Lisa Tandugon: Bohol's Catwalk Queen

This is a long overdue feature for one of Bohol’s most enduring models

She is well- loved and respected in the modeling industry not only because of her signature “Maria Lisa” catwalk but also because of her warmth, sincerity and humility

She was a shy and gawky girl when I first met her in 1999. She was a candidate for that year’s Miss Tagbilaran Pageant and I was the emcee. 

It was her very first pageant experience but she made a dent by winning the Best in Evening Gown award and placing as 2^nd Runner Up to Marime Marapao

A few days after the pageant, she confessed that it was her nerves and shyness that got in the way and she swore that she would never ever join another beauty pageant

Maria Lisa in her  Miss Tagbilaran 1999 official photo

BEST MODEL OF THE WORLD- PHILIPPINES SEARCH

Two years later, my high school classmate and one of Bohol’s most talented designers, Maximiel Tallo, announced in the local papers that he was organizing a local modeling contest that would select Bohol’s bets for the nationwide search for the newly- launched Best Model of the World- Philippines Competition.

I told Maxi to get Lisa as a candidate because she had the looks, the figure and the height. Getting Lisa to join wasn’t easy but after a week of persuasion and pep talk, she finally said yes and as they always say, the rest is history

Lisa was selected as Bohol’s representative for the Visayas- wide Best Model of the World- Philippines regional finals and competed with some of the most stunning and very experienced top models of Cebu City and other key Visayan cities.

I remember telling her not to expect too much but to give it her best, make new friends and to enjoy the whole experience

LISA IS PICKED AS VISAYAS' BET FOR THE NATIONAL BEST MODEL SEARCH

During the Visayas regional finals of the modeling search and in a Cinderella- like fairy tale and against all odds and despite the lack of modeling experience and connections, our very own Lisa Tandugon of Lindaville Subdivision, Tagbilaran City was selected by the judges and the Robbie Carmona, the Philippine franchise holder for Best Model of the World national search!

She competed later that year in Manila for the right to represent the country in the Best Model of the World Model Search. She gave it her best shot and she made it all the way to the Top Ten. 

She may not have won in Manila but the experience and the exposure did open a lot of doors for Lisa.

She has done countless runway shows and has modeled for some of the country’s top fashion designers

For the past few years, she has reigned as the queen of the catwalk in Bohol. 

In between, she is also kept busy with her own business venture that takes advantage of her entrepreneurial skills and her connection of friends

GLAMOUR PHOTO SHOOT IN BOHOL

Gowns                                     :Maximiel Tallo

Photos                                     :Michael Yu

Concept and Styling                : Joseph Ven Dumadag and Maximiel Tallo

Locale                                      : Maribojoc and Loon in Bohol Province

For Lisa, Life is Like a Big Runway Fashion Show. 

You just sway then do your snap and turn. If you trip or you fall, just stand up as if nothing happened, smile and continue your walk

Thanks for the friendship Lisa!

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.

2006 Miss Bohol Int'l Gown Competition

Cathy is Best in Gown

MOST STYLISH PART OF THE PAGEANT

The Evening Gown Competition was a stylish and elegant tribute to the contemporary Filipina.

The candidates wore variations of the Filipiniana terno as interpreted by their designers

Judging the Best in Filipiniana was based on class & elegance, fashion flair, poise & charm and the overall impression.

I agree that the recipient of the Best in Gown award should be chosen based on how well she carried the gown and not the other way around although the choice of gown can also make or break a candidate's chances in the pageant

RECOGNITION FOR THE DESIGNER

As far as I can remember, it was only in the 2008 Miss Bohol Sandugo Pageant that there were two special awards for the evening gown category; Best in Evening Gown and then the Best Evening Gown Design awards

THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR FILIPINIANA

Loved the beaded appliques on the gown.

My only quibble? One of the butterfly sleeves kept falling from her upper shoulder but the innate elegance and queenly bearing of Loida Lagonoy made it work onstage  

Erica's youthful aura and her golden tan complemented nicely with the immaculate white Filipiniana that she wore

The dainty colors perfectly matched Catherine's petite frame. This Manila- based dynamo is very modest of her impressive list of academic and professional credentials and achievements 

Cristine, a vivacious Architecture student of Mapua Institute of Technology, chose a clingy slitted red gown which in my opinion would have been perfect if it were a few inches longer 

Richelle Angalot who would later become known as Rich Asuncion of GMA 7 and place as 1st Runner Up and win Miss Talent in the 2009 Bb. Pilipinas Pageant stuns everyone in her Harley Ruedas original that showcased her breathtaking beauty and charm

New Jersey- based Judith Galang glided and sashayed onstage and gave justice to the shimmering red gown that she chose for the pageant 

Filipina pulchritude and charm at its best when California girl Jordan Nicole made her entrance in a Maximiel Tallo creation

The moment Cathy glided down the stairs in her stunning banig- inspired Filipiniana designed & created by talented Boholano designer Maximiel Tallo, everyone gasped. 

The calculated moves, the subtle pose & the dusky morena complexion combined for one flawless evening gown presentation. 

Judith, the Illinois, USA- based ingenue, confidently strode onstage in a dramatic Filipiniana creation from renowned beauty queen maker & mega designer Renee Salud

Kathy Lynn is perfection personified in her Filipiniana. The delicate smile, the charming demeanor & coquetish stance that are all de rigueur when wearing the most revered Philippine formal dress are on full display here

Gladys Joy, the voluptuous glamazon from the town of Jagna that is known for its calamay and recognized for having the most number of Miss Bohol title holders, dazzles in her modest Filipiniana 

The charming Gayle Marielle who represented the Tagbilaranons of Toronto, Canada was one of the most spontaneous and unrehearsed candidates of the pageant. 

She truly enjoyed the whole pageant experience and it showed not only during the Interview Portion but also during the Filipiniana segment where she wowed the crowd and endeared herself to this writer!

Ivn Rzyl, the mestiza beauty based in Negros Oriental, was one of the standouts in her satiny peacock- inspired Filipiniana gown. 

Trivia: This luminous beauty was the 2005 Miss Philippines- Water titlist for Central Visayas

The sensuous charm & appeal of California- based Maribeth Lara cannot be ignored. 

She simply smoldered onstage whether in a daring and sexy festival costume or  in a conservative Filipiniana gown. 

The glittering gown would have been perfect if the under skirt was floor- length 

Your blogger trying to look cool and composed moments before the cut to the Final Five was announced

Mary Catherine is flanked by Boholano gents JR Bueno and Christian Paul Salve

Boholano pride Jerome Sala, Grand Prize Winner of the the 2005 ABS CBN Star in a Million Singing Contest serenades the girls 

Photo credits: Irving Spivey & Roger Vicente