Boholanos happy for Megan Young’s Miss World 2013 victory

Wake-uppers:

Scene: October 15, 2013 has been declared a regular public holiday in the Philippines in observance of Eidul Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), considered as one of the two greatest feasts of Islam.  Eidul Adha remembers prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)'s consent when he agreed to sacrifice his first-born son to submit to commands of God, who later intervened to provide him with a lamb to sacrifice. 

Megan Young Courtesy: MWO

Scene: The Charity Rummage Sale is today, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1 G. Visarra Street, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. There are three ways to help: Give (donate any good quality unwanted goods), sell (set up your own stall, donate part of your proceeds to charity or to a pre-nominated charity of your choice) and buy (come along and buy some bargains).  Partial proceeds will be donated to VSO Bahaginan to fight against poverty. For inquiries to donate items or stall setup, contact Liza at 09275418455.

***

Finally, after years of trying to bring home that elusive blue crown, Miss Philippines Mega Young has won the Miss World 2013 crown after outpacing 126 other contestants from around the world at the glittering ceremony held at the Bali International Convention Centre in Indonesia on Saturday night, Sept. 28.

The “most beautiful woman in the world” was crowned by last year's winner Wenxia Yu from The Peoples Republic of China.

Boholano beauty pageant watchers are happy for Megan Young for winning the first Miss World crown for the Philippines. File

Young is the first-ever Filipino winner of the title since the Philippines' debut in the pageant in 1966.

In the final round, the top six were asked to explain why they deserved to win the Miss World crown, to which Young said: "I treasure a core value of humanity and that guides her into understanding people, why they act the way they do, how they're living their lives. And I will use these core values and understanding not only in helping others but to show other people how they can understand others, to help others. ... So that as one, together, we shall help society. Thank you!"

Philippines has made history only country to have won all major and minor beauty pageants. This proves that the Philippines is indeed the powerhouse of beauty in the world!

Filipina beauty queens who placed runners-up in Miss World are Evangeline Pascual who was Miss World 1973 1st runner-up, Ruffa Gutierrez was declared second runner-up in Miss World 1993, Gwendoline Ruais placed second to Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela in 2011 and Queneerich Rehman made it to the Top 15 in 2012.

Boholano beauty pageant watchers and lovers rejoiced over the major piece of pageant history, and squeals of euphoric ecstasy can still be heard all throughout amid political scandals that had rocked the nation.

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2008 1st runner-up Chandrina Elluiska Schreurs, who met Megan Young, said she had been confident of Young’s chances. She was glued to the TV set to watch the pageant and she burst into cheers when Young’s name was called. “She prepared herself very well that she deserved the crown... and that makes us all proud.”

“Megan's winning is a dream come true for me and to the rest of the past Miss Philippines who competed in Miss World. We were once there, represented our country and tried to bring home that elusive crown,” Anna Maris Igpit, who was the Philippines’ bet to the Miss World 2006, told VRS. “I was very emotional the moment she was declared a winner because finally a Filipina won that title for us. I'm just so proud of her, she didn't only prove that a Filipina is the most beautiful woman in the world, but she also made all Filipinos feel good and happy despite all the challenges we are going through as a country. Mabuhay ka Megan!”

Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol told VRS that, “Megan's victory is a breather from all negative issues Philippines is now facing.”

It’s #ThrowbackSunday! Yours truly, Panglao Mayor Nila Montero and Maricor Igpit attended the Miss World 2006 in Warsaw, Poland.- LPU

1983 Miss Young Bohol 4^th runner-up Tessie Labunog-Sumampong of Loboc Riverwatch (The Floating Restaurant to the Stars) said that, “She deserves the crown....she's so gorgeous like me hehehe!”

Miss Bohol Sandugo 2012 Idy Caseñas Cagas said, “A Filipina has proven once more that our country is a home to most beautiful women in the world - beautiful women with grace, confidence, character and substance. It's a triumph not only for Megan but for the entire country. Her victory is like a ray of sun that shines in and gives us hope with what our country is going through right now. She is a woman with a clear purpose, an inspiration to everyone especially to every woman who dreams of becoming a beauty queen.”

“I've always been one of those people who pray that Megan would one day represent our country in an international pageant like Miss Universe or Miss World,” said fashion icon EJ Relampagos. “Megan winning our first Miss World crown is not only a proof that He answers our prayers in perfect time, it’s also a proof that if we believe in our dreams and we claim it, nothing is impossible!”

US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal believed that “for bringing home the bacon, she might solve the pork barrel.”

Beauty pageant watcher Raul Phillip Gatal also shared that “Megan’s victory is not only a breath of fresh air from all the negative vibes and bad news that have swirled in the Philippines but also an affirmation that our country does have the most beautiful women.”

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.