● After a long hiatus, Miss Loboc is back
● ‘Sun halo’ hovered over Ubay town
Wake-uppers:
Scene: The talent of movie producer-writer Achinette
Joy Villamor of Tagbilaran City shines as she was recognized in one of the most
prestigious award-giving bodies in the country. Achinette was nominated in the
Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards in the Best
Screenplay category for the film Balangiga:
Howling Wilderness. Two of her films she produced, Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
and Alipato, got 11 and two
nominations, respectively.
Scene:
Former beauty queen Anna Maris Igpit-Taylor and Tommy Taylor have welcomed
their first son together in Sydney, Australia. Maris made the announcement
through her favorite medium, Facebook. "Today at 7:49 a.m. (May 15), Tommy
Taylor and I became proud parents to a healthy, 7.7 lbs baby boy. We are
totally over the moon after an intense 5
hour labour. Please help us welcome our beautiful bundle of joy, Luca Taylor," she
announced while cuddling the baby. Maris
had previously revealed that she and Tommy were expecting a boy. Maris has been openly documenting her
pregnancy on social media. She's also proudly shared plenty of baby bump pics
on Facebook and 'gram. Maris’ mom, Maricor, is in Sydney to support her.
***
6 mediamen win barangay polls
Voting
for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections went
on smoothly in Bohol last May 14 even in 33 hotspot areas.
 |
| Johnny
Orioque, publisher of Bohol Balita Daily News (BBDN), was proclaimed as village chief of Barangay Poblacion in Trinidad town, after Monday’s Barangay and SK elections. Leo Udtohan |
In Trinidad town, Johnny Orioque, publisher of Bohol Balita Daily News (BBDN) won the village chief post in Poblacion with ease.
Johnny
got more than 1,136 votes while Vidal Cajes garnered more than 809 votes.
Johnny said the residents
of Trinidad encouraged him to run for the barangay captain position.
Since it is in his heart
to serve the public, he immediately accepted the challenge without hesitation.
He shared
that being in the media industry has helped him to be devoted in serving the
public. That is why he did not hesitate to enter the political arena.
He is thankful to the
residents of Poblacion for trusting him.
“Johnny is the leader,” said resident Soriana
Tabada. “He’s exciting and he’s not one of the usual politicians. People really like engaging with him."
As the newly elected
barangay captain, he has many plans for Poblacion.
“We will cross that bridge
when we come to it. Naa tay daghang mga plano,” he said.
But even with the new task, Johnny said he will not leave the media.
When
asked by reporters if he is ready for 2019, Johnny just gave an enigmatic
smile.
Other
media personalities who won were Manolito
”Willy” Maestrado of dyRD, reelected councilor, Barangay Bool in Tagbilaran
City; Carlito “Lito” Responte of dyTR ,
reelected councilor, Barangay Totolan in Dauis; Ubaldo “Bob Goodman” Berro of
Kiss FM – Councilor, Barangay Guinsularan in Duero; Ern Pahayahay of dyTR – Councilor, Barangay
Bingag in Dauis town; and incumbent
barangay captain Edgar Tumanda of dyTR was elected councilor, Barangay Minol in
Mabini town.
There were other media
personalities who also ran but did not make it. They were Melvin Jabajab of The Bohol Chronicle and Engr.
Gerardo Cajes of dyRD who was one rank away from winning a place in Barangay
Dao in Tagbilaran.
In
Maribojoc town, by luck of the draws, incumbent barangay captain Doroteo
Garsuta of Cabawan in Maribojoc town, wins during a draw lot after he tied with
Marcial Quiwag during the race for barangay captain.
***
The
comeback: 18 candidates vie for Miss Loboc 2018
Dormant for many years, Miss Loboc is making a much-awaited comeback.
The pageant happens to be one of the province’s most prestigious before it
folded up.
 |
| Miss
Loboc 2018 candidates at the famous Loboc River. Photo Courtesy: Miss Loboc 2018 Facebook Page |
In the early ’70s , the
town of Loboc conducted an annual search for a Miss Loboc. The local organizers would comb the entire
town for beautiful women of good moral character and entice them to join the
search. The fairest and brightest would be crown Miss Loboc until it folded in
1990s.
But not
many people these days can recall just how prestigious being Miss Loboc was
back then — some would even argue it was absolutely more distinguished and
esteemed than the still-running pageants.
There was Cynthia Limbago,
a Miss Loboc winner, who represented the town in Miss Bohol Sandugo.
Incidentally, her daughter Erika Limbago has joined the revived Miss Loboc this
year.
Miss
Loboc was changed to different names like Miss Agri and Miss Loboc Tourism until
it folded up.
The good news now is that the local government
of Loboc through Mayor Helen Calipusan-Alaba has revived Miss Loboc— although
jazzed up to keep up with the times.
Elmer
Varquez, the town’s tourism officer, is this year’s chairman.
The
relaunch is calculated to restore the past glory it enjoyed. Like in previous
years, the pageant focuses on promoting the town as a premier tourism
destination in the province and further complement the LGU’s program to enhance
tourism.
But Loboc is not only
Bohol’s musical town, it is also the home of some beauty queens.
Perla Salig (now Mrs. Teves) became first runner-up of the
1979 Bb. Pilipinas. Perla became Miss Loboc Academy and Miss Commerce at the
then Divine Word College in Tagbilaran now Holy Name University. She won the
Mutya ng Bohol pageant held in Cebu City sponsored by the Circulo de Boholano
and represented the Central Visayas.
 |
| Dormant for many years,
Miss Loboc is making a much-awaited comeback with 18 lovely ladies vying for the crown. Photo Courtesy: Miss Loboc 2018 Facebook Page |
Another
beauty queen, the most successful beauty queen of Loboc, however, will forever
be Loboc Councilor Tessie Labunog-Sumampong. Tessie represented Loboc town at the
1983 Miss Young Bohol and she was declared 4th runner-up.
Tessie,
of course, is the proprietor of Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto and Cuisina Ni
Tisay, a favorite destination of stars and celebrities. Just recently, she was featured on ABS-CBN’s Magandang Buhay where she taught Melai
and Karla Estrada how to cook balbacua.
Tessie
said Miss Loboc is not just another
beauty pageant.
“This is
a program that hopes to create ambassadors who will showcase Loboc’s tourism,
culture and heritage that will ignite positive change in the community,” she
said.
 |
| Loboc
Councilor Tessie Labunog-Sumampong is another beauty queen from Loboc town who joined the Miss Young Bohol 1983. Contributed Photo |
For its
comeback year, 18 lovely ladies vie for the crown. They
are Mylene Morales, Michaela Soriano, Ginalyn
Vargas, Fel Angelie Curpos, Dexie Campos, Anabel Acuna, Erika Limbago,
Yholmarie Camarote, Kristine Clare Dango, Cherry Mae Vale, Joanna Simacio,
Precious Ara Theresa De Costo, Jea Rose Lagrimas, Mary Purifel Ajoc, Angelie
Tabuada, Mikaella An Melisimo, Jocelyn Toledo and Anna Leizel Libardo.
The coronation
night is on May 21, 8 p.m. at JAD Complex with celebrity guest Neil Coleta.
The
pageant is co-presented by Camp Sabros thru Edwin Sacdalan and One Dreamer
Commissary. Others sponsors are LABB Construction, Rural Bank of Loboc, Sta. Clara Power
Corporation, GLEH Financial Solutions,
Loboc River Resort, M Lhuillier, Globe Telecom and Nelson Yu of N.N. Yu Construction Inc as Gold
Sponsors; Nuts Huts, Cebuana Lhuillier and The Bellevue Resort as
Silver Sponsors; Loboc River Floating Resto, Loboc River Cruise Floating
Resto, Travel Village, Loboc Riverwatch Floating Resto, Cocina de Loboc, Bohol Turistas, Jojie’s Bakeshop, Estrella Bakery, Hilltop Cottages and Cuisina ni Tisay Catering Services as Bronze
Sponsors. The Major Sponsors are
Aproniana Gift Shop, Bohol
Waterbike, Mithi Resort and Spa, Island
Souvenirs, Ford Philippines, Informatics , Ochoco Accounting, Auditing and
Taxation Services, TJ Medrana Photography and Kim Villamor.
Text voting is now open
for Texters Choice Award. To vote, type: MISSLOBOC<space>LAST NAME and
send to 2948. Voting ends on May 21 at 7 p.m.
***
Sun halo phenomenon
hovered over Ubay, Bohol
Residents in Ubay town in
Bohol province were treated to a rare phenomenon last week when the sun
appeared surrounded by a halo of light.
Scientists said a sun halo
is a natural optical phenomenon where light reflects tiny ice circles in the
lowest level clouds.
A sun halo occurs on days
where humidity in the air is especially high.
Ubay experienced hot
weather on weekdays, while some parts of Bohol were having a light rain shower
and cloudy skies.
Rey Tubo, who saw the rare
phenomenon, said that he was mesmerized of the sun and decided to take some
photos and posted these on his Facebook account.
Engineer Riche Cutamora
Ibale also uploaded a photo he took on the sun halo and captioned it: “Called
as 22 degree halo or a sun halo, the ring is caused by sunlight passing through
ice crystals in cirrus clouds within the earth’s atmosphere.” He even used the
hashtag #SunHaloDay #22DegreeHalo.
If other residents were
amazed by the appearance of the
 |
| A large ring or circle of light around the sun a mazed residents in Ubay town, Bohol province since last week. This rare sun halo is called a 22-degree halo by scientists. Photo Courtesy: Rey Tubo |
“We should pray to God
because the sun halo is a sign of bad things to come,” said Norfa Veseres, 70.
But the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said
the rare solar halo circling the sun has a natural explanation: It is formed
due to high clouds.
Scientists call it the
halo because it has an approximate radius of 22 degrees from the sun.
The halos occur when
sunlight refracts through a high band of cirrus clouds more than 20,000 feet
above the ground.
According to EarthSky.org,
the sunlight bounces off these crystals making the waves change direction, this
is refraction, and this gives the appearance that the sun has an extra halo of
light surrounding it.
“Halos around the sun or
moon happen when high, thin cirrus clouds are drifting high above your head.
Tiny ice crystals in Earth’s atmosphere cause the halos. They do this by
refracting and reflecting the light,” it said.
On the other hand, lunar
halos are signs that storms are nearby, it added.
*
* *
Thanks
for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ
at Twitter /Facebook.
