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Hollywood-like sign on Chocolate Hills mulled
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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 2nd 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.
***
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