Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 to be dethroned? Child Wonder Baby Jane returns to Bohol

• Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Brigitte Burato to be dethroned?

• Baby Jane finds her family after 51 years through Facebook

Wake-uppers:

Sandugo 2013 streetdance

Scene: Long lines in the last day of registration for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The 10-day registration for the village polls started July 22 and ended July 31. There was no extension of the deadline.

Scene: Allegations of vote-buying rang loud in last Friday’s Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Bohol elections.

Scene:  Twelve were rescued from a capsized motor boat in Balicasag Island, Panglao on July 29 after they were hit by big waves. Last July 26, two were dead and 17 were rescued from a capsized motor pump boat in the same place.

Leo Udtohan with Marian Rivera

Scene: There were 6 contingents in this year's Sandugo Street Dancing 2013. The event became colorful with the participation of GMA stars: Bianca King, Rafael Rosell, Dion Ignacio, JC Tiuseco, Diva Montelaba and Mikael Daez.

Scene: Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and LPA failed to dampen Kapuso fans in Tagbilaran City, Bohol for the Kapuso Night last July 28. Fans were waiting for Kapuso hot couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.

Scene: Birthday greetings to fashion icon EJ Relampagos who’s turning a new leaf last Friday (Aug. 2). He shares a birthday with Bhangz Orillosa and Anthony Damalerio. EJ said, “Words will never be enough to express my gratitude to everyone who has become a part of my life in one way or another... I will forever be grateful for all that has been and all that will be. Thank you so much Lord for giving me this kind of life... it’s not perfect but it’s truly wonderful!!! God loves you all, so do I!”

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Barely two weeks after her reign as Miss Bohol Sandugo (MBS) 2013, Brigitte Tanoja Burato has faced an issue that could almost finish her reign as Miss Bohol Sandugo.

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2013 Brigitte Burato is almost dethroned when she was about to join the Miss Silka-Bohol 2013. Courtesy: Miss Bohol Sandugo Fanpage/ SideRoom Studio

The stunning 18-year-old Alician beauty brought great honor to her hometown but might have to give up her crown due to “not abiding by the rules and regulations” set by the MBS committee. She is not allowed to join any beauty pageant in the province until she can complete her reign.

“The problem of Miss Alicia Brigitte Burato is she has an attitude problem,” said the socialite VRS. “She should inform first the MBS committee if she has to join another beauty pageant.”

According to another VRS embedded in the beauty pageant office, Burato was supposed to join the Miss Silka Bohol 2013 held last Friday.

Before winning MBS, Burato had competed in quite a number of beauty pageants. She has been a consistent number one in the Dean’s List of the School of Business and Economics at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City where she is also the reigning 2013 Miss SBE- University of San Carlos.

Beauty-watchers and supporters have agreed that MBS is the oldest, highest, most prestigious and most popular beauty pageant in the province.

“What if she will not win in Miss Silka? Di ba uwaw?” one beauty-watcher, who asked for anonymity, said. “Okay ra if she will join Bb. Pilipinas or Mutya at least to level up.”

Last Friday morning, Burato had a closed-door heart-to-heart talk with the MBS organizers.

VRS had watched Miss Silka last Friday afternoon, and thanked God, Burato had backed-out from the contest.

“If naa pa, aw dethroned jud,” said a popular hair and make-up artist.

If she was dethroned, there will be a new face of the crown. Supporters of MBS first runner-up Shaila Mae Rebortera of Baclayon were heard saying that she was happy ''to be taking over this job.''

The rules said: The Miss Bohol Sandugo should have never been married, never been pregnant and in good health and of good moral character during her reign. She pledges to abide by the rules and regulations set by the organizers and to support and participate in the activities initiated by the committee.

In the history of MBS pageant, no one has been dethroned for failing to perform the numerous duties expected of a MBS titleholder. However, there were those who were replaced or not completed their reign.

“The beautiful winners have often been found to get involved in various scandals and then been forced to resign from their glory,” said VRS.

At least two MBS titlists were stripped of their titles, including Maria Niña Cubello, MBS 1999, officially did not finish her reign because she got married. She was replaced by Jennifer Ejoc. The beauteous MBS 2001 Jenny Justiniane has been stripped of her crown. She got married before she finished her reign. Her first runner-up Vanessa Cadorna replaced her. Although they were replaced by the organizers, Cubello and Justiniane were generally regarded as winners by the MBS committee and by the public.

Another VRS revealed that beauty pageants in Bohol have no contract so definitely the winners don't know their roles during their reign.

"There should be a written agreement or contract between the winner and the organizer what to expect and what to do during the reign,” said VRS.

To paraphrase a pageant cliché: Once a Miss Bohol Sandugo is forever a Miss Bohol Sandugo.

“Swell-headedness is one that a beauty queen must avoid. She should keep the weight of her head normal and keep her feet firmly planted on the ground,” said VRS.

Note: VRS called and texted Brigitte Tanoja Burato for her side but she never replied.

Stand by for further development.

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Here’s a Facebook story you’re going to “like.”

Philippine Child Wonder in the 1960s Baby Jane or Jane Zenaida Galinato-Smith in real life is reconnected with her estranged family after she was “borrowed” more than fifty years ago.

Before and after...Baby Jane

Baby Jane embraced her siblings and relatives for the very first time during the 2^nd Galinato Global Grand Gathering or GGGG held last week in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. 

She wasted no time, flying her family from USA, to meet her long-lost kin in Philippines.

"I think it's great to be able to finally meet them because for the longest time I thought I was the only child," a tearful Baby Jane said.  "Just make you feel I am finally home!"

At age 3, Baby Jane became a Child Wonder in the Philippines. She captured the hearts of the people through her singing and acting. She appeared in several films including “Siyam na Buhay ni Martin Pusa" topbilled by former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (produced by Larry Santiago) in 1964.

After 51 years apart, Baby Jane and family reunited by Facebook.

When she was six years old, Baby Jane was brought to the US by her uncle Papa Lori (twin brother of her real father) and auntie (Siony). They promised to return her after two months, but it didn’t happen. She was gone.

According to relatives, Jane thought she was an only child. She was raised by a woman
who claimed to be her mother but was in reality she was her aunt.

In the US, Baby Jane became Janie Gee and continued singing. She appeared on The Dean Martin Show in 1967 and The Danny Thomas Show on May 22, 1968. She also did a guest shot for CBS-TV’s Dom De Luise summer show after she was seen on the Martin series. And she had appeared on various other programs, such as Art Linkletter show, The Woody Woodbury Show and ABC-TV’s “Operation: Entertainment” series. 

According to US newspapers, between the ages of 7 and 9, Janie toured military bases and hospitals, and did USO shows.

During the Galinato gatherings, the family didn’t forget to remember her.

What ever happened to Baby Jane?

Baby Jane with Dean Martin

Now 54-years-old, Baby Jane said she searched the web for clues after she learned that her real parents (Gallarza and Emilia Galinato) were in Bohol, Philippines.

"The family searched for her," Elizabeth Lamdagan-Haroun, Baby Jane’s cousin, said.  "We even thought Gigi Galon was Janie Gee. I think it was God's plan that we found her. We are all happy. Can you imagine 51 years? Thanks to Facebook."

"My family had prayed for this for years," her sister, Marivic Galinato-Robles, said. "Salamat sa FB kung wala ang FB di naming siya makikita. Facebook has brought us together.”

Lamdagan-Haroun said it was last year that they received an email from Baby Jane. The Facebook message was the first time she's been able to communicate with her siblings.

Tatay Gallarza’s last will was to look for Baby Jane.  He wrote, “We just want to let her know that we did everything possibly could to find her. Her brother and sisters are all married now and having a good lives. There’s not much time left in the world for us and we just want to see her and find out how she is doing and somehow let her know much we love and miss her and that all this happened because of my nature as a brother to share a loved one for my brother’s happiness even for a short span of time. Please help me find my daughter.”

Baby Jane didn’t meet her Tatay Gallarza and Mama Emilia.

It was a “sentimental reunion” that Bohol Lifestyle Editor Liza Macalandag, Clarence Japheth Pesquira and yours truly have witnessed.

The 2^nd GGGG begun with hugs, tears and a family dinner. The buffet table was heaving with food glorious food, dominated by lechon stuffed with paella and Mediterranean cuisine.

There was a karaoke showdown that Baby Jane was asked to sing. (When she was a kid, she sang “What Now, My Love?”, “Impossible Dream,” and “From Here to Eternity” and rock and roll. The Times-News reported: In her performances abroad, there were bursts of applause even before she finished. She sang other songs and held the audience in the palm of her hand. She gave 100%, and the crowd knew it and loved it. The thing about Janie Gee, 10 years old, is that she is an old pro.)

“After 10, I became a normal child, I stopped singing professionally," she said.

That’s what she thinks! Walang kupas pa rin si Baby Jane!

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