Part 2: Bb Pilipinas Special Award Winners from Bohol

With the 55^th edition of Bb. Pilipinas taking place on March 18, Your Roving Eye will take you to a stroll down memory lane and give the spotlight again to the lovely Boholanas who won a special award or corporate sponsor award in the country's most prestigious beauty pageant.

Special awards are often the barometer used to determine who will most likely end up as the big winners at the conclusion of the coronation night. 

Corporate sponsor awards, on the other hand, indicate who made the best impression on the sponsors.

Here is the elite list of Boholanas who were special awards and corporate sponsor award recipients through the years: Only a handful of Boholanas have placed or made a mark in Bb. Pilipinas. In fact, only five of them have earned the distinction.

Here they are:

LUX LADIES

Three to five outstanding ladies who embody the qualities of Lux beauty soap are named as Lux Ladies during coronation night. More often than not, most if not all of the Lux Ladies end up as the big winners, runners up or finalists.

All five Lux Ladies made it to the Top 15 from a field of 37 beauties

In 1979, Peral Salig became the first of two Lux Ladies from Bohol. She was in good company. The others who made it as Lux Ladies were Criselda “Dang” Cecilio who was crowned Bb Pilipinas- Universe, Perla of course was 1^st Runner Up, Cathy Veloso was 2^nd Runner Up while Tina Orleans and Victoria Garcia made it as finalists.

Taina Manigque

In 1985, the Triumph Court of Fashion model Taina Manigque became the second Boholana to be selected as Lux Lady.

BEST IN EVENING GOWN

Anna Maris Igpit at 18 years old was the picture of elegance

In 2006, Anna Maris Arcay Igpit whose parents hail from Panglao, Bohol was proclaimed Best in Evening Gown. Three years of modeling and pageant experiences helped a lot in the very regal and elegant way that she showcased her evening and you cannot deny her stage presence and youthful charm during that particular segment.  

Candidate # 20 Anna Maris Igpit was a sight to behold in hewr swimsuit

Of course, the Best in Evening Gown award was just icing on the cake for she ended up with the Bb Pilipinas- World crown on her head at the conclusion of the pageant. 

2006 Bb Pilipinas Queens and Runners Up

Photo Credits: NJBP International

MISS TALENT

The first and only Boholana to be named Miss Talent in Bb Pilipinas is Richell Angalot. Her prior experience as 1^st Princess in GMA 7’s Starstruck reality talent search helped a lot as she oozed with confidence and charm during her talent presentation showcased weeks earlier before the pageant night. 

Richell Angalot is Miss Talent

Richell Angalot is Miss Araneta Center's Shoppers' Choice

Richell Angalot is also Miss Natasha Beauty

Aside from the Miss Talent special award, she was also the recipient of two corporate sponsor awards; Miss Natasha Beauty and Araneta Center's Shoppers' Choice.

2009 Bb Pilipinas Queens & Runners Up

Richell eventually finished as 1^st Runner Up.  

MISS PHOTOGENIC

will Karen Gallmann set another record for a second Miss Photogenic title on March 18?

Karen Gallman whose mom hails from Ubay, Bohol is the first and only Boholana to be voted as Miss Photogenic by the mediamen and press photographers who covered the event. Ms. Gallman won the Miss Photogenic title during her first attempt at Bb Pilipinas back in 2012.

Watch for the following BbPilipinas 2018 TV Specials, ABS CBN Channel 2:

Bb Pilipinas 2018 Primer            Sunday, March 11, 9 PM

Bb Pilipinas Pageant Night       Sunday, March 18, 9 PM

Part I: Boholanas Who Made a Mark in Bb Pilipinas

With the 55^th edition of Bb. Pilipinas taking place on March 18, Your Roving Eye will take you to a stroll down memory lane and give the spotlight again to the lovely Boholanas who made a mark in the country's most prestigious beauty pageant either as winner, runner up or finalist.   

Only a handful of Boholanas have placed or made a mark in Bb. Pilipinas. In fact, only seven of them have earned the distinction.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN ARE:

THE TITLEHOLDER:

2006 Bb Pilipinas- World: Anna Maris Igpit  

2006 Anna Maris Igpit of Panglao is the first and only Boholana to have won a Bb. Pilipinas crown. She was named the country’s bet to Miss World 2006 held in Warsaw, Poland. 

She made it as Beach Beauty finalist and was voted by readers of Poland’s biggest newspaper as one of the Five Most Beautiful Miss World 2006 Candidates.

THE RUNNERS UP:

1979 Bb Pilipinas 1st Runner Up

1979 was the year that a Boholana finally made it to the winners’ circle. The beautiful Perla Fernando Salig of Loboc was named 1^st Runner Up.  Perla competed in Bb. Pilipinas after she was crowned as Queen of Circulo Boholano de Cebu, the biggest and oldest Cebu- based association of Boholanos.  

Almost immediately upon arrival in Manila, she caught the eye of the organizers and the press for her natural beauty, charming personality and unaffected manners.

The Boholana’s achievement was truly remarkable because it was rare for girls from the provinces to get noticed in the national competition. She made it on her own with no connections whatsoever.

2009 Bb Pilipinas 1^st Runner Up: Richelle Angalot  

2009. Twenty years after Perla’s 1^st RU placement, another Boholana achieved the same placement. Richelle Angalot , a GMA 7 contract star who goes by the screen name Rich Asuncion became the third Boholana  to make it in the winners’ circle after she was named 1^st Runner Up to Bianca Manalo.

Ms. Angalot already had a name in showbiz after being proclaimed in the GMA 7 reality talent search Starstruck when she competed in Bb. Pilipinas 2009.

THE FINALISTS: 

 Emma in Binibini//Emma with classmates during the 2012 BPHSN INTL.REUNION DAY

1968. Exactly 50 years ago, Emma Mumar made pageant history as the first Boholana to earn a placement as a Bb. Pilipinas Top 15 Finalist. 

1968 Bb Pilipinas Poolside Press Presentation

Photo Credits: Tony Paat

1968  Bb Pilipinas Top Fifteen

Photo Credits: Tony Paat

1968 Bb Pilipinas Board of Judges that included actress Susan Roces
Photo Credits: Tony Paat

1982 Rowena Burden, ,a brainy & beautiful doctor whose mom traces her roots in Bohol made it as Top 15 Semi- finalist in 1982.  Her batch included the controversial Maria Isabel Lopez who was crowned Bb. Universe and 1st RU Desiree Verdadero.

1982 Bb Pilipinas Top 15

With her stunning looks and gift of gab, Ms Burden impressed a lot of pageant watchers and organizers.

Right after the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, Rowena was approached by Madame Stella Araneta and was requested to acquire some training and come back the following year. She declined saying she wanted to pursue her medical degree and she joined mainly for the experience.

The 1st RU Desiree Verdadero heeded Madame's advice, rejoined the pageant two years later, won the Bb. Universe crown and went on to place as 3rd RU in the 1984 Miss Universe Pageant.

TRIVIA: There was an uproar in Cebu where she was based that time when she represented Bohol instead of Cebu in Bb Pilipinas 1982.

1985. Tall and gorgeous Taina Manigque was already a top model in the country and a member of the prestigious Triumph Court of Fashion when she joined Bb. Pilipinas. She made it as Top 15 Semi- finalist. Taina comes from a family of beauty queens.

1985 Bb Pilipinas Top 15 Finalist

TRIVIA: Cita Capuyon and Desiree Verdadero, Bb. Pilipinas- Universe winners for 1983 and 1984, respectively, were both Triumph Court of Fashion members.

Her younger sister MariJo was named one of Tagbilaran's Five Prettiest in 1985 and her niece Margo Manigque was crowned Miss Tagbilaran 2006

2012 Bb Pilipinas Top 12 Finalist

2012. Karen Gallmann of Ubay who competed in the pageant’s 2012 edition made it as a Top Twelve Finalist.

Six years after her first attempt at Bb. Pilipinas,  Karen is back and has been picked by most pageant experts and websites as one of the most likely to win one of the crowns this year. If that happens, she will be the second Boholana to be crowned a Bb Pilipinas queen.

Watch the 55^th edition of the Bb Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night happening on Saturday, March 18, SMART Araneta Coliseum, 8 pm with delayed telecast over ABS CBN 2 on the same day.

ABS CBN's Cathy Remperas Is Now GMA7's Catherine Rem

CAPTIVATING. CHARMING. CATHERINE. Remember former Kapamilya and now Kapuso Cathy Remperas? After switching networks, the dusky Boholana beauty was rechristened Catherine Rem to signal the new direction that her showbiz career is headed to. 

In Philippine showbiz, the screen name is an important aspect to getting that elusive star wattage. There is something romantic and glamorous about the change of names. It signifies a rebirth and of being reborn.

Catherine is now slowly but surely getting the attention she deserves with a string of high- profile projects under the tutelage of her mentor Direk Maryo J delos Reyes. 

 Kapuso star Cathy Remperas turns twenteen

She considers her scene with acting legend Nora Aunor in Magpakailanman shown on TV a few weeks back as the perfect gift when she celebrated her birthday recently. Cheers to the birthday belle!

DID YOU KNOW THAT Kapuso talents Catherine Rem & Richell Angalot competed during the Miss Bohol International Pageant 2006 Edition? 

 PARALLEL LIVES: Cathy & Rich 

Both ladies would later tread parallel tracks with Cathy becoming an ABS CBN Pinoy Big Brother Housemate in Oct 2009 while Richelle would be chosen as First Princess in GMA 7's talent search "Starstruck" and place as 2009 Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner Up and Miss Talent

  

Boholana Beauties in Bb. Pilipinas

It's Bb. Pilipinas season once again and so we take a look back into the past and remember the beautiful Boholanas who placed in the country's most prestigious beauty pageant.

Back in 1979, a lovely lady from Loboc, Bohol won 1st RU and was chosen asMiss Lux in the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant and thus became the first Boholana to place in said pageant.

What made her feat truly remarkable was the fact that she made it on her own with no connections whatsoever and it was a very competitive batch that included Criselda Dang Cecilio, Bb Universe, Mimilanie Laurel Marquez who eventually won the 1979 Miss International title and of course the very controversial Ma. Theresa "Si Ako, Si Ikaw" Carlson, Bb. Young International who passed away in the mid- 200's under very mysterious circumstances

The name of this fresh- faced Boholana beauty? Perla Salig

1979 Bb Pilipinas Queens during Perla's time: L-R: Melaniue Marquez, 
Ava Quibranza, Dang Cecilio & Theresa Carlson

Melanie Marquez eventually won Miss International 1979

 Taina Manigque is 3rd from left. Inset is Joyce Ann Burton who won the Bb Universe title

Taina Manigque is the girl in the center

Another Boholana beauty Taina Manigque, a member of the exclusive Mondragon Triumph Court of Fashion, was a Top Fifteen Finalist and Miss Lux Awardee in the 1985 edition of the pageant

Another Boholana, Rich Asuncion, equalled Perla's feat when she also  placed as 1st RU in the 2009 edition of the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant.

Anna Maris Igpit however is the first and so far, the only Boholana to have won a Bb. Pilipinas crown. She ensnared the 2006 Bb. Pilipinas- World crown and represented the country later that year in the Miss World Pageant held in Poland.

She didn't make the cut in the SMS- driven preliminaries but her exotic charms proved to be a big hit in Poland when she was selected by Poland's widely- circulated and most respected paper as one of the "Five Prettiest Miss World Girls for 2006".

Anna Maris Igpit during her triumphant return to Bohol in 2006

INTERESTING TRIVIA ON BOHOLANAS WHO MADE A MARK IN BB. PILIPINAS

1968. Emma Mumar is the first Boholana to place as a Bb. Pilipinas semifinalist which she did in the 1968 edition of the pageant.

1979. Perla Salig is the first Boholana to win a special award in Bb. Pilipinas. She was one of the Three Miss Lux Ladies in 1979.

She is also the first Boholana to place in the winners' circle when she was selected as 1st RU to Criselda "Dang" Cecilio, Bb. Universe that year

 Dr. Rowena is Forever Fabulous 

1982. Rowena Burden ,a brainy & beautiful doctor from Jagna, made it as Top 15 Semi- finalist in 1982.

Her batch included the controversial Maria Isabel Lopez who was crowned Bb. Universe and 1st RU Desiree Verdadero.

With her stunning looks and gift of gab, Ms Burden impressed a lot of pageant watchers and organizers. Right after the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant, Rowena was approached by Madame Stella Araneta and was requested to acquire some training and come back the following year.

She declined saying she wanted to pursue her medical degree and she joined mainly for the experience.

The 1st RU Desiree Verdadero heeded Madame's advice, rejoined the pageant two years later, won the Bb. Universe crown and went on to place as 3rd RU in the 1984 Miss Universe Pageant. 

1985. Taina Manigque was a Top 15 Semi- finalist and Miss Lux Lady in 1985. Taina comes from a family of beauty queens.

Her younger sister MariJo was named one of Tagbilaran's Five Prettiest in 1985 and her niece Margo Manigque was crowned Miss Tagbilaran 2006

Anna Maris Igpit is Best in Gown

2006. Anna Maris Igpit of Panglao is the first and only Boholana to have won the Best in Evening Gown award which she won in 2006 enroute to the 2006 Bb. Pilipinas- World title which makes her also as the first and only Boholana to have won a national beauty title

2009. Rich Asuncion is the first and only Boholana to have won the Miss Talent award in Bb. Pilipinas.

She also won two special corporate titles

 Rich Asuncion is the only  Miss Talent

2012. Karen Gallmann of Ubay who competed in the 2012 edition of the pageant is the first and only Boholana to have won the Miss Photogenic title.

Miss Gallmann, a pre- pageant favorite, also ended up as a Top 12 Finalist

Only the Best in Swimsuit special award remains elusive to the Boholana who has competed in Bb. Pilipinas but then as Reigh Monreal, Bohol's foremost beauty pageant connoisseur pointed out recently and if the Wikipedia entry is accurate, then we may have won it already.

 Karen Gallmann: the only Miss Photogenic

 You see, the 1988 Bb. Pilipinas- Universe titleholder Perfida Limpin and who was also selected as Best in Swimsuit listed Tagbilaran City, Bohol as her place of birth

 Perfida Limpin during Parade of Nations
Miss U 1988, Taiwan

 Perfida lists Tagbilaran City as her birthplace

  Ella Evangelista is 2003 Bb Pilipinas 2nd RU

I just found out from fellow Boholano bloggers that Noella "Ella" Evangelista traces her roots in Bohol. Although born and raised in Iligan City, the 5' 9" dusky charmer has Boholano parents so she IS 100% Boholana.

Ms Evangelista was Bb. Pilipinas 2nd RU in 2003 and represented the Philippines in an international beauty tilt, the Queen of Tourism 2004 in Mexico City which she also won.

For the record, the victory in Mexico would make Ms Noella "Ella" Buhion Evangelista as the first and only Boholana to have won an international beauty title

 

2004 Queen of Tourism winner 

With so many European expats settling in Bohol the past few years, it would come as no surprise that the next generation of Boholanos would be a veritable minefield of gorgeous Eurasian girls to complement the surfeit of dusky beauties and stunning Fil- Am girls

Who knows? A future Bb. Pilipinas titleholder just might surface from among these girls in the next decade

2006 Miss Bohol International Final Results

From 14 lovely beauty delegates, the field was cut to the Final Five. 

It was a nail- biting and heart- stopping moment for as soon as a candidate was called as finalist and stepped forward, she had to pick at random the name of the judge who would ask her the final question.

Truly a test of one's grace under pressure and poise under stress, 

After all the finalists had been called and had answered the questions, the judges then cast their votes as they ranked the finalists based on how they answered their final questions and their overall performance during the entire pageant night.

Going into the final round, Candidate # 8 Cathy Remperas was leading the race. 

She topped all three beauty segments of the pageant by winning Best in National Costume, Best in Swimwear and Best in Evening Gown. 

She was also Miss Photogenic as well as Miss Talent 2nd RU.

After the farewell walk of Maya Galvan, the results were then announced:

4th RU was Judith Marie Chatto, the bubbly 15 year old who represented the Boholanos of Southern Illinois. 

3rd RU was Erica Joy Pastoriza Galeon, 16 yrs old from California, USA 

2nd RU Ivn Ryzl Sarno, 21 yrs old, a cum laude graduate of Silliman University and a registered nurse. 

And then there were two ladies left on centerstage

The final announcement was then made. 

Catherine Enojo Remperas was named 1st RU but she would later make it on national TV when she made it as housemate of ABS CBN's Pinoy Big Brother show 

The tall and svelte Loida Tiza Salve Lagonoy, 18 yrs old, reigning Miss University of Bohol was crowned the 2006 Miss Bohol International in a glittering ceremony at the Holy Name University. 

Pageant experience, stage presence and gift of gab won for Loida the title. So what was her winning answer to the deceptively simple question from Mayor Atienza? 

MAYOR ATIENZA: "If you get married in the future, how many children would you like to have?" 

MS. LAGONOY: 

"If I were to get married and have children of my own someday, I would like to have four children; two girls to whom I would bequeath the loving, caring & beautiful side of me 

I also want to have two boys who would embody the qualities of an ideal man such as masculinity, determination and courage. 

Together with my husband, we would raise our children to be disciplined and virtuous individuals under the trinity of love, faith and honesty" 

Miss Bohol International 2006 & Court with the Chocolate Hills Lady Jaycees

Photo credits: Mr. Irving Spivey & Mr. Roger Vicente

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