Boholano Creates Ripples in Connecticut, USA 8U Baseball Tournament

It was with sheer delight when I caught sight of Miss Tagbilaran of 1993 Sophia Lorraine Alvarez at one of the restaurants in Tagbilaran City. Sophia, who is still as lovely as the day she was crowned the city’s fairest was with hubby Joel Gentallan and sons Christian &Jovani Andrew and Rudy Alvarez, her dad.

 L-R: Your Blogger, Justin, Sophia & Joel

They jetted in all the way from Milford, Connecticut where they have been based since 2004. The Roving Eye was the pageant emcee when Sophia was crowned Tagbilaran’s fairest 21 years ago.  After exchanging a few pleasantries, I asked about her kids and I found out about her older son’s exploits in baseball

JUSTIN IN ACTION

Congratulations to their son Justin Christian and his Milford Baseball Team for besting a field of 18 teams to win the 8U Baseball Connecticut State-Wide Tournament!

So when did it all start? I asked Sophia. Here’s the story in Sophia’s words 

  

 “Justin Christian who was born on August 24, 2005 at Norwalk, Connecticut has been playing baseball since he was five years old. It was called T-ball at that age since the ball is placed in a tee and they hit it. Then after a year, he played the coach pitch where the coach pitched to the kids. They also used the pitching machine to deliver the pitches. Justin's first coach was his father Joel who used to play baseball in the Palarong Panlalawigan when he was growing up in Bohol.

Justin won the Sportsmanship award during his second year playing this sport which is awarded to kids who exhibit the qualities of a good player. Early this year, he made it to the pre-season tournament representing Milford, Connecticut. He was selected by his coach. 

Then during the spring season he was invited to try out for the Milford Junior Major League to represent Milford again for the travel team to compete with other neighboring towns in Connecticut in two baseball tournaments namely: Carl Burdick Invitational Tournament and Bethwood 8U Friendship Tournament of which he was chosen to play as the 3rd baseman of their team. They emerged as champions in both tournaments. 

 “He is the only one of Filipino descent in their team and probably in the Milford CT baseball league. He is currently training to be a pitcher as his father was during his time. He is not good yet but he is hoping that in no time he will be able to throw a fast ball or if not a knuckle ball.”

Isn't it heartwarming to know how fellow Boholanos are excelling in the fields that they have forayed in? In the case of Justin Christian, much of the credit goes to very supportive parents like Sophia and Joel.

Sophia further said, 

“We never pressured Justin because Joel and I believe that kids will thrive in what they enjoy and are really passionate with. What we can do is give our all- out support so that he and of course, his younger brother Jovani Andrew could become the best that they can be” 

NO SIBLING RIVALRY HERE: Justin Christian & kid brother Jovani Andrew

 “And to make sure that they don’t forget their roots, we also talk to them in our Boholano dialect and tell them as much as we can about where we come from and encourage them to be proud of their Boholano& Filipino heritage”

To Sophia and Joel, thank you for granting this exclusive interview.

Remember the name Justin Christian. Who knows, he just might be the next big name in the World Series. Cheers!

Flashback: Miss Tagbilaran 1993 Sophia Lorraine M. Alvarez

Tonight’s big event here in Tagbilaran is looked upon with anticipation as we await the crowning of Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2014. You have to understand the excitement for after all, it has been three years since the pageant went into hibernation. Thanks to the present city administration led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap, this year’s fiesta celebration has been one exciting affair especially with the rebirth of the annual search for the city’s fairest who will represent us in the forthcoming Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant

As we await the crowning of the next Miss Tagbilaran in the next few hours, allow me to take you on a walk down memory lane with a reminiscence on the1993 edition of Miss Tagbilaran

The 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant would always be memorable for me not only for crowning a most deserving winner but also for it was the first Miss Tagbilaran pageant that I co- hosted with hosting legend Gerarda “Ardie” Batoy. You can just imagine how scared I was to be standing side by side  with Bohol’s emceeing icon. You see,she was the ultimate when it came to emceeing so just think how intimidating it was to be co- hosting with Ma'am Ardie  

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez in the Evening Gown Competition 

Aside from the aforementioned, the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran Pageant is unique for two other reasons: First, unlike the other Miss Tagbilaran pageants that were staged as part of the city’s fiesta celebration highlights, it is the only edition that was mounted as a highlight of the city’s charter day celebration which falls on July 1, 1966;  Secondly, it is the only Miss Tagbilaran Pageant that initially declared five ladies as Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest before declaring one of them as Miss Tagbilaran

TAGBILARAN CITY OFFICIALS CIRCA 1993:

The City Mayor that time was Hon. Jose Maria Rocha, Hon. Gloria Neri Lim was Vice- Mayor while Atty. Dan N. Lim was City Administrator

The pageant was held at the DWCT Gymnasium, then the biggest indoor venue that could accommodate around 5,000 spectators.

Fifteen winsome ladies from all parts of the city competed in swimwear, evening gowns and interviews. After Bert Nievera, a classy balladeer and also known as Martin Nievera, serenaded the ladies and entertained the crowd with a repertoire of standards, the names that were part of  Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were revealed.

TAGBILARAN’S FIVE PRETTIEST:

Named Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest were (called in random order) were May Castanares, Sophia Lorraine Maniwang Alvarez, Mia Nunag, Wilma Lim and another lady whose name escapes me at this particular moment.  
  

After Tagbilaran’s Five Prettiest had been sashed and had received their floral bouquets, it was announced that one of them will be named Miss Tagbilaran 1993

AND MISS TAGBILARAN 1993 IS...

Before an overflow crowd of pageant spectators and supporters, Sophia Alvarez, a  BS Nursing student at Divine Word College, was proclaimed the 1993 Miss Tagbilaran. She was crowned by Scarlett Pizarras, 1992 Miss Tagbilaran runner up. 

It was a most deserved victory for aside from beauty & charm, Sophia was one of the most consistent in the Q & A which came as no surprise for she had always been a consistent achiever both in academics and in her extra- curricular activities since grade school

Graduated elementary 1986, Holy Spirit School, Second Honorable Mention. Graduated 1990 Divine Word College High School as Class Salutatorian. Graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, DWCT, 1994, Magna Cum Laude

Mutya 92 Runner up Scarlett Pizarras crowns the new queen 

Sophia Lorraine Alvarez takes her Victory Walk

PRESENTLY

Sophia then worked at ARIVAC (Division of Research Institute of Tropical Medicine) for two years and was a part- time clinical instructor for a short time before leaving for the US in 2000  

Years after, Sophia tied the marital knot with Joel Gentallan of Antequera, Bohol whom she met in college. Both have been based in Milford, Connecticut, USA since 2004. They were in Norwalk, Connecticut before that. ICU Nurse both in Norwalk Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. They are blessed with two sons; Justin Christian, 8 and Jovani Andrew, 5.

Joel & Sophia Gentallan with Justin & Jovani
Christmas 2013

ON LIFE LESSONS:

Sophia shares "Life is like a beauty pageant. You have to give it your all to be able to express and portray your inner beauty as well as self confidence because these traits will greatly matter and come in handy in the years ahead. People judge us every single day but knowing yourself more than anyone in this world is enough to face a hundred battles

Very well said Sophia and here's to a more beautiful life ahead of you

Cheers!