Meet the Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival 2021 Grand Winners

It was a unique way of mounting the Hudyaka sa Panglao Festival 2021 Ritual Dance contest.

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero 

With strict implementation of the safety protocols like social distancing, safety masks and handwashing, the festival came up with a virtual edition where only the ritual dance category was retained. 

All ten barangays of Panglao sent a dance contingent each with a reduced number of dancers. 

With the shift from face- to- face interaction and live performances to cable TV viewers and users of social media like FB Live and YouTube, dance trainors, choreographers & barangay officials had to recalibrate and adjust their respective presentations to get the judges' nod and audience approval without losing the essence of the contest. 

The video presentations were also a great way of promoting the barangays' places of interest as they also showcased their white sandy beaches, swanky resorts, businesses and famed landmarks like the watch tower, the parish church and their international airport. 

The three- hour event which showcased all pre- taped presentations was beamed as a live presentation from Panglao Cultural Center with only the town & barangay officials led by Mayor Nila Montero, contest judges, the event emcees, technical crew and safety marshalls in attendance. 

The panel of judges chaired by multi awarded director & choreographer  Victor Hao Cuenca also had socialite Lady Cely Chiongbian, cultural impresario Marianito Luspo, arts & culture advocate Fiel Araoarao-Gabin and dance diva Nila Itac as members. 

Spicing up the event were the national & provincial officials who gave video greetings In between the presentations. 

Named Grand Champion for the third straight year was Brgy. Bil-isan led by Capt. Albert Bompat and Justine Milay as Best Choreographer

Grand Champions

Brgy. Bil-isan also scooped four special awards, namely; Best Andas, Best Choreography, Most Creative Interpretation and Best Hudyaka Ambience. 

Rounding out the top five winners were 1st RU Brgy. Bolod, 2nd RU Brgy. Poblacion, 3rd RU Brgy. Tangnan and 4th RU Brgy. Danao. 

1st RU: Brgy. Bolod

2nd RU: Brgy. Poblacion 

3rd RU: Brgy. Tangnan 

4th RU: Brgy. Danao

Other special awards were Best AVP to Brgy. Bolod and Best Festival Costume to Brgy. Danao. 

All the winners & non- winners received cash prizes, and trophies from Mayor Nila Montero, ABC President Hon. Higenio Lorejo & SK Fed President Jonah Loretero

Brgy. Libaong

Brgy. Tawala 

Brgy. Lourdes

Brgy. Looc

Brgy. Doljo

Beyond the pomp and pageantry, the festival which fused music and colors into one joyous activity was Panglao’s way of giving homage & thanksgiving to their patron saint Sr. San Agustin for the gift of life and for blessings received through his intercession. 

Congratulations to everyone involved! Special thanks to the creative team headed by Junary Cañabano

Emcees: Chandy, Mary Rose & Raul 

Meet the Miss Panglao Queen 2019 Winners

The exciting & spectacular search for a new set of spokespersons for Bohol’s empowered LGBTQ community culminated with the crowning of the new set of Miss Panglao Queen titleholders composed of five beautiful, confident & well- spoken beauties.

France scoops six of the  17 special awards 

FABULOUS FOURTEEN Fourteen lovely transgenders wowed the audience & impressed the judges in three competition areas namely; swimsuits, fantasy costumes and evening gowns. Their scores from these judging areas combined with their scores from the closed- door panel interview determined which contestants will advance to the penultimate round where they had to hurdle the same final question.

Thailand was the flag bearer of Tagbilaran's LGBTQ community

SPONSOR FAVORITES. The beauties from France & Thailand collected 11 of the 17 special awards & corporate titles from the sponsors and thus established themselves as the frontrunners. True enough, France & Thailand advanced to the final round along with PERU, MEXICO, USA, PHILIPPINES & BRAZIL.

Giving the pageant more credibility, prestige and glitter was the special participation of nationally- recognized beauty queens like 2018 Bb Pilipinas- Globe Michelle Gumabao, 2018 Miss InterContinental 1^st RU Katarina Rodriguez, 2017 Reina HispanoAmericana Wynwyn Marquez, 2013 Miss Philippines Earth Angelee delos Reyes, 2016 Miss Bohol & 2017 Miss World Philippines First Princess Glyssa Bingas Perez, 2018 Bb Pilipinas Top 15 Finalist Sandra Lemonon, 2018 Miss Manila 2^nd RU Kristi Banks & 2018 Showtime’s Miss Q & A Juliana Parizkova. They asked each of the seven finalists the same final question through individual video clips.

After responding to the final question “What is the number one problem that is faced by members of the LGBTQ community and as a Miss Panglao Queen titleholder, how do you plan to address that problem?”  the judges had one final deliberation before agreeing on the results.

MEET THE FIVE QUEENS FOR 2019 

2019 QUEENS: L-R:Philippines, Brazil, Thailand, France, Mexico, Peru & USA

Crowned as the 2019 Miss Panglao Queen winners were Miss France Candice Aparicio as MISS UNIVERSE, a 21 year old model under Shutter Model & Talent Management, Cebu City. 
 

Miss Thailand Red Elnas as MISS WORLD, Miss Mexico Ericka Panoga as MISS INTERNATIONAL, Miss Brazil Win Heart Mejias as MISS EARTH and Miss Peru  Princess Johanna Datul as MISS TOURISM.  

Named as finalists were Miss USA Angelia Godfrey and Miss Philippines Mia Danica Martinez.  

THIS YEAR'S TOP WINNER: A sight to behold whether on or off the stage

SPECIAL AWARDS & CORPORATE TITLES. The top two winners also scooped the most number of  awards. Miss France was Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, Miss Philippine Travel Factory Inc. , Miss Island View Holiday Villas, Miss Supreme Fitness First and Best in Evening Gown. 

the top winner proudly shows off the sashes & floral bouquets

Miss Thailand won the following awards; Miss Mario Leisure Dive Resort, Miss Air Asia, Miss e- Wedding Image Model, Darling of the Crowd and Miss Alona Tropical Beach Resort.

Miss Philippines was named  Best in Production Number and Best in Interview. Miss Peru was Best in Swimsuit and Miss Brave Diver Center Resort Corp. Miss Brazil was Best in Fantasy Costume           while Miss United Kingdom was the Darling of Social Media

MISS PANGLAO QUEEN 2019 WINNERS

NAME	COUNTRY	TITLE
Candice Aparicio	# 9 FRANCE	MPQ-   UNIVERSE
Red Elnas	# 5 THAILAND	MPQ-   WORLD
Ericka Panoga	# 14 MEXICO	MPQ-   INTERNATIONAL
Win Heart Mejias	# 2 BRAZIL	MPQ-   EARTH
Princess Johanna Datul	# 13 PERU	MPQ-   TOURISM
Angelia Godfrey	# 6 USA	Finalist
Ma. Danica Martinez	# 4 PHILIPPINES	Finalist

 COMPETITION AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Best in Fantasy Costume	# 2 BRAZIL
Best in Swimsuit	# 13 PERU
Best in Interview	# 4  PHILIPPINES
Best in Evening Gown	# 9 FRANCE

SPECIAL AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Miss Congeniality	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Photogenic	# 9 FRANCE
Darling of Social Media	# 10 UNITED KINGDOM
Best in Production Number	# 4 PHILIPPINES

 CORPORATE AWARDS

AWARD WON	COUNTRY
Miss Philippine Travel Factory Inc.	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Mario Leisure Dive Resort	# 5 THAILAND
Miss Island View Holiday Villas	# 9 FRANCE
Miss Supreme Fitness First	# 9 FRANC
Miss Brave Diver Center Resort Corp.	# 13 PERU
Miss Air Asia	# 5 THAILAND
Miss e- Wedding Image Model	# 5 THAILAND
Darling of the Crowd	# 5 THAILAND
Miss Alona Tropical Beach Resort	# 5 THAILAND

LIVING A DREAM Given the chance to compete in the annual Miss Panglao Queen pageant was a dream come true for most of the candidates. Coming from diverse backgrounds and with most of them pursuing professional careers and successful in their work and passions, they epitomized the beauty, charm and brains of the LGBT. 

  the evening gown competition would always be the most glamorous part of any pageant

From more than 30 applicants who screened for the contest, fourteen were selected to be part of the 4^th edition of the pageant which has established itself as one if not the most prestigious pageant for transgenders in Bohol. After acceptance as an official entrant, the contestants adhered to the organizers’ strict moral clauses, attend seminars & activities that tackle LGBTQ issues & challenges and to participate in community outreach & advocacy projects.

But more than the chance to glam up and become a beauty queen, it was also the opportunity to bring a voice and awareness to the problems & challenges faced by the LGBTQ community whether it’s discrimination, lack of respect & acceptance, inequality, & violence. Now that is what being an empowered & confidently beautiful individual is all about. 

Councilor Aya Montero poses with the new set of queens

PANGLAO GIVES BACK TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY Panglao Mayor Nila Montero gave her all- out support for the pageant as a way of recognizing the talent and the creativity of the LGBTQ community. In the same vein, Councilor Aya Montero expressed her gratitude for the contribution of the LGBTQ members for their creative genius & talent especially in visual & performing arts.

A jampacked crowd of supporters and pageant fans trooped to the Panglao Island Cultural Center where the empowered LGBTQ community’s best bets were given the chance to shine and bask in the adulation and love from the community. 

Credit goes to Mr. Deo Guden, the pageant’s creative juggernaut who made sure that the contestants & organizers would have nothing but positive reinforcements on self- worth & validation and the adoring cheers from the fans & supporters. 

Aya Montero & Deo Guden join judges Bisnar, Hao, Salinana, Andrei, Aumentado, Relampagos & Yamada

PANEL OF JUDGES was composed of Maria Vanessa Aumentado, Miss Bohol 2001 & First Lady of Bohol’s 2^nd Congressional District & wife to Cong. Erico  Aris  Aumentado.

EJ Relampagos,  Bohol’s Diamond Fashion Guru & inaugural president of the Bohol Designers Circle & the brains behind the Tagbilaran Fashion Week

Vanity Kintanar Salinana, 2010 Mandaue Carnival Queen & 2012 Queen of Cebu Universe, London, UK- based artist

Victor Cuenco Hao, artistic director & choreographer of the University of Cebu Dance Company, ambassador of goodwill to international events & world cultural festivals, chairman & artistic director of the yearly Sinulog Grand Finale, the Sinulog Festival Queen search & the recently- concluded Binibining Cebu 2018, NCCA Commissioner on Dance & managing director of VHC Productions.

Addy Yee Bisnar arts & culture connoisseur, festival & competition judge, adviser of internationally- acclaimed University of Cebu Dance Company & the Don Juan Hip Hop Group & CPA & MBA degree holder from Southern California

Ms. Marjoe Yamada, fashionista, university professor and behind fine dining restaurant Persona Mesa voted consistently by TripAdvisor travelers as one of Bohol’s 10 best restaurants 

Chairperson of the panel of judges was Mikee Andrei, fashion designer, regular contributor of Wedding Essentials Magazine, Aces & Queens head stylist & designer to renowned national beauty queens