

The name of this fresh- faced Boholana beauty? Perla Salig

1979 Bb Pilipinas Queens during Perla's time: L-R: Melaniue Marquez, 
Ava Quibranza, Dang Cecilio & Theresa Carlson

Melanie Marquez eventually won Miss International 1979

 Taina Manigque is 3rd from left. Inset is Joyce Ann Burton who won the Bb Universe title

Taina Manigque is the girl in the center

Another Boholana beauty Taina Manigque, a member of the exclusive Mondragon Triumph Court of Fashion, was a Top Fifteen Finalist and Miss Lux Awardee in the 1985 edition of the pageant

Another Boholana, Rich Asuncion, equalled Perla's feat when she also  placed as 1st RU in the 2009 edition of the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant.

Anna Maris Igpit however is the first and so far, the only Boholana to have won a Bb. Pilipinas crown. She ensnared the 2006 Bb. Pilipinas- World crown and represented the country later that year in the Miss World Pageant held in Poland.

She didn't make the cut in the SMS- driven preliminaries but her exotic charms proved to be a big hit in Poland when she was selected by Poland's widely- circulated and most respected paper as one of the "Five Prettiest Miss World Girls for 2006".

Anna Maris Igpit during her triumphant return to Bohol in 2006

INTERESTING TRIVIA ON BOHOLANAS WHO MADE A MARK IN BB. PILIPINAS

1968. Emma Mumar is the first Boholana to place as a Bb. Pilipinas semifinalist which she did in the 1968 edition of the pageant.

1979. Perla Salig is the first Boholana to win a special award in Bb. Pilipinas. She was one of the Three Miss Lux Ladies in 1979.

She is also the first Boholana to place in the winners' circle when she was selected as 1st RU to Criselda "Dang" Cecilio, Bb. Universe that year

 Dr. Rowena is Forever Fabulous 

1982. Rowena Burden ,a brainy & beautiful doctor from Jagna, made it as Top 15 Semi- finalist in 1982.

Her batch included the controversial Maria Isabel Lopez who was crowned Bb. Universe and 1st RU Desiree Verdadero.

With her stunning looks and gift of gab, Ms Burden impressed a lot of pageant watchers and organizers. Right after the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, Rowena was approached by Madame Stella Araneta and was requested to acquire some training and come back the following year.

She declined saying she wanted to pursue her medical degree and she joined mainly for the experience.

The 1st RU Desiree Verdadero heeded Madame's advice, rejoined the pageant two years later, won the Bb. Universe crown and went on to place as 3rd RU in the 1984 Miss Universe Pageant. 

1985. Taina Manigque was a Top 15 Semi- finalist and Miss Lux Lady in 1985. Taina comes from a family of beauty queens.

Her younger sister MariJo was named one of Tagbilaran's Five Prettiest in 1985 and her niece Margo Manigque was crowned Miss Tagbilaran 2006

Anna Maris Igpit is Best in Gown

2006. Anna Maris Igpit of Panglao is the first and only Boholana to have won the Best in Evening Gown award which she won in 2006 enroute to the 2006 Bb. Pilipinas- World title which makes her also as the first and only Boholana to have won a national beauty title

2009. Rich Asuncion is the first and only Boholana to have won the Miss Talent award in Bb. Pilipinas.

She also won two special corporate titles

 Rich Asuncion is the only  Miss Talent

2012. Karen Gallmann of Ubay who competed in the 2012 edition of the pageant is the first and only Boholana to have won the Miss Photogenic title.

Miss Gallmann, a pre- pageant favorite, also ended up as a Top 12 Finalist

Only the Best in Swimsuit special award remains elusive to the Boholana who has competed in Bb. Pilipinas but then as Reigh Monreal, Bohol's foremost beauty pageant connoisseur pointed out recently and if the Wikipedia entry is accurate, then we may have won it already.

 Karen Gallmann: the only Miss Photogenic

 You see, the 1988 Bb. Pilipinas- Universe titleholder Perfida Limpin and who was also selected as Best in Swimsuit listed Tagbilaran City, Bohol as her place of birth

 Perfida Limpin during Parade of Nations
Miss U 1988, Taiwan

 Perfida lists Tagbilaran City as her birthplace

  Ella Evangelista is 2003 Bb Pilipinas 2nd RU

I just found out from fellow Boholano bloggers that Noella "Ella" Evangelista traces her roots in Bohol. Although born and raised in Iligan City, the 5' 9" dusky charmer has Boholano parents so she IS 100% Boholana.

Ms Evangelista was Bb. Pilipinas 2nd RU in 2003 and represented the Philippines in an international beauty tilt, the Queen of Tourism 2004 in Mexico City which she also won.

For the record, the victory in Mexico would make Ms Noella "Ella" Buhion Evangelista as the first and only Boholana to have won an international beauty title

 

2004 Queen of Tourism winner 

With so many European expats settling in Bohol the past few years, it would come as no surprise that the next generation of Boholanos would be a veritable minefield of gorgeous Eurasian girls to complement the surfeit of dusky beauties and stunning Fil- Am girls

Who knows? A future Bb. Pilipinas titleholder just might surface from among these girls in the next decade