Wake-uppers:
Seen: The homecoming of
Mr. Supranational-Philippines 2016 AR dela Serna during the 120th birthday
commemoration of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia last Friday (Nov. 4). AR received a
special citation from the provincial government of Bohol headed by Gov. Edgar
Chatto. It was AR’s first visit to Bohol
after winning the Misters of
Filipinas-Supranational 2016 held last Sept. 18. AR will represent the Philippines in the inaugural
edition of Mister Supranational in Poland on Dec. 3, 2016.
 |
Regil
Gucor is rubbing elbows with
Mr. Supranational-Philippines 2016
AR dela Serna
during the
120th birthday commemoration of Pres.
Carlos P. Garcia. Contributed
Photo
|
Scene: The 1st National Earthkeepers (Ek) Summit on
Nov. 10 to 13 in Bohol. Frence Boiser of the Student Catholic Action of the
Philippines (SCA) said more than 150 youth leaders from all over the
Philippines and invited international delegates will gather for the 1st EK
Summit in Bohol ahead of the talks for the annual Conference of Parties (COP22)
in Morocco.
Scene: Ariel Fullido, manager of CenterStage Band,
announced on Facebook that the band has new singer. He said CenterStage band
has welcomed back its former vocalist Charisse Mae, who is still fresh from a
singing stint in South Korea. He posted on Facebook, “She will rejoin the band
replacing Jussica Villaflores who will take a hiatus for a while after her
doctor advices her to take a long rest to fully recover from laryngitis. Beauty
titlist/model Frances Montejo will temporarily be kept as reserved singer as
she will focus on her studies in the second semester at HNU. But with mainstay
veteran singers Yeyet and Riza, Charisse will complement the powerhouse vocals
of CenterStage band.” Charisse Mae had her comeback performance last Friday
during the 33rd Annual Visayas Area Convention of Geodetic Engineers on Alona
Kew White Beach in Panglao town.
Scene: Rotarian Andreimarie Thurman posted on
Facebook: "There are special people
in our lives who never leave us …. even after they are gone. Rest in peace our
beloved founder, Dr. Luther Z. Ramiro. He peacefully passed away, early this
Sunday morning, Oct. 30, 2016. Thank you for touching many lives Dr. Lu, you
will live forever in the hearts of grateful Rotarians and all people dedicated
to service above self.”
***
Boholana
beauty queen Marcelina Marcel Gatal-Diego, who was named Miss Young Bohol 1983,
died Wednesday afternoon after a long bout with breast cancer. She was 53.
“At
around three o'clock today, All Souls’ Day, our eldest Ate Marcel Gatal- Diego
lost her three year battle with breast cancer,” her younger brother Raul wrote
on Facebook.
 |
Former
beauty queen and entrepreneur
Marcelina Marcel Gatal-Diego
did her ‘farewell
walk’ after
battling with breast cancer.
Contributed
Photo
|
Her
death was also confirmed by fellow beauty queen Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin who
expressed her shock and sadness at her death on social media.
“Another
beautiful angel has gone to the Great Beyond,” said Fiel, who was Miss
Tagbilaran 1987.
In
1982, Marcel represented the province of Bohol to the Hiyas ng Silangan-Philippines. She was adjudged Miss Talent and eventually
chosen to be in the Top 10 finalists from among 30 candidates from all over the
country. In 1983, she was crowned Miss Young Bohol, the precedent of Miss Bohol.
Her
good command of the English language ushered her way to various opportunities,
including having been a radio newscaster and a disk jockey of KISS 102.3 FM
during her college days at the Divine Word College of Tagbilaran (DWC-T) now
Holy Name University.
She
was also actively involved in the JCI-Chocolate Hills and in the Brotherhood of
Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP).
Marcel
was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. In her battle, she had demonstrated
extraordinary calm, faith and courage in her fight against cancer as she
underwent chemotherapy. However, she opted to choose an alternative medication
after chemotherapy killed her other organs.
“Chemo
was not meant for her body,” VRS said.
And
after a brief remission this year, Marcel did not lose weight, hair, voice and
vision. However, she had difficulties in speaking because she developed another
cancer--lung cancer.
Her
death has left her families, friends and supporters in mourning. Many of them have lost a part of their hearts.
Marcel’s
younger brother Mikey who was about to blow his candle as he celebrated his
birthday (Nov. 1 in the US) got a phone call from his sister Nikki.
“I thought she (Nikki) would say a birthday
greetings, but it gave me the sad news that our eldest sister joined our Papa
Roger in heaven already and I put on a brave face and held on my tears not to
cry on my birthday,” said Mikey.
 |
Charisse
Mae is the new vocalist of
CenterStage band. Contributed Photo
|
“It's
been difficult for all of us during this time of the year. I cried a river,
knowing that three of my loved ones died of cancer, Hector, Kevin's mother and
now my sister,” he added.
As
news of Marcel’s death spread, so did the tributes.
“Rest
in the Kingdom of the Lord Marcel: My student and queen,” said Bohol’s Queen of
All Media Ardy Ines Batoy-Araneta on Facebook. It was Ardy who discovered and
plucked Marcel from anonymity during her student days.
High
school classmate Jocelyn Oppus, who is based in Los Angeles, called the news of
Marcel’s death “desperately sad.”
“Rest
in peace my classmate and volleyball mate...one of the ‘Carnation’ babies,” she
said.
Note: Her remains
will arrive from Manila for one final viewing on Wednesday, November 9 at the
Funeraria Gomez-Udtohan on CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City. Requiem mass and
interment has been scheduled on Thursday, November 10.
***
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