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Boholanos wow Sinulog crowd
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Pacman offers prayers for Bohol
Wake-uppers:
Scene: More than 5,000 participants from the different Christian
denominations and faith movements attended this year's National Bible Week and
2nd prayer gathering at the CPG Sports Complex, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Jan. 25.
Sarangani Province Rep. Emmanuel
"Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao was the guest of honor. The participants who cheered his name and
received him like a hero, listened intently as Pacquiao shared about the word
of God, sounding more like a pastor than a sports demigod. He encouraged the
crowd to read the Bible everyday and deepen their relationship with God.
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Rep.
Manny Pacquiao has led the crowd in prayer and shared as well his beliefs during
the National Bible Week in Bohol; and Pacman with Bohol 2nd district
Rep. Aris Aumentado and wife Vanessa Aumentado. Photo
by: LPU/Charina Aumentado
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Scene: Some Boholanos preferred to attend mass at the
St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral during the National Day of Prayer and
Solidarity last Jan. 20. Tagbilaran City Central Elem. School teacher Mrs. Clementina Gamil said, “My
prayer for the celebration of the national prayer is that we Filipinos will
help one another to keep peace and unity and we will be freed from catastrophe
like what happened before that God will be keeping us through Mama Mary.”
Scene: Former Sevilla SK municipal
federated president Karen Digal gave birth to her daughter with husband
former SK provincial federated president and San Isidro ABC president Doxson
Asoy last Friday, Jan. 24.
***
Cebu
was unmistakably the top destination last weekend.
“I
heard the drumbeat and saw the merry spirit of this year’s Sinulog 2014,” said my sis Arlene who was with me in Cebu last
Wednesday morning to meet some friends at the DFA.
Thursday
night I had a brief chat with Elvie Bongosia of PIA-Bohol and she said that
she, too, was going to Cebu but she didn’t make it because of the strong waves.
Friday
afternoon Edward Guyano and I excitedly talked about his trip to Cebu on
Saturday but he missed the chance to catch the last trip going to Cebu.
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Engr. Aprilmel Lupot and some Boholano models in Sinulog 2014. Courtesy: Engr. Aprilmel Lupot
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I
found out that Engr. Aprilmel Lupot, a proud Boholano and obviously a Santo
Niño devotee, was in Cebu not just to attend the Sinulog 2014 but was involved during the parade as the “float
manager” for the Bohol delegation.
“I
felt so fulfilled that I got involved in this year's Sinulog festival— that we didn't just
stay home and claim it a usual day— all for the
two things we both care about - Sr. Sto Nino and Bohol,” shared Engr. Lupot.
Oh,
sigh! The Panglao delegation failed to win in this
year’s Sinulog. But there’s next
time.
“Win or lose, Bohol made a statement that
we've risen after a great fall through the participation of Tribu Panglaoanon
in Sinulog this year. We may have failed to make it but no words can explain
how proud I am that we were represented in the grandest and most awaited
festival in the country. You made us more proud to be Boholanos!” said Bb.
Pilipinas World 2006 Anna Maris Igpit. “To Municipality of Panglao headed by
Mayor Nila Montero, choreographer Anthony,
Province of Bohol, SouthPalms, Boholanos who were on the float, propsmen,
instrumentalists and dancers, you all deserve a big congratulations for
representing us well. Your participation in the parade is a winning act already
that despite the earthquake that damaged some parts of our beloved province, we
are still thankful to Snr. Sto. Niño for keeping our faith stronger than ever.
Pit Señor! Bangon Bohol!”
The Sinulog
fever is now over but the memories live on.
Anyway, here’s an article from Engr. Lupot who says it all:
This year’s Sinulog
2014 celebration had a different meaning for a Cebu-based Boholana like me. I
initially thought I’d just watch everything on local television. Unexpectedly,
I became part of the grand parade and even had the chance to ride our float!
Tribu Panglaonon and
the team behind the Bohol float, assembled across Sunstar Building in P. Del
Rosario Street. Our dancers and instrumentalists were identified with their
gold costumes.
This is the first
time that the Province of Bohol, in collaboration with the Provincial Tourism
Council, displayed a float. It was designed by Bluegrass Project, Michael Yu
and Joseph Dumadag, and with the invaluable support of South Palms Resort
Panglao, through Mae Uy Yau. It bears the theme: “Beautiful Island, Beautiful
People”. It has a stylized representation of the iconic Chocolate Hills through
a series of arches running in the center of the float. The dominant white color
represents the hopes and aspirations of the Boholanos, and the purple color is
for the sweet and fragrant ube kinampay. Forest ferns, purple and lavender
dendrobiums, sonia boom orchids and purple mums adorned this magestic float.
What made the float
more appealing was the presence of our lovely models—siblings Erika (reigning Ms. UB
Personality 2013) and Erik Karcher, Kay Marie Berangel, Rami Harven Gallego,
Ms. Cebu 2012 3rd runner up Jonnie Rose Louise Wee, Mr. Philippines Youth 2012
and HNU student Ar Dela Serna, Mr. Rajah
Bohol 2013 Danilo Torcende, Best Model of the World Philippines 2004 Liza
Tandugon, Ms. HNU Personality 2013 Candy Cumayas and Jinlyn Talocod. Three of
our lovely models wore white couture dresses by designer Hanz Coquilla.
Hanz Coquilla is a
proud Boholano designer with a father who is from Antequera. He is known for
his remarkable participation in Project Runway Philippines Season 2, Cebu Young
Designers Competition 2006, Mega Young Designers Competition 2011, Look of Style
Awards 2012, Sunstar’s Best of Cebu 2013; and with designs featured in
magazines like Mega, Preview, Look, Style Weekend by the Inquirer; and an
international exposure on Fashion One TV and Traversing the Orient. Hanz was
the official designer of the Philippines for the recent Ms. Earth 2013.
The whole Bohol
contingent was able to start moving around 11:00 am. We made a turn to Mango
Avenue at 11:40 a.m., reached Fuente Osmeña Circle at 3 p.m., and arrived at
the Cebu City Sports Complex at 5 p.m.
The most amazing part
of the whole experience was seeing the people’s reactions when they saw our
dancers, instrumentalists, float, and most specially our models. The crowd was
cheering, shouting, screaming and taking pictures of the float and those on it.
Our models were thought to have been Mariel Rodriguez Padilla, Robin Padilla,
Enrique Gil, Xian Lim, among others. Well that’s quite a good comparison!
The Bohol contingent
was overwhelmed with the positive response shown by our Cebuano friends. It
was about
faith, devotion, warmth and hospitality — the very true spirit of this annual Cebuano
festivity called Sinulog.
***
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