Rajah Sikatuna winner angry over delayed prizes

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Bohol’s well-loved hairstylist Ryan Sines celebrated his birthday last Sept. 1 with an ultimate dinner. Bohol’s seasoned host Raul Gatal said, “It was a heady mix of friends from childhood, from school and from the beauty and fashion scene where Ryan is in great demand for the way he weaves magic and beauty to every girl’s crowning glory. Yes, Ryan is Bohol’s numero uno when it comes to stunning hairstyling. Women, men and even those from in- between including Bohol’s top socialites, beauty queens, models, brides and debutantes have availed of his services

When 2010 Miss Universe runner up Venus Raj flew

in to Bohol to grace the 2013 Miss Panglao Pageant, it was only apt that the honor of making up her fabulous hairdo would naturally go to Ryan Sines. It’s never a stress- free moment with Ryan when he is busy with your tresses.”

Scene: Watch out for the Wedding of the Year in December 2013! VRS has learned that the son (clue: WY) of a “powerful business family (PBF) was asking the woman's family (also PBF in Bohol) for her hand in marriage. Another clue: The bride-to-be is the goddess of the moon.

Seen: Spotted in Bohol last Friday was actress Isabel Oli. She described Chocolate Hills as “one of God’s amazing creations.” Kapamilya star Julia Barretto was also seen at ICM. Last week, Richard Poon and Christian Bautista were spotted in a wedding in Panglao.

Scene: From Ariel Fullido: R.I.P. MICHAEL. So sad about the tragedy that befall my good friend Michael Villa, who died last Sunday while trying to finish the 21K of the 37th Milo Marathon here. He used to be my running buddy, and always in tandem with him in every running event. We always chat each other at the CPG Sports Complex during running routines. Last Sunday's marathon, I was not able to participate because of a band performance at Doctors Cardio Summit 2013, at Flushing Meadows Resort and Playground, last Saturday night. I arrived home early Sunday at 3 AM dawn, and no time to go to the marathon since gun start is at 4 AM. I trained so hard for 4 months for the marathon but I didn't bother to join it, because no matter what, I always listen to my body first. All I did was just slept the whole Sunday morning, but when I woke up I just got the bad news of Michael's death. One member of our AGC Runners Club (name withheld) suffered a stroke due to heat, and landed in the hospital. So long, Mike!

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Ryan Sines with Venus Raj

Participants of this year’s Sikatuna: Rajah sa Bohol, a male beauty pageant, have accused the organizer, JCI-Boholana Kisses, of not giving them their prizes months after the event.

The pageant debuted on July 19, 2013.

Crowned Rajah sa Bohol Danilo Torrifiel Torcende said that the organizers told him he would receive his Php 10,000 cash prize as grand winner but he has not heard anything from the organizers and all efforts to get the prizes have proved futile.

According to Torcende, he and the other contestants paid Php 500 for the registration fee and also provided their own costumes at their own cost.

Torcende said JCI-Boholana Kisses President Adam Tagaktak could no longer be found in the city.

                   

“Maskin piso wala ko kadawat. Niduol ko sa ilang Vice President (Maria Escabarte- LPU) unya gipangita pa daw nila si Adam karun kay wala na magpakita,” Torcende told VRS. “The entire production gani wala pa mabayri.”

Non-winners, according to Torcende, were promised to receive a Php 500 consolation prize.

Last Wednesday, Torcende went to the PNP-Tagbilaran City to report the incident.

However, JCI-Boholana Kisses Vice President Maria Escabarte is not tight-lipped on the “pageant scam.” In her reply to VRS, she said, “Unfortunately, we can’t give you an official statement yet since we are still waiting for Mr. Tagactac's report. The organization has also been questioning Mr. Tagactac about the issue since he spearheaded the event and action especially on money matters has been taken by him.”

Danilo Torcende

(Note: VRS called, texted and messaged (on Facebook) Adam Tagaktak for his side but he never replied.)

Meanwhile, Bohol’s most popular hairstylist and make-up artist Tracy Remolador Torres also said that his “alaga” didn’t receive the prizes from Mr and Miss Teen Bohol 2013 organized by Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Bohol headed by Jethro Lim Imboy.

“Same sa Mr.and Ms Teen Bohol 2013 wapa sad gibugwak ang mga prizes dugay nani,” revealed Tracy.

Tracy added, “Ilaha promise nila after 3 weeks after the pageant ma-release na, now pila na ka buwan. Didto ko last week ingon karun daw nga week unya asa naman?”

SK staff Julan Crisale Cordova answered:

“For and in behalf of the Mr. & Ms. Teen Bohol Organizing Committee, we would like to inform the followers that we follow strict compliance in terms of the prizes in all our events. Upon during the orientation of this year's pageant we already inform the candidates regarding about the dealing of our prizes. Just like the previous year among gisunod and process sa mga national pageants that the prizes will not be release right after the pageant kundi more or less a month or 2 pa siya namu mahatag due to government processing method...and we make sure that the candidates will receive their prizes and we have the office nga ila ma visita or makita. Unlike sa nahitabo sa Rajah nga wala na gyud magpakita og dili makontak. In as much as we would like to release the prizes og Sayo but due to a very keen strict COA policy in processing government fund Mao nga nadugay. But rest assured we give our prices as promised. Also to inform everyone that the prizes last year were already given and done. This is to emphasize the followers that we have our office and our faces to answer all your questions unlike og dili pareha sa nahitabo sa Rajah.”

Tracy Torres with Julia Barretto

When Torcende posted his anger on Facebook about the “Rajah scam,” it has struck chord around the province, racking up people and it quickly found its way to the beauty pageant industry in Bohol.

Blogger Edik Dolotina said, “Why a lot of them happened in Bohol?”

Fashion guru Henry Baron also commented, “My advice to all the concerned winners, it’s better to go directly to legalities, the authority will take care of this very abusive act. A very malicious pageant such like this and the abusive act of the organizers concerned should not be tolerated....it’s a disgrace to all the gay community....”

The plot is thickening.

Stand by for further development.

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

Early favorites of Sikatuna 2013 candidates

Wake-uppers:
Seen: Jose F. Lacaba is the U.P. Gawad Plaridel Awardee for 2013.

Scene: Tomorrow, July 1, is the first day of office of all elected officials. In Tagbilaran City, it is also a non-working special public holiday as Tagbilaran celebrates its 47th charter day. Blogger Edik Dolotina posted on Facebook: May you remember why you are elected into public office.
Scene:  Island City Mall's "Voices of Champions" winners: Alma Mida Golosino (champion), Mecerdita Quiachon (first runner-up) and Tom Cesar Vergara (second runner-up).
 
Scene: A tarsier was found at the Forbes Park in Makati and died a day before it was going to be flown home. Tarsiers, which are not endemic to Luzon, was smuggled out of Bohol or in the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and also in Eastern Mindanao. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has identified the Philippine tarsier as a near-threatened species, with its population decreasing rapidly. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB) said that keeping wildlife is illegal, except among registered breeders and wildlife farms. It added that keeping tarsiers as pets is highly unadvisable because tarsiers are highly strung and sensitive.
 
Scene: PIA-Bohol planted a total of 93 indigenous trees including the all-time-favorite saguimsim, tugas and secondary growth forest trees in time for the Arbor Day, June 25.

Courtesy: Emerson Pinos

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Long before the current male beauty pageants flooded the market, in the '80s-90's there was a male beauty pageant in Bohol— the Ginoong Filipinas-Bohol— franchised and organized by fashion diva Maximiel Tallo, with hot looking men, some of whom were from buena familia.

The search produced winners who became models and product endorsers. However, in a sudden turned of events, the  Ginoong Filipinas- Bohol had its last show in 1997 which featured the collection of Cebu-based designer Protacio.

Courtesy: Emerson Pinos

"I can't remember who won the title," revealed VRS.

But what some people probably don’t know is that the Capitol official photographer Raymund Buslon was a candidate of Ginoong Filipinas-Bohol in 1997 and even declared second runner-up  and a special awardee.

"We all know that Raymund is not the type of a person who like that thing but he was there.  His mestizo looks were uncoventional but unarguably gorgeous that made him a runner-up," added VRS.

Courtesy: Emerson Pinos

After 16 years, a new male pageant is born. This time, it is called Sikatuna: Rajah sa Bohol (is it the answer to Hari ng Negros, a popular male pageant in the country which started in 2003 as Ginoong Canlaon, a city in Oriental Negros?)

But who's this Sikatuna who was a rajah (king) in Bohol?

History has it that Sikatuna (real name was "Katuna" but "Si" was added to his name as this is a nominative marker for a Filipino) was a datu or lord in Bohol, who made a blood compact and allianced with the Spanish conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It's the same Sikatuna in The Order of Sikatuna, a national order of diplomatic merit of the Philippines. It is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines.

The Sikatuna: Rajah sa Bohol commitee says: In celebration of this year’s 25th Sandugo Festival, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) - Boholana Kisses will showcase the first-ever SIKATUNA: Rajah sa Bohol – the quest for the most stunning young Boholano that truly represents the personality and physical attributes of Rajah Sikatuna. This activity plays a very significant factor in commemorating our grassroots who has been a big role in putting Bohol into the world map. This activity aims to preserve its importance and also promotes local tourism.

Buslon. Courtesy: Emerson Pinos

The search is over and fifteen (15) of the hottest men in the province will compete for the title.

The candidate from Getafe is an early frontrunner, a big favorite for the title especially because of his impressive pageant portfolio.

Twenty-year-old Danilo Torcendes, who stands 5'11, already represented his town in ICM modeling contests and fashion shows and attempted to become a youth ambassador in Mister and Miss Teen Bohol 2010 (which was revived last year) contest. He only landed until the top 12, but the experience proved to be invaluable.

Other early favorites (with 500+ Facebook likes) for Sikatuna are Neil Namuag  of Albur and Jericho Castro of Tagbilaran City.

The talent night is on July 19 at the Tagbilaran Tourist Port, while the grand coronation is on July 26, 7 p.m. at the Bohol Cultural Center. For tickets and inquiries, please call +639-0844-58604.

Teleserye lines we can't forget

If there are unforgettable movie lines, there are teleserye lines that are memorable. Remember the classic Pinoy movie lines, “You’re nothing but a second-rate trying hard copy cat!” (Cherie Gil in Bituing Walang Ningning) and “Walang himala!  Tayo ang gumawa ng himala!” (Nora Aunor in Himala)? I'm sure fans out there have their favorite catchy lines or memorable quotes from their favorite teleserye or soap opera.

In Be Careful with my Heart, a daytime television drama which is top billed by Jodi Sta. Maria, the simple, sweet and idealistic Maya and Richard Yap a.k.a. Sir Chief, some memorable lines are:

Kung sa tingin mo naman walang nagbibigay ng love sa iyo, huwag na huwag mong kakalimutan si God. Love na love ka nun.
 
Ang mga problema ay hindi hadlang sa pag-abot ng mga pangarap, ito ay mga gabay lamang.
 
Ang tunay na sekreto sa tagumpay ay pagsisikap at patuloy na pagbangon sa bawat pagkakamali.
 
Ang mga taong agad sumusuko ay hindi nanalo, ang mga taong laging panalo ay hindi kailanman sumusuko.

Kung lahat ng makakaya mo ay iyong ibinibigay, tagumpay mo ay walang kapantay.
 
Hindi mahalaga kung gaano ka katagal nabuhay, ang mahalaga ay kung paano ka nabuhay.

Now, on (controversial) My Husband's Lover, a primetime drama series on GMA 7 starring Carla Abellana, Dennis Trillo and new kapuso star Tom Rodriguez, the memorable lines are:

Naawa ako sa iyo, hindi mo matanggap ang sarili mo. – David
 
Hoy..ang lalaki ng katawan ninyo eh ang lalandi ninyo. Lumayas nga kayo rito. Kitang-kita ko ang kulay ng mga matris ninyo!- Roi Vinzon to the machong paminta na naglalambingan sa gym.
 
He is too barbaric kaya naging siyoke ang anak niya.- Roi Vinzon to Kuh Ledesma
 
Hindi ako perpektong lalaki, Lally...Kaya tulungan mo ako na maging deserving sa pagmamahal mo. - Tom Rodriquez to Carla Abellana
 
May iba't ibang klaseng bading. May nagdadamit pambabae, may parlorlista, may mahinhin kumilos pero nakadamit panglalaki pa rin. At tayo na hindi mo talaga mahahalata sa pananamit at hitsura. - Victor Basa to Tom Rodriquez

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