Scene: From Charina
Aumentado of Las Vegas this info: The
first Boholano NBI Director-from the Mendez Clan. According to Justice
Secretary Leila De Lima from "clergy loss to NBI gain" referring to
newly appointed NBI Director Virgilio Loquellano Mendez. Born from a humble beginning, "Dodong" as fondly called by his
inner family circles entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS) in
his secondary school years in Taloto, at the outskirt of Tagbilaran originally
to enter priesthood. Born from family who depended much of the farm produce and
a teacher, Dodong opted to take up law courses after finishing prelaw course at
the same school in Tagbilaran City- the Divine Word College (now Holy Name
University) and passed the Bar. His father, the late Diomedes Mendez, a
full-time farmer and from Ubay, Bohol acquired farms lots in Bayongan, San
Miguel, Bohol while her mother, Carolina Loquellano from Dauis teaches kids in
the local public school. Dodong rose from the ranks in the NBI as agent, then
to provincial and regional top NBI positions in northern Mindanao areas until
his appointment as deputy director and lately to the top NBI post.
 |
|
Gen. Art Mendez Evangelista (right) with his cousin new
NBI director Atty. Virgilio Mendez. Courtesy:
Charina Aumentado
|
Scene:
From Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Philipp Gatal: Beauche International is joining the
2014 Sinulog Grand Parade in Cebu City this Sunday, January 19. Already
acknowledged as one of the country’s leading names in beauty and skin care
perfection nurtured by Former Carmen
Mayor Madame Conchita “Che” Toribio De
Los Reyes, Beauche International will have its own float to be graced by the recently- crowned 2013 Miss Beauche
International Anne Mabel Ubando of Dagupan City. Her court of honor composed of
Miss Manila Patricia Ramos 1st RU, Miss Baguio City Alyssa Ashley Calimlim 2nd
RU, Miss Quezon City Lynne de Mesa 3rd RU and Miss Zamboanga City Jovilyn Gavan
4th RU will be joining the beauty queen & Beauche product endorser in the
spectacular parade.
***
The Philippines is a predominantly Roman
Catholic nation. Nearly all Roman Catholic homes and businesses in the
Philippines own and display a statue of Sto. Niño, a representation of the
Christ Child.
The Sto. Niño de Cebu ("Holy
Child of Cebu") is a celebrated statue of the Christ Child
venerated by Filipino Roman Catholics. Similar to the Infant of
Prague, it is claimed to be the oldest religious image in the Philippines,
originally given by Ferdinand
Magellan to Rajah Humabon and his wife Juana in 1521.
The Sto. Niño de
Cebu statue is permanently housed under bulletproof glass at the Basilica
Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City. It is one of the most
recognizable cultural images in the Philippines found in many secular and
religious areas.
 |
| Panglao Mayor Nila Montero |
Unknown
to many, Panglao Mayor Leonila Paredes-Montero, a devotee of the Sto. Niño, has
a collection of religious icons and paintings of the Sto. Niño.
Sto.
Niño icons of different
materials can be seen at the Montero resort in barangay Tawala, Panglao.
The
Montero collections range from centuries-old heirlooms to newly carved Sto.
Niño pieces, paintings, and statues bought within and outside the country.
In one of
her travels, Maam Nila asked me to accompany her to check some Sto. Niño religious
icons and paintings in Manila antique shops.
So far,
no one in Bohol can match the collection of Maam Nila. Those who know her say
that she can well afford expensive art pieces. Her family owns the Alona
Tropical Resort in Panglao.
Well,
that is Maam Nila’s expression of her spirituality.
Incidentally, the Panglao contingent will perform in today’s Sinulog grand parade in Cebu City.
At
dawn last Thursday, the contingent from Panglao arrived in Cebu City. They are
composed of 100 dancers and 50 props men and instrumentalists with Anthony
Ceniza as choreographer.
After
a six-year absence, Panglao contingent is joining the free interpretation (FI)
category. Their presentation is about the earthquake, the damage it caused to
Panglao, and their dance of gratitude.
But
to their members, it’s not about winning or losing this year’s competition. They
just want to perform as a way to give thanks to Señor Sto. Niño for sparing
Bohol from heavy damage.
It
can be noted that Panglao earned the fourth and third place in the FI category
in the Sinulog 2006 and 2007.
***
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered.
Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter
/Facebook.
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