Bohol’s bursting with twinkling displays; PH’s tallest Santa Claus found in Bohol

Bohol’s bursting with twinkling displays

(PH’s tallest Santa Claus found in Bohol)

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The Philippine bet to the first Mister Supranational AR de la Serna became one of the Top 20 finalists.  Diego Garcy of Mexico was named Mister Supranational. AR’s mom, Glorivic, was in Poland to support his journey. “You did your best AR.. .So proud of you tonight...Better things to come..Other doors will open for what's best for you.. Keep your head up..Love you lots,” she posted on Facebook. After the pageant, Glorivic and AR went to Vienna, Austria.

Scene:  A personal note: Thank you to the Association of Writers and Radio Announcers Foundation, Inc. (Awra), Bohol Literacy Arts and Cultural Circle (Blacc) and Lubas Sa Dagang  Bisaya, Inc. (Ludabi) for the “Feature Writer of the Year” Award to VRS  for the nth time during the 16th Awarding Rites on Dec 10 at JJ’s Seafood Village, K of C.  Gracias por todo!

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It took seven days for Carlito Tacgos and his team to finish the 28-foot-tall Santa Claus, the town’s holiday display.

The town plaza of Tubigon in Bohol undergoes

 a transformation, as they festoon the plaza with

 ten thousands of twinkling lights and elaborate 

holiday decorations.- Leo Udtohan

Tacgos, the municipal electrician, said that his six men were involved in its construction that began last Nov.  22.  The job was completed in seven days, nine days before the town’s fiesta last Dec. 8.

He cut and sewed the dress for the Santa. He said, however, it was challenging to clothe the Santa Claus since it was huge.

"We have new clothes for the Santa Claus for this year. Normally, we change the clothes every two or three years because it fade," said Carlito.

Sierra Bullones is a third class municipality situated in the interior parts of the province of Bohol. It is composed of 22 barangays whose major source of income is derived from agriculture.

The Santa Claus project started in 2001 during the first term of Sierra-Bullones Mayor Simplicio Maestrado Jr, according to Tacgos. He said the town skipped the parol (lantern), belen (nativity scene) and Christmas trees and went instead for Santa Claus this holiday season.

“Those were common in other towns. So, we chose Santa Claus,” Tacgos said.  “We thought it would be special for the people in our community and for others to celebrate Christmas,” he added.

The 28-feet Santa Claus in Sierra-Bullones town 

in Bohol province is getting much attention that 

people come to view and get pictures 

with the giant Santa Claus.- Leo Udtohan

Santa Claus is one of the icons of Christmas. For some, the idea of Christmas is intimately connected to the image of a chubby old man dressed in red and wearing black boots and belt and a white beard. This man, people called Santa Claus, Saint Nick, or just Santa, is the personification of Christmas.

Tacgos said the Santa is getting much attention that residents and tourists have come to view and get pictures with the giant Santa Claus.

The giant Santa Claus in Sierra-Bullones is a white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots.  He has eyeglasses, too. His other hand is carrying a bag and the other hand is making a high-five sign.

Tacgos maintained their Santa Claus is the tallest and largest in Bohol province and probably in the Philippines, though there were no official records. No other provinces in the Philippines have claimed either.

“Other towns have Santa Claus, but here our Santa Claus is gigantic,” said Tacgos.

It would be hard to miss the town’s holiday display because it is along the national highway, facing the town’s hall building.

Tacgos said the Santa Claus is facing the town hall which signifies the role of the local government unit of Sierra-Bullones.

“Santa Claus has displayed his love through the giving of gifts. Just like Santa, the local leaders are here for the people,” he said.

When Jocelyn Vitos, 29, from Tagbilaran City, chanced to visit the town during fiesta, she didn’t miss to have a photo with the Santa Claus.

“I am absolutely loving it,” said Vitos. “So, far the tallest I have seen. You’re really a dwarf at the giant Santa Claus,” she added.

But Vitos said she hopes the town can add another features for next year. She suggested a mailbox by the display for next year.

Glorivic Yap-De La Serna enjoys her trip in Europe

 to support her son AR in the first Mister Supranational. 

AR was included in the Top 20 of the said competition.  

Contributed Photos

“Perhaps putting letters in the mailbox for Santa can help. Can they add a reindeer please?” she said.

At night time, spotlights beam towards the Santa Claus so people can enjoy the view on a cold night.

The Santa Claus is on display until Feb. 2 next year.

In Tubigon town, thousands of bulbs and holiday decorations come to life once again at Tubigon Plaza making the town as the “Most Christmassy Place” in Bohol province. 

And we’re not talking about a Christmas tree or a simple nativity scene: Among the kitschy pieces you see are life-size snowmen, stockings, sleigh and reindeers, a giant bell and Christmas carols blaring from loudspeakers and tens of thousands of sparkling lights.

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AR de la Serna gears up for 1st Mister Supra ● ‘Pinoy Aquaman’ conquers Canigao Channel

The Philippines's bet AR dela Serna is now currently in Nowy Sacz in Poland for the 1st Mister Supranational pageant, to be held on December 3 (December 4, Philippine time) at the Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji (Hall of Sports).

AR, 23, hopes to become the country's first Mister Supranational titleholder.

AR has arrived in the city of Krynica-Zdrój in Poland last Wednesday night (Nov. 23, Thursday morning, Philippine time) for the pageant's preliminary events and activities, such as top model runway, photo and video challenges.

Mister Supranational-Philippines 2016 AR dela Serna, 

our bet in the Mister Supranational pageant, 

is now in Poland deadest on bringing home the country’s f

irst Mister Supranational title. Courtesy: AR dela Serna  

"It is very cold here," AR told VRS on Facebook chat.

And it gets even busier. In the coming days, AR will participate in a number of much-anticipated events such as the talent show, preview and contestant interviews.  Preliminary competitions will be held also in Slovakia on Nov. 27-29.

AR said he is ready for the pageant. In the weeks after he won Mister of Filipinas’ Mister Supranational, AR underwent courses on personality development and public speaking, attended Polish language classes, did rigid gym workouts, fielded incisive questions during interviews, took up good-grooming lessons  and took (pieces of) advice from colleagues and mentors on how to keep that “winning/fighting” spirit up.

“I've been training for quite some time. I'm only gonna be showcasing who I am. As I represent the country. I assure everyone that I am prepared to represent the country,” AR said.

AR, the first Mister Supranational Philippines, is among pageant enthusiasts' favorites to enter the Mister Supranational.

“I've set my life towards the goal.  I've kept a very healthy lifestyle,” he said.

The live televised event will be held at the Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji (MOSIR), Krynica’s main events venue with capacity for 3,000 people.  The production promises to be a total success.

(Note: To help AR to win the premier edition of Mister Supranational, you need to download the MobStar app. If he gets the MobStar People’s Choice Award, he would easily advance in the semifinal round during the finals night!)

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‘Pinoy Aquaman’ swims Bohol to Leyte

Harold Bernales didn’t miss the chance to witness the historic swim of environmental- triathlete lawyer Ingemar Macarine, also known as the “Pinoy Aquaman,” on Sunday morning (Nov. 20), on his attempt to cross the Canigao Channel.

Bernales, 14, said he heard about Macarine’s feat on open sea swimming here and abroad.

“It was my chance to see him,” he said.

Lawyer Ingemar Macarine has attempted the first ever crossing of the Canigao Channel on Sunday. His non-stop and unassisted swim started from Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Island to Maasin City, Southern Leyte. The Canigao Channel swim has a total of 17 kilometer distance.  -Leo Udtohan

He accompanied his father, Paquito, who was the boatman of the escort boat.

Macarine’s attempt to cross the Canigao Channel was organized by Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes.

He aimed at raising awareness of the need to promote clean seas and Ubay tourism.

“I am promoting tourism in Ubay Bohol, and for clean seas and beaches,” Macarine said.

After applying sunblock lotion, he took time to pray Psalm 23.

Pinoy Aquaman with  Leyte residents at Guadalupe Port. /Leo Udtohan

At 6:06 a.m. on Sunday, Macarine started his swim from Barangay Tugas in the island municipality of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) to Maasin City, Southern Leyte, which is part of the Canigao Channel. The swim would cover a total of 17 kilometer distance.

He said strong waves and currents kept pulling him off course so he had to change direction.

“The first 10 kilometer was a very rough swim while the last seven kilometer was swim against strong current,” said Macarine.

At 12:30 p.m., Macarine reached the Guadalupe Port in Maasin City, a total of six hours and 37 minutes swim of the 17 kilometer distance between CPG and Maasin City.

“I hope this swim will inspire our kababayan from Maasin City and from Bohol, and of course, all over the Philippines to take care more of our marine environment,” Macarine said.

At Guadalupe Port, he was met by residents to have photo ops with him.

Resident Elizabeth Ibale, 66, said it was his first time to know that someone could actually swim from Bohol to Leyte.

Lawyer Ingemar Macarine is the first person to swim from Bohol to Leyte. /Leo Udtohan

“Bilib ko sa iyang abilidad nga first ko nakakita og tawo  nga grabe ang langoy  tiaw bang harang layua..grabeh oi,” she said.

Macarine said he plans to return to the United Kingdom to swim the English Channel which was aborted last August due to bad weather.

“I will be back to do the English Channel this coming September 2017. Last August 2016, this year, I was in UK for two months but I was not able to swim the English Channel because of the bad weather.  I hope next year, to try again. So, this is actually part of my training,” he said.

He said he will swim Camiguin to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental on January 17.

Macarine has conquered seas in the United States of America and Philippines. He was selected as one of the three Heroes of the Environment for 2015 by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

Macarine, 40, who hails from Surigao, is currently the election officer of Tubigon, in Bohol province.

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