Miss Bohol 1995: Irah Noemi Naron

Now Mrs. Noemi Naron- Seno

A rigid screening was conducted to ensure that whoever would be chosen from among the selected official candidates for Miss Bohol Sandugo would meet the minimum requirements & qualifications set by Mutya ngPilipinas, the nationwide search that selects its candidates by region

Chosen as  the Eight Official Candidates were the following beauties: Mary Ann Apat, Anna Liza Bolacho/ Polache, Shiela Sumalinog, Sarena Leoncia Cabagnot, Irah Noemi Naron, Perlita Pascua, Josephine Varquez, Darlene Zapatos, and Liwliwah Bolotaolo

Pageant Night  was July 16, 1995, DWCT Gym

BEAUTY FROM BACLAYON

 Miss Bohl Sandugo 1995 & Runners Up

It was the gorgeous girl from Baclayon named Irah Noemi Naron who was declared the fairest of them all. She also scooped the Best in Casual Wear, Best In Swimsuit & Best In Long Gown on her way to clinch the Miss Bohol 1995 crown. Noemi is the daughter of George Ipong- Naron & Norma Ramo- Naron.

HER RUNNERS UP: Named 1^st Runner Up was Miss Jagna Shiela Sumalinog & 2^nd Runner Up was Miss Dauis Liwliwah Bolotaolo . Interestingly, both her runners up are now working as international flight attendants.

CROWNED AS MUTYA NG PILIPINAS CENTRAL VISAYAS 1996

After winning the 1995 Miss Bohol Sandugo title, she represented Bohol Province the following year in the Region 7 Preliminary for the 1996 Mutya ng Pilipinas Pageant

She bested a field of gorgeous leggy beauties from all over Central Visayas and soon after, flew to Manila for the national finals

Her short cropped hair gave her a distinct look that set her apart from the other girls. Her delicate mestiza features and quiet understated elegance made the judges sit up and notice her.

Boholanos who watched the live telecast   were extremely delighted when she was picked by the panel of judges as Best in Evening Gown, a very important special award

Delight turned to jubilation when her name was called as one of the Top Ten semifinalists from a field of 24 beauties.

Mutya ng Pilipinas 1996 Top Ten Finalist

Would Noemi Naron finally break the long drought for Boholanas in the Mutya ng Pilipinas Pageant?

She gave her best in the Question & Answer portion that followed but apparently, her best wasn’t enough to propel her to the Final Five

She may not have clinched a Mutya ng Pilipinas crown or runner up placement but it was a noteworthy and sterling performance by a Boholana in a national pageant

It would take exactly 20 long years before a Miss Bohol Sandugo queen would finally win the province’s first national beauty title and second Best in Evening Gown special award but this time, in Mutya ng Pilipinas’ rival pageant, the Binibining Pilipinas

VIDEOS OF NOEMI'S MUTYA PERFORMANCE

Noemi in her Mutya Intro

Noemi in her Mutya Swimsuit performance

Noemi in her Mutya Gown performance 

that won her the Best in  Gown special award

AFTER THE PAGEANT

After crowning her successor Lianne Reyes Canoy of Maribojoc in July 1996, she concentrated in her studies and graduated from DWCT with a BS Commerce major in Banking & Finance in 1997

On May 18, 2002 at the Immaculate Concepcion Church, Baclayon,Bohol, Noemi exchanged lifetime vows with Atty. Nilo V. Seno with whom she has two children; Katryn Anika, 12 and Mathew Anakin, 9.

When asked how she was able to retain her beauty & figure 20 years after her beauty queen days, she revealed “ a loving family & an active& healthy lifestyle. In between her work as a Prulife UK financial consultant,she has participated in two all- women 50 km ultra marathons in 2012 and 2013.

I will add another factor to her beauty secret “it’s in the genes”

My Other Fave Bb Pilipinas Girl

# 39 Mutya Datul from Isabela is my ultimate bet this year

She is deemed to be the prettiest in this year's Bb. Pilipinas the Gold Edition. She has everything going for her. She's got the face, the body, the moves and the charm.

However, she is already being maligned for her perceived inability to express herself in fluent English. 

Here's how she answered the Top Ten Q & A in last year's Mutya ng Pilipinas and you be the judge:

          

 

My take on this? This is a beauty pageant NOT a quiz bowl. If she wants to represent the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant, then answer the final question in Filipino.

So what do you think guys? I want to hear from you. Please leave a comment

Who knows? She just might make history as the first Filipina to answer in Filipino during the final Q & A in Miss Universe!

Good luck Mutya ng Binibini! 

SCHEDULE OF 2013 BB. PILIPINAS TELECAST IN ABS CBN:

Sunday, April 7 10 pm "2013 Bb Pilipinas Pageant: The Primer"

Sunday, April 14 10 pm "2013 Bb. Pilipinas Coronation Night"  

Photo Credits:

Miss Philippines Beyond 2013

Edmund Chua OPMB

Jory Rivera OPMB

1999 Miss Bohol Sandugo: Ria Nina & Jenifer

Year 1999 proved to be one of the most competitive editions of Miss Bohol Sandugo.

With the first- ever Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK 1999) taking place in July that year to coincide with the Sandugo Festival, pageant organizers were pressured for TBTK was also launching the first Miss Bohol International Pageant.

With the first- ever Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK 1999) taking place in July that year to coincide with the Sandugo Festival, pageant organizers were pressured for TBTK was also launching the first Miss Bohol InternationalPageant. 

To be staged only a week apart, it was inevitable that people would talk and compare both pageants.

The Rotary Club of Tagbilaran was designated by the Bohol Sandugo Foundation, Inc. to organize the annual beauty spectacle. The club scoured the entire province, met the town mayors, school administrators and govt. agencies to invite them to send candidates. Sixteen girls from all over the province who met the minimum requirements were named as official candidates.

EARLY FAVORITES

The top favorite was Maria Ria Nina Cubillo who first joined the pageant in 1997. She had generated some buzz already for she had placed in the 1999 Miss Mandaue Pageant two months earlier. 

Other faves were Miss Catigbian Jenifer Apayor Ejoc, Miss Tagbilaran Marime Marapao who exuded the Julia Roberts vibes, Miss Loay Kristal Lim who would later on win the 2001 Miss University of Bohol title, the stunning Eurasian beauty from Alicia, Jane Eurlings and the vivacious and sultry Miss Tubigon Rosemary Baura.

The town of Alburquerque sent an exquisite chinita porcelain doll Liezl Tinio who reminded everyone of Miriam Quiambao who won the Miss Universe 1st RU title that year.

Another worthy contender was the voluptuous Jan Varquez Morisawa of Loboc who had flawless skin, impeccable English and an angelic face

BOARD OF JUDGES

Even the line-up of judges was impressive. The Spice Boys from Congress composed of Ace Barbers, Mike Defensor and Miguel Zubiri were among the 17 high- profile panelists who were tasked with choosing Bohol’s fairest who would reign during that year’s Sandugo Festival

Maximiel Tallo, Bohol’s mega designer & eventologist, choreographed and directed the entire show. After the girls competed in the swimsuits, evening gowns and interviews, the names of the Top Ten were revealed

TOP TEN

As far as I can remember , making the Top Ten were Miss ABENA, Miss Tubigon, Miss Loboc, Miss Panglao, Miss Loay, Miss Tagbilaran City, Miss Candijay, Miss Alicia, Miss Catigbian. I forgot the name of the 10th finalist. You have to understand that all these pageant night data have been culled from my memory bank.

Who can recall the name of that girl?

The biggest upset and most shocking moment of the night was the non- inclusion of heavy favorite Liezl Tinio from Alburquerque.

Time has proven that Liezl should have been up there in the Top Ten. Today, she even looks more stunning and more sophisticated. 

The Fabulous Final Five

THE MAGIC FIVE

After another round of interviews, the next cut was made and the following advanced to the final round: the crowd favorites Miss ABENA, Miss Alicia, Miss Catigbian and Miss Tagbilaran City confirmed their frontrunner status when they all made the Top Five.

A pleasant surprise was Miss Candijay, the morena beauty Jake Cadorna who came out from nowhere to snatch the fifth and final spot. To date, Jake still holds the record as the highest placed Candijaynon in Miss Bohol.

The first Candijaynon to place was Haidee Ingking back in 1991 where she was 4th RU

After the final question, the judges then deliberated and compared notes. The lengthy discussion only heightened the tension inside the jampacked DWCT Gym.

After Josely Yap Ferniz, 1998 Miss Bohol Sandugo, made her farewell walk, the final results were announced.

THE FINAL RESULTS:

The announcement of winners was made in reverse order. Named 3rd RU was Miss Tagbilaran City, 2nd RU was Miss Candijay and 1st RU was Miss Alicia, The last two girls left onstage were Miss Catigbian and Miss ABENA.

 

The final announcement proved to be anti- climactic for both girls were already assured of a title each. It was just a matter of assigning the right girl for the Bb. Pilipinas and Mutya ng Pilipinas pageants. 

3^rd RU, MB Mutya, MB Binibini, 1^st RU, 2^nd RU

TWO MISS BOHOL SANDUGO QUEENS FOR 1999:

For the first and ONLY time in Miss Bohol Sandugo’s history, two ladies were crowned as Miss Bohol Sandugo with the two titles of equal importance for the two new beauty queens were to be Bohol’s automatic bets to Bb. Pilipinas and Mutya ng Pilipinas, then the two most important national pageants in the Philippines

Incidentally, both girls declined to enter their respective national pageants because of their priority on education

LA NINA BONITA

Pageant experience gave Maria Ria Nina Cubillo of Calape who represented the Association of Bohol Executives of National Agencies (ABENA) headed then by Rtn. Fancy Baluyot the Miss Bohol Sandugo- Bb. Pilipinas title. She first joined Miss Bohol Sandugo two years earlier where she was selected Miss Photogenic

Her second try for Miss Bohol Sandugo finally gave her the crown. The 5’9” Latina- looking stunner also won the Best in Swimsuit & Best in Evening Gowns. She was also declared Miss Photogenic.

Today, she is happily married to Jun Datoy and are blessed with kids. They operate the successful Pidro's Fastfood Village and Ang Lechon Manok ni Sr. Pedro

JENIFER APAYOR- EJOC

Another tall and willowy beauty, Jenifer Apayor Ejoc gave the Municipality of Catigbian, her hometown, its first Miss Bohol title when she was named the 1999 Miss Bohol Sandugo- Mutya ng Pilipinas

Aside from the coveted crown, Jen also won a handful of corporate awards.

Jenifer eventually finished her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree in 2001 and took her BSED qualifying thereafter so that makes her a double bachelor’s degree holder.

She then took her Masters in Public Administration but decided to take a break.

Love beckoned and she tied the knot with her college sweetheart Dustin Michael Sarmiento in April 2003. They have two kids, Dana Mariaye and Diana Mave.

She resumed her educational pursuit and so took her Masters in Political Science at the Cebu City- based University of San Carlos.

Today, the family is based in the Middle East where both husband and wife are currently working.