Imagine a Whole Day Bohol Tour with Ara Arida

It still feels surreal every time I remember those two days spent with a Bb Pilipinas titleholder whose Miss Universe journey I closely followed.

 

 FAB FOUR: Atty Dan, Ara, Your Blogger & Bessieright at the Loboc River Cruise terminal

So when she came here in Bohol to judge Miss Panglao with hotand fast- rising designer & style expert Bessie Besana, I was like wow!It was a dream come true for I had been following her days in Moscow, Russia for two reasons; 

 lunch  on board a Loboc floating resto


   

She was the first Bb Pilipinas- Universe to compete in my first year as blogger and secondly, she was like my hot favorite to win the Gold Edition of the country’s longest- running national beauty competition

And up close & personal, she doesn't disappoint. She truly is alluring especially with those piercing eyes.

Anyway, here are more photos during the Bohol tour that had Bessie and another judge, the cool Rotarian lawyer Atty. Danny Gapasin 

 the first meeting took place at Alona Tropical Resort's beachfront  

right at the Bilar Man- Made Forest

After the whole day Bohol countryside tour, it was straight back to Alona Tropical Resort where everyone was busy prepping up for the pageant.

At seven pm sharp, I met the members of the judging panel at the resort’s Baybayon Restaurant to brief them on the judging criteria and the guidelines.

  Your Blogger briefs the judges with pageant aims & criteria

  A photo opportunity with Panglao Mayor Nila Montero (lady in white)

 with lifestylebohol writer DJ Arro

And then off we went to the open- air venue of the pageant at the Panglao Town Plaza where the town fiesta activities were being held.

By the way, did Your Blogger mention to you that he also had a wonderful and insightful day talking to Shamcey & her hubby Lloyd Lee? But that’s another story..

 Behold your Queen Ara as she takes a break from her tough job of
being Chairperson of the Board of Judges 

 Thank You Ara for being gracious enough to oblige us and Thank You to Mayor Nila, Sir Ondo, & Aya for the opportunity!

Photo Credits: Atty. Danny Gapasin Jr., Hwan Mendoza & Nestor Daarol

Miss Panglao 2015 Advocacy Projects

The 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant continues the tradition of service to the community that started in 2010 through the collaborative efforts of Panglao Youth Organization & SK Municipal Federation of Panglao under the remarkable leadership of Ms. Aya Montero - former SK Mun. Federated President and MyMadamme Productions.

The 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant is not just another beauty pageant. It is a unique personality search that aims to select Panglao’s ambassadress of goodwill who will also be the spokesperson for the various projects & advocacies of the Youth of Panglao as well as be a positive role model for her peers and for the community

At the same time, the event will be the perfect avenue to focus the spotlight to the different Barangays and schools’ sustainable projects that focus on literacy, environment, entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihood.

By doing so, the event will be able to raise the awareness level on their chosen project proposals

Believing that a beauty queen is a very effective spokesperson, the winners of the 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant would surely be able to give these projects the needed push and attention. 

Now on its sixth year, the advocacy- based pageant, through the efforts of the Local Government Unit of Panglao headed by Hon. Nila Montero & the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Hon. Pedro Fuertes and this year's outreach partners, Bohol Tourist Police- Panglao, PNp-Panglao, Panglao Women's Association (RCC) , MSWD & Rotaract Club of Panglao Island, will now be implementing the various projects & advocacies of the youth of Panglao.

Miss Panglao 2015 girls pose for the camera


 

Meet the 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant Top Three winners. They’re not your typical pageant bettys. They are young empowered ladies who will be the spokespersons for the various projects & advocacies of Panglao’s youth as well as positive role models for their peers and for the Panglao community.

These three ladies will now implement their chosen advocacy projects   that focus on literacy, environment, entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihood using the seed money that were given as part of their pageant prizes.

May this experience be a positive one for the ladies.

Miss Panglao 2015: Kristine Jewel Cruz 
ARBASTO FOUNDATION INC.  

 Advocacy: Preservation and Maintenance of our Beaches and Shorelines

Our beloved Panglao is considered as the “Jewel of the Island” because of the beauty and wonders of our white sandy beaches. I personally witnessed the great benefits that Nature has given to us, Panglaoanons and I am truly grateful and thankful to God. 

 My advocacy will focus on the preservation and maintenance of our beaches and shorelines. I will call the attention of our fellow Panglaoanons to take care of it through cooperation and involvement. One  of the ways is a regular Coastal Clean-up Project that will include seminars and workshops on how to preserve the beauty of Panglao’s coastline.  

Every barangays should create a body that would be responsible for this in cooperation with the LGU particularly the Coastal Resource Management Resource office. Education & proper dissemination of info are the keys for Panglao to live up to its reputation as the Jewel of the Island

  Miss Panglao 2015 1st RU: Bernadette Tabaniag
SAN AGUSTIN ACADEMY

Advocacy: Youth Empowerment “Hero through Sports"

I have observed that today’s generation faces a lot of problems; drug addiction, teenage pregnancies and the out of school youth. I believe that in solving those problems, we should start with the little things through our initiative.

“Hero through Sports”, this means that the youth can be heroes by being physically fit through sports. Like basketball and volleyball leagues for both men and women, sports activities that can lead us into a stronger, tougher and wiser version of ourselves.

A version who can easily take the mile long journey towards the success of our town Panglao.

 Miss Panglao 2015 2nd RU: Cynthia Mariss Caguioa
ROTARY CLUB OF PANGLAO ISLAND

Advocacy: Maintaining the Ecological Balance in Panglao

As we head to the top as one the Philippines’ premier tourist destinations, I will conduct an information campaign to increase the community’s  level of  awareness with regards to the importance of preserving & protecting our environment in order  for the future generations to enjoy what we are experiencing right now.

ADVOCACY- FOCUSED MISS PANGLAO PAGEANT

By the time that I am blogging this, the Miss Panglao organizers headed by its founder Aya Montero are busy coordinating with the Panglao LGUas they go over the technical details & budgeting for the girls’ advocacy projects. 

Deo Guden, the Pageant Director together with Kris Acero, Technical Head will oversee the implementation of the projects during the year of reign for the girls. Quarterly monitoring& evaluation will also be in place to ensure the projects’ success.

Talk about empowering young women to be pro- active & involved in community affairs.

Way to go Miss Panglao!

Talent Competition Highlights from Miss Panglao 2015

This I have to declare: The Talent Competition of Miss Panglao is definitely in a league of its own. From the moment Deo Guden, Miss Panglao Pageant Director since 2011 handed me the program guide & script and went over the stage blocking & sequences in the morning, I already knew that something special was going to happen in the evening.

L-R: Miss Danao, Miss SAGA & Miss Tangnan


 

It was a professionally- handled and well- planned pre- pageant activity. Mr. Guden informed me that the production staff was composed mostly of young Panglaoanon residents from backstage crew, propsmen, stage directors & usherettes. It made sense to me for the experience of being part of such a big event would give them valuable lessons and insights that would be handy for future activities.

Aya Montero, the Miss Panglao Pageant founder shared with me that the Onstage Personality Interviews would be incorporated during the Talent Competition so that the pageant finals would not stretch way beyond the wee hours of the morning.

The Panel of Judges chaired by HNU professor Mrs. Rose Rara was composed of  Dr. Roque Bongcac, Dr. Louie dela Serna, Mae Ann Ramasola & fashion designer EJ Relampagos.

After the welcome remarks from Panglao Mayor Nila Montero and Miss Panglao Founder Aya Montero, the Talent Competition then commenced followed immediately with the Onstage Personality Interviews.

The top three scorers for Miss Talent were then proclaimed with the reminder that the Miss talent award recipient would be announced during the pageant finals.

The Miss Talent Top Three were# 10 Miss Tangnan Jonalyn Melleza, # 12 Miss Danao Diane Cumayas and # 13 Miss San Agustin Academy Bernadette Tabaniag .

Other local pageants can learn a thing or two from the Miss Panglao organizers' handling of the talent competition

Miss Panglao Founder Ms. Aya Montero 

 # 10 Miss Tangnan Jonalyn Melleza

 # 12 Miss Danao Diane Cumayas

 # 13 Miss San Agustin Academy Bernadette Tabaniag 

Happy Birthday Ryan Sines, Bohol's Mane Maven to the Stars

Today is the 26th birthday of Ryan Sines, one of  Bohol’s top mane mavens! And since it is his birthday, here's the perfect birthday tribute to what he does best!   

Ryan poses with Binibini beauties


  

When the two Miss Universe runners up ShamceySupsup- Lee and Ara Arida requested for a hairstylist to do their hair for Miss Panglao 2015, Your Roving Eye recommended Ryan Sines for the job knowing that he also did the hair of another Miss Universe runner up Venus Raj during Miss Panglao 2013. 

And here are the photos of Ryan in action at the Alona Tropical Beach Resort in Alona Beach. Panglao, Bohol where both titleholders were billeted.  

All these were made possible because of the Miss Panglao organizers especially the Montero family and Deo Guden the project director who trusted his creativity . His unique brand of humor is also a bonus and never fails to ease up people around him

2013 Miss Universe Philippines Ara Arida

2011 Miss Universe Philippines Shamcey Supsup- Lee

that's Lloyd Lee at the background!

2010 Miss Universe Philippines Venus Raj

 Always keep reaching for the stars Nayr but keep both feet firmly on the ground! 

Cheers! 

When the Boholano Blogger Finally Met the 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up!

When Your Blogger first caught sight of Ariella Ara Arida during the early days leading to the 2013 Bb Pilipinas Gold Edition, it was a journey like no other. While other pageant websites, experts, fans and bloggers rarely had her as a favorite or a frontrunner, Your Blogger thought otherwise.

 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant Chairman of the Board of Judges

There was that something about Ara that I knew would get her the nod of the esteemed panel of judges and get into the good graces of Madame SMA or Stella Marquez Araneta, founder of the country’s longest- running and most prestigious beauty competition

 

 Encounter of a Lifetime, August 24, 2015, Alona Beach

Was it Ara’s smoky eyes and piercing stare? Or was it perhaps the bewitching and beguiling charm of the Laguna lass that made the difference?

A day or so before the Gold Edition winners were to be crowned, Your Blogger came up with his list of probable winners and had Ara rounding out his choices as His Sentimental Favorite.

The rest is history as they say and Ara went on to represent the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow, Russia where she became the first & only Filipina to have topped both the swimsuit competition & the worldwide online fan voting.

 Ara Arida is 2013 Miss Universe 3rd Runner Up

Anyway, who would have known that Your Blogger would finally get the chance to meet her up close and personal? The 2015 Miss Panglao Pageant made it all happen. Not for a few minutes nor for an hour but for three unforgettable days in Alona Beach, Panglao, Bohol. 

Let the photos speak for the surreal experience

 with Ara Arida during Chocolate Hills Tour 

goofing with Bessie Besana, Atty Dannt Gapasin Jr & Ara
Bilar Man- Made Forest, Bilar, Bohol  

 enjoying the Loboc River Cruise 

 before boarding time 

  before the Judges' Briefing
Baybayon Restaurant, Alona Tropical Beach Resort
Photo Credits: DJ Arro

When Bessie and Mikee Met in Miss Panglao 2015

Miss Panglao 2015 Pageant  was honored to have been graced by two fashion designers who are also actively involved in pageantry.

 Your Blogger with Bessie & Mikee

Long before we met by chance at the Henann Resort poolside for the swimsuit shoot of Miss Bohol 2015, I already knew from top pageant blogger Norman Tinio  that Mark Bessie Besana is a pageant coach & one of the stabilizing forces of Aces & Queens, the beauty camp that has produced not only Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon & Ara Arida who all achieved a Miss Universe Top Five placement from 2010 to 2013 ut also the Philippines’ first & only Miss World care of Megan Young in 2013.

Bessie revealed to me that he was based overseas for a corporate job before making the big career switch to pageant mentoring & fashion designing.

 Bessie Besana gown for Shamcey 

 and a Bessie Besana jumpsuit for Ara 

For their Miss Panglao 2015 judging duties, Ara wore Bessie Besana’s stretch floral and black jumpsuit that creates a perfect illusion of height. Shamcey wore a  ruched off shoulder red gown with crochet applique. 

Gayle Yu & Toni Gonzaga wear Mikee Andrei

 Marian Grace in a Mikee Andrei during Miss Silka Philippines 2014

On the other hand, Mikee Andrei is a Manila- based designer who is a homegrown Boholano talent. The current President of the Fashion Designer Alliance Manila (FaDAL) has always been supportive of the thriving pageant and fashion industry in Bohol through wardrobe sponsorship and sitting as member of the panel of judges during pageants being staged in some of Bohol’s 47 towns and the lone city of Tagbilaran.

Mikee also supported Bohol’s entry Marian Grace Malubay during her Miss Silka Philippines 2014 stint in Manila last year. This summer, the designer also extended support to Gayle Yu through mentoring at Kagandahang Flores beauty camp and wardrobe assistance when she represented Calape, Bohol in the 2015 Miss Philippines Earth national finals.

God bless Bessie & Mikee!