Beryl: Enjoying life the unconventional way

Wake-uppers:

Scene: It’s Island City Mall (ICM) September affairs to remember! Pretty girls out there ages 9-12 years old are invited to join the ICM Glamorous Princess. Audition is on Oct 5 at 3 p.m. at the Activity Center. Call (038) 501-3000 for info. There’s more…You can also pamper your grandparents on September 9 at ICM and experience free make-over treats, relaxing massage and win instant Php 3000 cash prize in the Bingo games. There’s more, more…Enjoy up to 70% discount from participating tenants and 10% discount from Home and Fashion department on Sept. 14, 15 and 16. There’s more, more, more…. watch GMA Kapuso artists on Sept. 15, 4 p.m. at Activity Center.

 

Udtohan

Scene: Our dear Ruth “Neneng” Udtohan (Nov. 4, 1983-Sept. 9, 2001) is lovingly remembered on her 11th death anniversary. As long as hearts remember, as long as hearts still care, we do not part with those we love, they're with us everywhere…

 

Scene: Is former provincial board member Felix Realista Uy finally ending his political career? The veteran lawmaker will no longer run for any position in next year’s election, saying he is “happy right now.” On the other hand, Brigadier General Joseph Sevilla (who was a provincial board member for many years) has reportedly plans to run in 2013 elections. “I’m still thinking,” he said. Brig. Gen. Sevilla is busy doing charity projects as chairman of the Reserve Officers Legion of the Philippines (ROLP) and a topbrass of the Guardian Forces Brotherhood International (GFBI).  

Scene: This week is diving for a cause. Plan International’s Because I am a Girl Campaign is on Sept. 15. It aims to gather divers for a cleanup dive inside and outside the marine sanctuaries of Balicasag Island and Barangay Tawala in Panglao Island. Registration fee for the activity is Php 4,000 inclusive of two boat divers, full set of diving gears, dive boat, dive master, sacks for the collection of underwater debris, certificate, souvenir shirt and buffet lunch. Non-divers are also invited to join the coastal cleanup initiated by the barangay councils of Danao and Tawala, Panglao. To register, e-mail info@boholdiversclub.com or text/call +63 918-979-5819.

 

***

Fate has a strange way of intervening in Beryl Elizabeth’s life. Years back, she was looking forward to working as a nurse before taking up medicine.

 

“I want to be a surgeon,” the dutiful daughter recalls. So she finished nursing as preparatory course for Medicine and passed the licensure examination in 2007 but because of Beryl’s adventurous attitude, now she finds herself doing a job she never imagined herself doing in Kayakasia Philippines Inc. (Email: kayakbohol@gmail.com, visit www.facebook.com/kayakasiaphilippines or text/call +63932-855-2928).  

“Ive been kayaking since 2003, it’s a hobby ra. I never thought I’d be in this business jud,” she recalls. “I have friends who are kayakers and they wanted to start up a company with an aim of promoting kayaking in Bohol, so they asked me to be part of it.”

 

She turned down the offer several times because she wanted to work as a nurse. Then one day she realized to accept the offer.  “Who am I to say no to a job offer when there are a lot of people who are jobless. So I took the job, they needed a woman in the team man gud especially in the office because paper works is not a man’s cup of tea,” adds Beryl.

Now, Beryl is so hooked on travel business (where she meets a lot of people both local and foreign) she has decided to kiss plans of becoming a nurse good-bye.

 

“Now its almost a year na naa ko sa company, I’ve seen it evolve and grow and I am happy about it. One thing I love about my job is that I get to have a chance to be awed by Bohol’s natural beauty and appreciate it in another perspective, in a way wherein only few people gets the chance to do and to be able to share the experience to everyone who comes to us,” gushes Beryl.

 

“Kayaking is the least destructive way to enjoy and explore the beautiful waterways we have. It keeps you more closely attached to nature and gives you the freedom to skim through the liquid skin of the earth through your own power. And we in Kayakasia Philippines Inc. is more than willing to promote this eco-friendly recreational activity in Bohol,” explains Beryl.

‘I’m sexy after a good run when I'm all sweaty and I’m catching my breath.’

 

Kayasia is the only one in Bohol which offers premium kayaking trip packages as such as Firefly Kayaking which is the best seller, Virgin Island Kayaking and Moonlit Dinner. They also offer Kayaking the two churches (Baclayon and Dauis), Kayak Snorkelling and Multi-day Kayaking Expeditions. They also give basic Kayaking lessons to the guests prior to every trip with the aid of certified kayak instructors as guides and they also do kayak retail.

 

Instead of further talking economics, Bared did “sexy talk” with Beryl so readers will not forget that, besides being a businesswoman, she’s first and foremost a sexy kayaker.

 

Those in-the-know Beryl was a campus beauty queen. She won Miss University of Bohol High School 2003 and Miss UB Personality 3rd runner up in 2003. Until now, she maintains the sexy look.

 

‘Kayaking is the least destructive way to enjoy and explore the beautiful waterways we have.’

“When do I feel sexy?” asks Beryl. “After a good run when I'm all sweaty and I’m catching my breath.”

 

What makes a man sexy? “There is something about a man’s arm that attracts me, especially when it is lean and not very muscular, just enough to be sexy. But still, if a man has the brains and can talk to me about anything under the sun then he is the sexiest for me.”

 

What is the sexiest part of her body? “My lips,” she giggles. “Because it can convey my emotions and I can send them across like when I’m happy I smile, I’m sad, I pout and when I’m hyped up, I pucker up and offers a kiss! Ha! ha!”

 

Read: Beryl will let your imagination run wild, but she won’t show everything. She can give you the come-hither look, but she won’t let you go further. Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

***

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

l-r DYRD reporter Jun Gutierrez, Brig. Gen Joseph Sevilla and DYTR reporter Edward Guyano

 

• Hollywood-like sign on Chocolate Hills mulled • Divers to clean island for girl’s rights on Sept. 15

• Hollywood-like sign on Chocolate Hills mulled

• Divers to clean island for girl’s rights on Sept. 15

 

Wake-uppers:

 

Scene: Rainfall, earthquake and blue moon on Friday! The blue moon appeared at 9 p.m. after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck off the eastern coast of Samar province triggering tsunami warnings across a wide swath of Asia.

 

“A blue moon does not actually refer to the color of the moon rather it means two full moons in one month,” my six-year-old nephew Kotik told me.

 

The morning after, Sept. 1, Filipinos have reason to smile as the cool “ber” months begin, ushering in the joyous countdown to Christmas.

 

Radio programs begin playing holiday tunes as the world’s longest Christmas season unfolds in the Philippines. Now that the “Ber” months is finally upon us, the mornings are expected to get colder in the coming days.

 

(Note: I won again in our “Who Can Greet First Merry Christmas on September 1” with my high school classmate and UB High School principal Elaine Joy Auza. Joy, I won it for the nth time He! He! He!)

 

Scene: The most anticipated search for Mr and Miss Saint John the Baptist Academy (SJBA) Personality 2012 is on Sept. 6, 7:30 pm at Garcia Hernandez gym. “The beauty, prestige and tradition continue…there are six boys and six girls who will compete for the most coveted titles,” SJBA principal Ramon Caresiosa posted on Facebook.

 

Scene: Bohol-Buhol, the group art exhibit of Boholano artists in Manila on Sept. 8. Bohol-Buhol aims to highlight the beauty and wonder of Bohol in the merry tangled colors, forms and imagery in the paintings, mixed media and sculptural pieces.

 

Buhol-Bohol's exhibiting artists include Cesar Montano, Eric Catot, Guy Custodio, Glen Lumantao, Irish Glori Galon, Jhacky Curambao,Joey Labrador, Jef Sisican, Josefino Montano, Lito Masalta, Nene Lungay, Rhants Anunciado, Ric Ramasola, Rico Tompong, Rommel Montano and Sam Penaso.

 

Hollywood in Bohol

Bohol-Buhol is on September 8 (6 p.m.) until September 15 at the Renaissance Gallery, 4th floor of SM Megamall Building A, Mandaluyong City. Call +639283482268for more info.

 

Scene: A picture of Chocolate Hills with a massive “BOHOLLYWOOD ” sign on a hill, just like the one Hollywood is now circulated on Facebook. Local netizens found the idea funny at best, and stupid at worst.  However, the Hollywood-like sign on Choco Hill is not existing. It’s digitally manipulated photo. “The municipality of Carmen or the province of Bohol may not erect a landmark similar to the iconic Los Angeles’ “Hollywood” sign.  Remember how the Hollywood-like sign in Batangas mulled? It maybe sound ‘hard-to-miss landmark and potential tourism draw’ but not yet the right time,” said VRS.

 

***

SK Danao crowned Miss Panglao 2012

 

Miss SK Danao, 19-year-old Meshellane Real Jade Cajels, took the title of Miss Panglao 2012 last Wednesday, Aug. 29, organized by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation of Panglao.

 

The 5 foot 7 beauty queen beat out 16 other contestants, including Miss SK Doljo Jessamine Flores and Blez Jamessa Oliquino of Balicasag Island, who were first and second runners-up, respectively.

 

"Thank you," Cajels said while she burst in tears after her win was announced.

 

Cajels

Cajels, a nursing student who says she wants to become a good nurse, also named Best in Gown, Best in Interview, Miss Photogenic and Face of the Night .

 

“The Miss Panglao Pageant is a unique pageant since there is a strong emphasis on youth empowerment and dynamic involvement in community activities,” said Amira Montero, SK Panglao federated chair.

 

Last year’s winner, Miss Panglao 2011 Judith Anne Cruz launched her Math Literacy project to give free basic Math tutorials to academically-challenged students.

 

The Miss Panglao Official Theme Song “Truly Beautiful” composed by Deo Guden, arranged by BJ Baylon and interpreted by Joseph Gara was launched during the Talent Night Showcase.

 

ABS-CBN stars Aldred Gatchalian and Jason Abalos added glitter and excitement to the event. Talented Kimberly Gango sang and danced also together with performing talents from Panglao.

 

Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal emceed the pageant with Miss Panglao 2011 2^nd runner-up Mary Rose Butalid as anchorwoman.

 

The judges were Pureza Chatto, Irena Heberer, president of Rotary Club of Panglao Island; Marybeth Chan, president of Marc and Mattheaus Group of Companies; Marietta Gasatan, president of Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Karin Wesemael, owner of Linaw Beach Resort; Dianne Necio, 2011 Bb. Pilipinas- International, 2012 Miss International Top 15 finalist; Joyce Ann Burton, 1985 Bb. Pilipinas- Universe, 1981 Miss Young International Top  Ten Finalist; Franz Eichenauer, CHA, general manager of The Bellevue Resort; and Lady Cely Chiongbian, Cebu- based philanthropist and socialite.

 

***

Divers to clean island for girl’s rights

 

Divers will be under the surface of Balicasag Island on Sept. 15, picking trash and other stuff from the depths of Bohol’s popular divesite, during the Plan International’s Because I am a Girl Campaign.

 

The Dive Cleanup for Girls’ Rights aims to gather all female divers for a cleanup dive inside and outside the marine sanctuaries of Balicasag Island and Barangay Tawala in Panglao Island.

 

“Participation of male divers are also considered since campaign promotes gender equality,” said John Vivica, program coordinator of Plan International. Aside from the environmental cause, all participants will be given orientations on children’s right, Plan’s Because I Am A Girl Campaign, and coastal resource management.

 

“Let’s talk about the rights of children and their protection from harm caused by disaster, environmental degradation and climate change. Then take a glimpse into one of the richest coral reefs in the world in Balicasag Island,” added Vivica.

The Dive Cleanup for Girl’s Rights was conceptualized to coincide with International Coastal Cleanup Month, which is observed every September and to build up towards the celebration of the first ever International Day of the Girl Child on Oct. 11, 2012 (10-11-12).

 

The Because I am A Girl Campaign of Plan International was linked to this environmental celebration because Plan believes that all girls and boys have the right to be protected from harm caused by disaster,environment degradation and climate change. Girls, in particular, have special needs that must be taken care of during times of emergencies and disasters.

 

The event will be held in partnership with the Bohol Divers Club whose general manager, Darwin Menorias, played an important role in the conservation of Bohol Marine Triangle. This area comprises the islands of Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan and constitutes a passageway of whales and dolphins with coral reefs ranging from fair to good condition.

Registration fee for the activity is Php 4,000 that includes two boat divers, full set of diving gears, dive boat, dive master, sacks for the collection of underwater debris, certificate, souvenir shirt and buffet lunch.

 

Non-divers are also invited to join the coastal cleanup initiated by the barangay councils of Danao and Tawala, Panglao.

 

All interested divers can register to info@boholdiversclub.com; text/call +63 918-979-5819.

 

"At the end of the activity, all participants are expected to support the advocacies on gender equality among children and coastal resource management, establishing that boys and girls can benefit from both a world that is gender and disaster resilient," added Vivica.

 

Founded 75 years ago, Plan International is one of the oldest and largest children’s development organizations in the world. Plan’s vision is of a world where all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity.

 

***

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