Joshua Marapao Lillehagen: 'Always be kind even to those who aren’t'

By Leo Udtohan

Joshua Marapao Lillehagen is Bohol's representative to the "Great Man of the Universe". Photo: Aplaya Multimedia

The first thing that people notice in Joshua Marapao Lillehagen is his towering height, even when he was Sandugo Festival King 2018. 

Zoom out a bit and you notice his good looks that, according to TAN manager Roger Ryan "Khim" Magtagad, “he is getting more handsome each day,” and then, zoom out some more, his well-kept, well-toned body. “Not to brag but women and pa-women swoon over his goodlooking looks whenever he goes to the malls here and even in Dubai and Australia," adds Khim who has an eye for beauty and brawn. 

Joshua, 19, who hails from Calape town, is Bohol's official representative to the "Great Man of the Universe"-Philippines search which will culminate this November. 

Last week, he had a courtesy call to Gov. Aris Aumentado to seek support for his upcoming participation in the pageant. He was definitely thrilled to have discussed his plans with the young governor. He expressed his gratitude to Aumentado for the warm welcome and manifestation of support. 

Joshua is now in Dubai for a vacation while at the same time undergoing a training program focused on the physical, mental and emotional strength needed for the search. 

He said joining the "Great Man of the Universe" is the smartest thing he has done so far. 

"I think the smartest thing I’ve done so far was joining this pageant, Great Man of the Universe Philippines, and gaining exposure and getting back into modelling, which is a passion of mine ever since 2018 when I first started modelling," Joshua said. 

And what are his preparations for the contest? 

 

"I’m really giving this pageant my all. I’m watching what I eat, making sure I’m not consuming too many carbohydrates. I’m also going to the gym six times a week, doing cardio in the night and in the early morning to lose fat and keep myself in shape," he said. 

"I’m also doing facials at House of Beauty, and taking good care of my skin to reduce the amount of break outs I have. I also went to my dentist, Vertulfo, to get my teeth whitened. And finally, I get my nails done at Nailux so that my hands always look clean," he added. 

A Sagittarius, Joshua stands 6’2”; weighs 176 lbs.; and wears small-size shirt, medium-size briefs and size-13. 5 shoes.

Have you always wanted to join modeling since you were small? "I’ve never actually thought about doing modelling as a kid, however it has always been my dream to get into acting and becoming a big movie star one day. It then became a dream of mine to become an ABS- CBN actor too after watching TFC (The Filipino Channel) with my Lola when I was a kid."

Would you rather be smart but not too handsome or handsome but not too smart? "I would rather be smart but not too handsome because I was told when I was around 15 to 16 years old that looks are temporary, however knowledge is forever, and knowledge is power."

Joshua Marapao Lillehagen: 'I feel like my best asset is how brave and competitive I am. I never back down from a challenge and when I do take up a challenge I will do anything and everything to win.'  Photos: Litrato ni Juan by John Michael Ladura and Aplaya Multimedia

What are you taking up in college?  "I’m currently doing my Bachelor’s degree in media and communications in the University of Wollongong in Dubai. The reason why I chose this specific degree is because when choosing what I wanted to do for university, I wanted to get into acting school, however my parents weren’t going to support me financially with that degree because acting isn’t a certain career path, you need a little bit of luck and connections in order to get into that. So I chose media and communications because that’s the closest thing I could get to acting in front of the camera, I would at least be behind the camera."

What do you think is the biggest decision that you’ve made in your life? "To be honest with you, even though it was the smartest decision I’ve made it was also the hardest decision I’ve made too because I never actually had plans to get back into modelling and this opportunity came out of absolutely nowhere. I know most people would probably take this opportunity in a heartbeat, but in all honesty I wasn’t ready for it. I was out of shape, and I wasn’t taking care of myself and shaping myself for modelling anymore since Covid hit."

What is your motto in life? "My motto in life is to always be kind, even to those who aren’t. I’ve learned throughout the years is that when you leave this earth, nobody cares how well you did in your English test back in grade 7, but people would care about how you helped them study for it, especially if they get a good grade because of you. However long you are in this life for, always try and do good no matter who the person is, because at the end of the day people will care about your heart rather than your mind."

What are your winning traits? "My winning traits are that I’m resilient, I’m trustworthy, I’m loyal and I’m respectful."

What winning tips you get from your trainor/ handler? "Some winning tips I get from my handler is to never give up."

How do you handle bashers?  "I invite them into my life because that’s my sign that I’m making it and I’m close to success."

Do you have secrets sustaining your pogi points?  "Eat, sleep, repeat."

What is your best asset and why? "I feel like my best asset is how brave and competitive I am. I never back down from a challenge and when I do take up a challenge I will do anything and everything to win." 

What advocacy experience do you have? Maybe you have an important message to share ... and being a model would be the venue or forum to start your advocacy. "Some advocacy experience that I have is giving back to my community, especially in Calape. Calape has helped me so much whenever it came to my modelling, whether it was supporting me or even just the wildlife and scenery. Because of this, I enjoy giving back to my community after all the help they have given to me."

Who’s your role model?" My role model is my father. He has always been the one person I have always looked up to and listened to whenever times got too rough, and when it comes to really big decisions I always ask myself what would my father do."

Any other woman whom you admire? "A strong and powerful woman who I admire is my mother. She’s the person who gave birth to me and raised me when I was a child and taught me what’s right and what’s wrong. Without her I don’t know where I’d be in my life."

How you will convince people here and abroad that it is more fun in Bohol? "It’s all in the saying, Bohol has it all, and it’s all in Bohol. Which is very true, based off of all the tourist attractions and numerous activities you can do on this beautiful island, it truly has no boring days. You can always do something in Bohol any and every day of the week. Bohol has some of the most beautiful scuba diving and free diving sites if you’re into that, but if you’re afraid of the ocean then you can always find something to do at Island City Mall, or visit the world famous Chocolate Hills and climb over 200 steps to go up the mountain. There is always something fun to do in this beautiful island, Bohol."

Bohol's "Great Man of the Universe" Joshua Lillehagen pays a visit to Gov. Aris Aumentado. Also in photo is Lillehagen' s manager Roger Ryan "Khim" Magtagad. Photo: Aplaya Multimedia

What place in Bohol you would like to promote and bring your friends?  "To be honest there isn’t just one place in Bohol I would promote and bring my friends to because the island of Bohol as a whole is a beautiful island and there’s always something to do no matter what province you travel to. You can always travel to the Chocolate Hills and see the beautiful view at the top of one of the mountains you can climb, or you can go into the city of Tagbilaran and experience the night life, or if you’re a daytime person you can go into any of the malls and shop for good quality clothes or delicious food with the friendliest staff. Bohol as a whole is an amazing island, and there’s too many places in Bohol that are a great place to visit that I cannot choose one specific place."

What qualities of the Boholano youth would you highlight? "Their resiliency."

What is your favorite quote? “Don’t waste your time with explanations, people only hear what they want to hear.” - Paulo Coelho

Describe yourself in three (3) words:" Resilient. Trustworthy. Spiritual. Resilient - no matter how many times I get knocked down I will get right back on my feet again. Trustworthy - no matter what I will always try and tell the truth in full, even if the truth will hurt.  Spiritual - no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I will always turn to God for help if I’m at a low point in my life, and I will always thank God when I’m at a high point." 

How's your love life? "I don’t have one." 

What do you find sexy in a woman? "Her personality." 

And what turns you off? "Lack of personality."

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.

Facebook is upset that Miss Maribojoc didn’t win Miss Bohol crown

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The 176 exhibitors from the different parts of the country for the 13th Sandugo Trade Expo 2018. “ This will sustain the operation of micro small and medium enterprises for the next year. It means job, income and employment in the countryside,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Director Aster Caberte.

Scene:  Joshua Lillehagen of Calape town was crowned Sandugo Festival King 2018. He also received the awards: Mister Social Media, Darling of the Crowd, Best in Raja Si Katuna Costume and Best in Sandugo  Festival Costume.

Scene:  At least 500 members from different groups and cause-oriented organizations gathered last Monday, July 23,  in Ubay town to hold a protest rally  against various issues and grievances in time of President Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona).   According to Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (Humabol) Secretary General Nelson Lumantas,  they gave Duterte a failing grade, as they burned his image.

Scene: Residents of Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, celebrated the “Koja Festival 2018” last Tuesday, July 24 at Caingget Beach.  Koja, a coral clam, is a popular delicacy in Bohol province.  Highlights of the festival were koja cooking, tuba (coconut wine) drinking and swimming contests.  The event was graced by Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, Councilors Jonas Revil Cacho, and Dodong Gonzaga. Congratulations to Booy Council headed by Captain Violy Ayeng. Cheers to koja divers and vendors!

Scene: With art ranging from paintings, sculptural works, performance arts and installations, the Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PVAF) in Bohol 2018 was one of the most intriguing events hosted in this city in time for the province’s Sandugo Festival. It gave visitors the opportunity to explore the culture and talent of Boholano artists and other artists from the country.  “Expressive, lots of emotions are featured,” said  BISU-Tagbilaran Education student Jamielaine Butawan. Butawan, 19, a resident of Cortes town, came to see the exhibit at the Island City Mall together with her friends Kathleen Jean Ayuban and Neil Amplayo.  “The art here said a lot about the artists from Bohol and other regions and how diverse everyone really is,” added Butawan.

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Everyone is still in frenzy over the recently concluded Miss Bohol 2018 pageant. However, not everyone was happy for the newly crowned Miss Bohol.

Miss Tagbilaran Raclaire Stephan Trigo beat out first runner-up Miss Maribojoc Ma. Mediatrix Escabarte and other 19 contestants  at the pageant at Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium in the capital city of Tagbilaran.

However, instead of the usual cheering, the audience booed the judges' decision, making it known that crowd favorite Miss Maribojoc’s first place wasn't good enough.

“It was a déjà vu,” Bohol Pageantology 101  page on Facebook posted.  In 2015, Miss Tagbilaran Eda Cimafranca who won the crown was also booed by the audience.

But this year was so deafening that audience booed and heckled at the winner.

The treatment of the Tagbilaran beauty queen was nothing personal. It had more to do with the city's sometimes “tense” relationship with its powerful northern neighbor.

 Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Stephan Trigo and Miss Bohol
 2018 first runner-up Ma. Mediatrix Escabarte are
 real beauty queens.
Contributed Photos/Gerald James Cabal/Miss Bohol

Trigo’s winning added to the theory that the Tagbilaran always is favored, a homecourt advantage, and a cooking show.

However,  Trigo kept her poise like a true beauty queen during the coronation despite the boos and chants of "Maribojoc!  Maribojoc!" that drowned out the moment.

The pageant emcees (whose voices were decibels down) and organizers didn’t step in and tell the crowd to calm down and respect the winner as the process was hard and stressful.

People have taken to social networking sites to vent out their frustrations. 

Trigo did not comment publicly after the contest.  The organizers have yet to issue a statement.

But what was disaster was the so-called “Walk of Shame” which was the most talked about in the social media.

Normally it should be the top 5 only who should be publicly announced to give a graceful exit to those who did not make it.  The organizers, however, changed the usual thrill of calling the top 5 . Instead, the 16 candidates were called one by one  to bid goodbye.

 “Where you can see a beauty pageant which insulted directly or indirectly the candidates by way of announcing first those who did not make it? You have insulted the candidates, their families their supporters and friends. How cruel and rude of you,” former society writer Gisela Mae “Jiji” Apalisok expressed her disgust on the walk of shame.

A beauty expert Papa Jack told VRS that the show tried to inject a new concept and it was not a “Walk of Shame” but a “thank you message.”

“If you’re watching a reality TV show or an America’s Top Model, that’s it. However, the Boholanos are not yet ready to embrace a new style,” said Papa Jack.

Others said that the “walk of shame” was rubbing salt to an injury and also an upfront to the towns.

The admins of Bohol Pageanthology 101 suggested that they shall assign a municipality  to be the host for Miss Bohol every year. “Through this we can boost the tourism of Bohol. Ang mga lungsod nindot ang mga gym nila. For example, next year, Ubay will be the venue of Miss Bohol. If Miss Bohol is promoting culture, heritage, and tourism, then let the venue go around Bohol,” they said.

 Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Stephan Trigo (center) and her court- (l-r)
Miss Bilar Jesseth Nez Pasagad (3rd runner-up),  2nd Runner Up
 - Miss Dauis Hannah Cemine (2nd runner-up), Miss Maribojoc  Ma. Mediatrix Escabarte (1st runner-up) and   Miss Ubay
Anasela Zarisa Gaviola (4th runner-up). Contributed Photo/Gerald James Cabal/Miss Bohol

US-based socialite and beauty pageant expert Mikey Gatal said there was nothing wrong with the new concept.

“In a positive way, it was not a ‘Walk of Shame’ for me because for sure the girls were briefed about that part of the pageant and they all agreed to that,” Mikey told VRS.

“As I have seen the video, they actually had given the opportunity to thank their supporters and not just clappers and totally be forgotten who they were after top 5 will be called right away, though time consuming but, I love the idea. Let’s all be happy, respect judges decision and others opinions,” he said.

Pageant fans also expressed their support for  Trigo, saying she was the real winner in their hearts. 

On his Facebook account, Crommuel Salitrero said that Trigo answered and delivered her thoughts with dignity, grace and pride. He said it’s not about the perfect answer but it’s always God’s will.

“When people booed her but still stood up and finish the fight with grace and confidence,” said Salitrero whose comment was shared many times on Facebook.

Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal said that the bashing hurt and wounded the hearts of the people directly behind the show’s conceptualization and execution.

“God knows how difficult it is to mount a show of such magnitude. There might have been lapses but clearly  the intention was not to malign nor degrade the girls,”  Raul posted on Facebook.

Miss Bohol 2018  third runner-up Jesseth Nez Pasagad said she blessed to have met such equally beautiful, smart and talented ladies.

“To Miss Bohol 2018, Raclaire Stephan Trigo, you’ve accomplished so much at such a young age and I am proud of you. May you have a meaningful reign,” Pasagad posted on Facebook.

Time to move on and support Trigo’s reign.

It’s like a sick leave for all those afflicted with “Miss Bohol Fever.”

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Mayor Che for Congress

The 2019 mid-term elections is promising to be exciting as several “veteran” and newbie politicians have signified their intention to run.

Former Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che” Toribio-Delos Reyes revealed her plan to run for congressman for the third district of Bohol. 

She declared, “Yes, I am definitely running. I am 100 percent sure!”

Mayor Che added, “My intention is clean. It’s the same genuine service from me because I just want to serve the people of the third district of Bohol.”

Mayor Che is known for the beauty soap “Beauche.”

 Former Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che”
Toribio-Delos Reyes is ready to run for Congress.
Leo Udtohan

She said she has nothing to fear and worry.

“God is with me and the people are with me,” she said.

Last Thursday, July 26, Mayor Che organized the Federalism and Anti-illegal Drugs Summit in Carmen town. It was attended by at least 2,000 participants-  mayors, vice mayors, barangay captains, kagawad, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, senior citizen and 4P's beneficiaries - from the third district towns.

Mayors who attended the event were Dimiao Mayor Danny Guivencan, Garcia-Hernandez Mayor Tita Galentes, Guindulman Mayor Ben Balo, Ubay Mayor Constan Reyes, Sevilla Mayor Juliet Dano, Anda Mayor Angelina Cimacio, and Pilar Mayor Eugene Datahan. Also present were Batuan Mayor Yes Tirol-Dumagan.

Speakers who talked about federalism and anti-illegal drugs campaign were Department of Social Welfare and Development acting secretary Virginia "Gee" Orogo, Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño, Rep. Francisco Datol,  lawyer Aimee Torrefranca Neri and former Laguna Governor ER Ejercito III.

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King Cesar’s Burger at Cesar’s Place

Where to find the best buns and patties in the province?

Take a clue from teen singer Darren Espanto who said that the best burger in town is in Bohol.

It was two years ago when Darren told burger lovers that 717 Cesar Place along CPG North Avenue (Phone: (038) 501 0785) has the delicious bun you don’t want to miss.  In fact, when  Darren was asked to weigh in on his favorite burger  he firmly asserted, “King Cesar’s Burger.”

Tourism and hospitality expert Ariel Llanos
of 717 Cesar Place shows the signature “King Cesar’s
Burger”  which has a delicious sweet kick.  Leo Udtohan

But it took me two years to experience it for myself.

 “Yummy! When I took the last bite of “King’s Cesar Burger” last Wednesday.

It was the hotel’s supervisor Ariel Llanos  who told me that their burger is deep and real.

“The Cesar  Place’s resto has burgers to tantalise every taste bud, no matter what you’re craving,” said Ariel, an tourism and hospitality expert. 

Each burger comprises a home-made beef patty with Mozarella cheese pickled onions, egg, fresh mushrooms on a sesame seed bun.  It is served with a side options of cheese fries and a sweet sauce.

Ariel also said that 717 Cesar Place, which is owned by Cesar Maluenda,  offers 20 affordable and clean rooms. 

Since it opened in 2016, it is managed by Camille Maluenda.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.