Marisel Bumaat: 1980 DWCT Summer Queen

PAGEANTS DURING THE 80'S

Back then when Tagbilaran City was just a sleepy and quiet place where life was in perpetual slow motion, beauty pageants were some of the most anticipated events to look forward too

One such pageant was the Search for the 1980 DWCT Summer Queen.

DWCT of course refers to Divine Word College now Holy Name University. The competition focused on the college girls who were taking up summer classes that year

Marisel Bumaat, the eldest of the late Pampyong Bumaat and MaamOfelia Bag-ao Bumaat, was selected the fairest among the winsome ladies who competed during that one- time pageant held at the campus gymnasium

It was such a big event that even Tagbilaran City Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha took time off from his hectic schedule and accepted the invitation to crown the winning beauty 

Marisel Bumaat during her crowning moment

with Lety Tinampay 1976 Miss DWCT & 
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha

with DWCT President Fr. Ted Gapuz SVD 
& Liberal Arts College Dean Nieves Matig-a

BOUNTIFUL BEVY OF BEAUTIES

Among the ladies who competed were Virginia Timaan, Alice Paylado and my sister Marcel Gatal. Virgie was 1st RU and my sister Marcel Gatal was 4th RU

Ate Marisel who is now Mrs. Bomediano is presently residing in Paranaque after being based abroad for many years

Paging Emily or Maam Ofelia for some additional photos.

Thanks in advance

THE SUMMER OF MARISEL'S LIFE

Thank you Ate Marisel for the wonderful memories

Remembering Nong Ondoy Rocha

 Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha

Today marks the First Death Anniversary of the well- loved and highly- respected former Tagbilaran City Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha

Grief, bereavement and a collective sense of loss was felt not only in Tagbilaran City but also in the province of Bohol when news came out that Nong Ondoy had passed away.

He was 91

Before he became mayor of Tagbilaran City, he worked for President Carlos P. Garcia in Malacanang as Presidential Executive Assistant.

When Pres. Garcia didn’t succeed in his presidential re- election bid in December 1961, Nong Ondoy and family went home to Bohol

When the 1963 local election came, both of the opposing parties wanted him to either be the standard bearer or running mate for municipal mayor of Tagbilaran.

He firmly but politely declined.

Three years later when Tagbilaran became a city, Mr. Jose Ma. Rocha accepted the offer to become the Secretary of the First City Council of Tagbilaran

 Nong Ondoy Rocha watches as Pres. Garcia shakes hands

with Pres. Macapagal before they left for Macapagal's 

Presidential Inauguration, December 1961

Armed with the experience and emboldened with the desire to serve the Tagbilaranons, he ran for City Councilor and came out as Numero Uno Konsehal.

This feat would be duplicated in the 1971 elections.

He was on his way to a higher calling when Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972.

Ultimately, he was appointed by then President Ferdinand Marcos as City Mayor in 1978

He was elected by Tagbilaranons as City Mayor and served the city from 1992 to 1995. 

Mayor Rocha and Miss DWCT 1976 Lety Tinampay 
crowns Marisel Bumaat as DWCT Summer Queen of 1980

After working as consultant for various government offices, he quietly retired but from time to time, he would speak his mind out when crucial issues concerning Tagbilaran City would come out

Coming Up:

The reminiscence and recollection on the kind of man and public official Nong Ondoy was as intimated to me by Maam Hospicia Matuod Evardone, mother of two Miss Tagbilaran titleholders; 1991’s Joanna Cheryl Evardone and 1994’s Vanessa Joyce Evardone who would later be crowned the 1994 Miss Bohol Sandugo.

She is also the mother of 1994 Miss Tagbilaran 2nd Runner Up Michelle Evardone now Dr. Sarigumba

1976 Miss DWCT: Lety Tinampay

1976 Miss DWCT: Lety Tinampay 

To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Holy Name University, Bohol's leading Catholic university, I was tasked to track the whereabouts of the past & present titleholders and trace the history of the pageant particularly during its Golden Age in the 60's and 70's and then present an audio visual presentation during the celebration's culminating activity .

One of the very first to respond to the gargantuan task was the ever gracious and well- bred Lety Tinampay who was kind and considerate enough to lend me her memorabilia and even took time to answer my questions related to the search.

Here are excerpts of my interview with the unforgettable Lety Tinampay, Miss DWCT 1976.

(Note: DWCT is Divine Word College- Tagbilaran City now Holy Name University)

An Interview with Miss DWCT 1976 Ms. Lety Tinampay- Te:

Tell us how you ended up joining the search for Miss DWCT 1976? Can you share the story behind your reluctant participation? 

"1976 was the year I was involved with the selection for MS. DWC-T. I was called by the Dean of the College of Commerce Mrs. Praxedes Lopena and was told that I was chosen to represent our college in the annual search for Miss DWCT.

When I told my parents about it, they did not like the idea especially my father, Atty. Sulpicio A. Tinampay. So, I told our Dean that I cannot join.

Then, when I came home one night from school, I was surprised to see our Dean Ma'am Praxedes Lopena ,together with the rest of the faculty members of the College of Commerce, at our house to see my parents and to try convincing them to allow me to join.

Consequently, Pa and Ma couldn't say no to them, but with some restrictions on my participation to the contest. I was not allowed to wear tube without strap. So, you will notice that I was the only one among the candidates wearing tube with straps.

The school shouldered the cost of of our attire for the final night of the selection of MS. DWC-T Personality. The candidates' gowns, shorts and tube and another set of attire for the night of the final selection of MS. DWC-T Personality."

Do you still remember your final question and how you answered it? 

"The Miss DWCT Pageant was held at the time when Martial Law was at its peak after Marcos' declaration.

My question coming from the Chairman of the Board of Judges:

Q: Are you in favor of lifting up Martial Law NOW. If you are in favor give your reason WHY and if not in favor WHY NOT?

My straight-to-the- point answer with no Ahs and no Ohs:

"NO, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF LIFTING UP MARTIAL LAW NOW SINCE THE PEOPLE ARE STILL ADJUSTING FROM THE OLD SOCIETY TO THE NEW SOCIETY. WE HAVE TO GIVE TIME FOR THINGS TO SETTLE DOWN. THANK YOU"

Letty Tinampay would always be remembered as one of the most elegant Miss DWCT winners who reigned during the golden years of pageantry in Divine Word College of Tagbilaran City

 1976 Miss DWCT with Jimmy Tinampay

The Royal Dance was a very important highlight of campus beauty pageants during those years. It was an opportunity for the beauty queen not only to showcase her grace and style but also to introduce an important man in her life and in this case, among her siblings, it was Jimmy who was her consort AND dance partner as well

I am pretty sure that with almost everyone in Tagbilaran focused on them that very moment, it would be the night that both brother and sister would never ever forget

During those innocent years, one of the most awaited segments especially for the male students was the Parade in Shorts

Crowning the queen is the very first Miss HNC, the now deceased Mrs. Pastora Mendoza Visarra 

  

Atty. Sulpicio A. Tinampay, one of Bohol's most well- known and admired lawyers was a very proud father that night and ,together with Lety's sister Miriam, went onstage to turn over the queen's cape after she was declared MS. DWC-T, 1976

Resplendent in her majestic float during the 1976 DWCT College Days Floral Parade, Lety was the undisputed star and headturner of the parade

During her farewell walk as MS.DWCT 1976-1977 and to relinquish her crown and trophy to the 1977 MS. DWCT Joji Almiranez from the High School Department 

 Miss DWCT Lety Tinampay: Part 2

crowning Marisel Bumaat as
DWCT Summer Queen with
 then Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha


 

Lety Tinampay and beloved former mayor of Tagbilaran City, Jose Maria " Ondoy " Rocha crown the lovely Marisel Bumaat as the winner of the 1980 DWCT Summer Queen Search, a campus beauty pageant that selected the fairest of the coeds who were taking summer classes that year

Lety,who comes from one of the most socially- prominent clans of Tagbilaran City,surely epitomized beauty, brains AND breeding.

She would always be remembered as one of the classiest Miss DWCT winners ever

                                    History of Miss HNU/ DWCT Beauty Queens 

This is the AVP that I created for the HNU Diamond Jubilee back in 2007 Script & Narration : Raul Phillip Gatal Editing : Eddie Alfarero