Scene: If you Love To Dance, join the Valentine event at FoodMix Plaza Marcela on
February 14. For more info, please call or text 09075436669.
Scene: A socialite VRS
shared the rumors circulating in the river town. The “King of the Jungle” sent
a messenger to ask “Yes, Yes” to reimburse all that he had spent in advancing
himself as the challenger for a higher position. However, “Yes, Yes” camp reportedly junked it
with the response, 'If you think you can win it, go ahead'. “Yes, Yes” also
allegedly said. 'Why should I do it? I'm a candidate. That is not honorable.
Maybe after the elections, let's see how we can be partners for development.
But paying off a political opponent? That's untoward.”
“Take
note,” added VRS, “it's the King of the Jungle’s camp that made the offer. True
or not, one thing is certain. It is “Yes, Yes” who has the edge, because he
anchors his campaign on hard work and performance.”
VRS
also said that “Yes, Yes” has been instructed by his mother-in-law to stay
quiet, because that is what his constituents like in him--silently working
without bragging every inch of an accomplishment. "So, don't change,"
as he was advised. Maybe, he can report from time to time to update the people
how he is doing just for transparency, not for other reasons--worst, undue media
mileage.
VRS
shared this lesson: Campaign is not like
a commercial of a paint product that says you can suddenly become as white as
the wall behind you when the paint roller runs on you.
***
Recognize
any of those faces?
Let
us hunt down famous faces before they were famous.
Case No. 1: Luke
Mejares
was known as the Gary Valenciano of Bohol, singing and moving like the famous
singer, although he still maintains Michael Jackson is his most influential
artist.
When
he was in high school, Luke sang as front act for Joey Albert at a concert in
Bohol.
His
musical journey brought him to Manila in 1997 and he became a session singer
for several bands until he finally joined the South Border which he later left
and decided to go solo. Luke is married to Inger with whom he has a child.
Luke’s
favorite motto: Don't trouble troubles,
till trouble troubles you.
Case No. 2: (Councilor to-be) Joseph “Jojo” Bompat was a high school varsity
player. The Heights Highlights ’03 says:
His height as well as his skills granted
him the privilege to be a Captain Barbell of the school’s Basketball Varsity Team.
A big, naughty guy may seem but responsibility is something he could handle
very well.
Bompat
was the president of the Columbian Squires and member of the Baby Falcons.
Although
now happily, if quietly, settled with his high school classmate Joanne Rochelle
Aumentado Villamor, Jojo is taking the challenge to serve the people of
Tagbilaran, following in his father’s footsteps.
Case No. 3: Rotarian Alex
Bongawan was a popular campus leader. He was known as “siga” (very brave)
that all the students were very scared of his thundering voice. Pillars ’98, the University of Bohol
High School yearbook says: Alex has a good
sense of leadership. His strictness scares many but if you look at the good
effect- it saves you from doing spooky stuffs. He’s a leader who brings his
followers to a brighter end. He is a symbol of leadership and humility. He
might be serious at times but behind the façade of this serious looking man
hides a man with a very big smile and a truckload of jokes.
Alex,
who runs a travel agency, is presently the secretary of the Rotary Club of
Tagbilaran.
Case No. 4: Janice
Aurora Tirol, Ph.D.
was a popular campus figure. Pillars ‘97
says: She’s not just a girl- she’s a nice
girl with an attitude. When she wants something- she usually gets it.
Dr.
Nicey was one of the Philippines finest youth leaders who participated in the
34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) in 2007.
An
active member of the Rainbow for Girls, she is the head of the Student
Personnel Services of the University of Bohol.
Case No. 5: As I am typing this story, my sis Arlene, told
me that her batch had famous personalities. True enough, her 1992 high school
yearbook of Bohol National High School (BNHS) had prominent faces like Kit
Bagaipo and Dr. Janice Michelle Evardone-Sarigumba.
Janice
Michelle Evardone-- called Wowie by those close to her-- aimed high literally.
She graduated salutatorian at Manga Elementary School and BNHS and was also awarded
as “Mathematician of the Year.”
She
wanted to be a nightingale but fate took her to study physical therapy as an
academic scholar at Southwestern University (SWU) and passed the 1997 licensure
exams for Physical Therapists.
She
ranked #3 in the Civil Service Professional Exams for the entire Region VII.
She was a university scholar in the College of Medicine at SWU, where she
graduated in 2003 as Top 1 in her class, a recipient of the Matias H. Aznar
Academic Excellence Award (with highest GPA) and Southwestern University
Scholarship Award.
Wowie
was Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2nd Runner-up
in 1997 and Ms. Negros Navigation-Sea Angel.
***
Cielo, Sweet 16
Born
on January 14, 1997, a day before the feast of Senor Santo Nino de Cebu of whom
her father is a pious devotee, AJ
Wincielou Johanna “Cielo” Araoarao Gabin was to be the “apple of the eyes”
of her parents, Jerome John (of Siquijor) and Fiel Angeli, being the first
child of the couple, the first grandchild of the Araoarao family and the first
granddaughter of the Gabin family.
I
have had the opportunity of “babysitting” her at home for some hours with her
great grandmother, “Lola Pining,” 10 years ago, when her mother had to attend to
some office-related activities and beauty pageants.
As
the years have nurtured her, she is still very simple and easily contented,
after her experiences as a little girl who was at the top of her class (DML
Montessori School), as a pupil who has been consistently awarded as
“Outstanding in Mathematics” since elementary (Holy Spirit School) up to now as
a senior student (Tagbilaran City Science High School).
Her
strong inclination in Mathematics - thanks to her father’s genes - has taken
her to other parts of country and as far as Beijing and Tianjin, China for the
China Primary Mathematics Olympiad in August 2009 and to Nevada, Arizona,
California, Texas and New York as part of her stint in the International
Regions Mathematics League competition as member of the winning Philippine MTG
Teams.
On
the other hand, she must’ve inherited her grandmother’s (Wincesa Espejo
Araoarao, Bukang Liwayway Dance
Troupe founder) terpsichorean prowess as, in recent years, she was member of
the Tagbilaran City Science High School group which won in the Tagbilaran City
Schools Division “Kuratsa Boholana” competition in March 2011 and in the
University of the Philippines-Kadugong
Bol-anon – Iloilo Chapter LITMUS modern jazz competition in October 2012 (both
dances choreographed by her mother, Fiel Angeli) and performed in the CVIRAA 2011 welcome program
for the Cebu Province delegation and the Alay
Lakad 2012 program.
The
birth of her little brother, JF Regelbert Johnson “Renji,” after 14 years,
became her long-time wish granted. She strongly believes in family values as
manifested in having family meals, praying the Angelus and the Rosary and
attending Sunday mass together and considers faith in God and the love, care
and support of her family – Papa Jerome, Mama Fiel, Grandma Wincie, Mommy Lou,
Uncle Ondoy and Aunties Claire, Coeli, Diane, Nhenen and Bebe – her greatest motivating
factors in life.
***
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