Wake-uppers:
Vanessa Aumentado |
Scene: The
4th Koja Festival at Caingget Beach in Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran City on July 24. “Koja,” a
seashell has made the coastal barangay a popular destination.
Seen: Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, the wife of
Bohol 2nd district Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, made it to the
Top 50 of GMA News Online SONA 2019’s most
fashionable women. She ranked 19 out of 45. Her bronze Filipiniana
designed by Boholano couturier EJ Relampagos. Her fabulous bag was customized
by Boholana accessory designer Christine Virtucio.
Scene: A mass casualty involving a bomb explosion simulation
exercise was held at the CPG Sports Complex, three days before the Sandugo street-dancing competition. “The
simulation exercise was to measure the readiness and capacity of local
responders together with the responding agencies,” said Anthony Damalerio, head
of PDRRMC.
***
Mahdison Lucido of Clarin town was crowned Sandugo Queen 2019. Contributed Photo |
The unicorn is out of the bag. Pride has covered Bohol in a
sea of rainbows as a 24-year-old LGBTQ (lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) was crowned
first Sandugo Queen at a star-studded pageant that lasted more than three hours
at the Bohol Cultural Center Friday night.
Mahdison Lucido from
Clarin town beat 14 other hopefuls to win the most coveted crown of the Sandugo
Queen.
Angel Lumalaban from
Getafe town was crowned Sandugo Queen Tourism,
Jamia Aranuez from Alburquerque town was declared Sandugo Queen Youth
Ambassadress 2019, Shay Farra Kawa II from Ubay town was adjudged 1st Princess
and Redd Madrigal from Tagbilaran was crowned
2nd Princess.
Sandugo
Queen is the first province-wide pageant for gay and transsexual members of the
LGBTQAI+ community, a society of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
asexual, aromantic, agender, and intersex individuals, with a “+” for those who
are in the process of self discovery, or have more complex identities.
Khim Ryan
Laway Magtagad, Sandugo Queen 2019 pageant chairman, said the pageant aims to
empower LGBTQAI+ by giving them a platform to express their thoughts
and views on inclusion, diversity and equality. It is also a celebration of
their unique beauty, wit and talent.
Mahdison said the pageant is a stepping stone towards
equality.
She promised that she will use her title to spread her
message of love to those who discriminate LGBTQ’s as their new chief of LGBTQAI+ rights
and welfare.
The winners of the first
Sandugo Queen. Contributed Photo |
***
Thanks for
your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome atleoudtohan@yahoo.com,
follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.