3 Miss Universe 2017 beauties enjoy ‘brief’ stay in Bohol

Wake-uppers:

Scene:  Sikatuna town is among Bohol’s most charming tourist attractions. It turned 100 last Dec. 5. “We’ve celebrated well as a community, our 100th year celebration was a great success,” said Mayor Jose Ellorimo. A strong working relationship with his fellow public servants, an effective strategic plan for the municipality and the close connections made with residents highlighted the three terms of Mayor Ellorimo.  He said he felt one of the most rewarding parts of being mayor was being able to look back at what’s been accomplished.

The girls get a warm welcome at Bohol Beach Club.

Photo by Helen Castaño

Scene:  The “Lovely Place” is Bohol's newest tourist attraction!  Found in Barangay Sua, Inabanga town, it offers a breathtaking view of the world famous Chocolate Hills, Sea of Clouds and Cebu! And there’s more... the “30,000 magical and lighted anthurium” are “planted” here.  More about “Lovely Place” next week.

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Is tarsier a monkey?

Miss Universe 2017 candidates- Miss Philippines Rachel Peters, Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova and Miss Malaysia Samantha James- were asked by tour guide Cristopher Boncales of the Bohol Tourism Office (BTO) when they visited a tarsier and wildlife sanctuary in Bohol province last Friday, Dec. 8.

Bohol is perhaps most famous for the tiny tarsiers, one of the smallest primates in the world.

The tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) is already a tourist symbol. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Philippine tarsier as a near threatened species. 

The crystal clear water and white sand on 

Panglao Beach leave Miss Universe 2017 candidates--- 

Miss Philippines Rachel Peters, Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova

 and Miss Malaysia Samantha James--- spell-bound 

as they visited Bohol province on Friday, Dec. 8. Leo Udtohan

Although tarsier is mistaken as a monkey because of its features, Boncales said tarsier is not a monkey but actually a primate.

“Wow, it’s so cute,” they said when they saw the timid tarsier hiding in one of the trees inside the 8.4 hectare of the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Barangay (village) Canapnapan in Corella town.

James shared they had a tarsier in Malaysia.

The Philippine tarsier is commonly found on Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao.

“What happened if I will touch a tarsier?” asked Peters.

Boncales said the Miss Universe beauties were so “inquisitive” that they wanted to more about Bohol.

Peters, Alexandrova and James arrived in Bohol at 10:40 a.m. on Friday.  They were met my local officials, BTO and Department of Tourism (DOT)- Central Visayas and fans at the Tagbilaran Airport. They proceeded to People’s Mansion where they met acting Bohol vice-governor Benjie Arcamo, Bohol first lady and Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto, provincial administrator Ae Damalerio and provincial legal officer lawyer Mitchell John Boiser.

Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova and 

Miss Malaysia Samantha James hit the beach! 
Photo by Helen Castaño

They were given a raffia, a native product of Bohol and a copy of the book “The Bohol We Love”.

After brunch, the Miss U beauties did not waste any time taking in the beauty of the place.

They went to the tarsier sanctuary in Corella town. They just stayed there for half an hour and proceeded to Bohol Beach Club on Panglao Island, known for its pristine and white-sandy beaches.

Alexandrova and James were spell-bound as they swam in the crystal waters of Panglao. They also took a banana boat ride, another fun and popular activity in the island.

Although they stayed only for five hours before their 3:30 p.m. private flight to Manila, they said they enjoyed their stay.

“I love it. Really. It’s my first time in Asia and I am so happy that I started in Philippines,” said Alexandrova.

She said she fell in love with the beauty of the Philippines.

“It’s so beautiful, it’s so different in my country. I really enjoyed, I really loved it. It’s so beautiful. People here (are) too kind,” she added.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Samantha told the girls while having her mango shake on the beach.

Miss Russia Kseniya Alexandrova  (with your VRS) 

on Bohol: ‘I’m falling in love with this fabulous paradise. ‘ 

Photo courtesy: Mike Ligalig 

Peters, who visited Bohol twice, agreed, “The best part after Vegas.”

Boncales said the beauties wanted to see more of Bohol.

“Unfortunately because of the time element kinapus ng oras. Kaya naghihinayang kasi they wanted to see more of the island especially the beaches and of course the Chocolate Hills,” said Boncales.

But for Alexandrova, she said she had a good reason to come back.

“I will definitely come back,” she said.

“And I will bring my friends,” she quipped.

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

Tarsiers find new 'home' in conservation area in Loboc, Bohol, Philippines

Here are some interesting facts about the Philippine tarsier, the smallest primate in the world:

• They are nocturnal creatures.
  
• The Philippine tarsier is found in southern Philippine islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
• It is variously known to the natives as "mamag," "mago," "magau," "maomag," "malmag," and "magatilok-iok."
  
• Tarsiers belong to the primate suborder haplorrhini or “dry-nosed” primates.
• The name “tarsier” originated because of the unusually long tarsus bones in the primates’ feet.
• Tarsiers have enormous eyes, in fact, each eyeball is bigger than the animal’s brain!
• They are one of the smallest known primates, generally no bigger than a man’s hand (about 10-15cm in height and between 115 and 130g in weight).
• They are the only completely carnivorous primates on earth, feeding predominantly on insects (including beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches, butterflies, moths, praying mantis, ants, phasmids, and cicadas) but also catching snakes, lizards, bats and other small vertebrates.
• A tarsier’s hind legs are twice as long as it’s body and enable it to jump fast and far (up to an incredible 3 metres) so it can catch its prey. Tarsiers have even been known to catch birds in flight.
• As well as long legs, tarsiers have long fingers. The second and third digits of the hind feet bear claws rather than nails, which the animal uses to groom its soft brown fur.
• The family Tarsiidae is a staggering 45 million years old, and boasts the longest unbroken fossil record of any primate genus.
• They are suicidal. Yeah, when stressed.
  

Here is my script submitted in a network:

Mga tarsier ng Loboc inilipat na sa isang conservation area

Pagkatapos ng maraming debate at alitan ng local na pamahalaan at ng mga pribadong tao na may tarsier viewing facilities, ibinalik na sa kanilang natural habitat ang mga cute na tarsier sa Loboc sa lalawigan ng Bohol noong July 22, Bohol Day.

Sa conservation area na ito na may lawak na 2 hektarya na bahagi ng kagubatan ng Loboc ay malayang makakilos ang mga tarsier kaysa noong nasa maliit na cage pa sila.

Mahigit 60 na mga tarsier ang inilipat at ang mga natitirang iba pa o mahigit 113 ay ilalagay sa darating na mga araw.

Enjoy na enjoy naman ang mga turista na pumupunta sa bagong area para magpapicture taking.

Nasaksihan ni DENR Undersecretary Michelle Angelica Go ang launching ng Tarsier Conservation Area at ang maliit na tarsier na ito ay kanyang ibinalik sa natural habit habang binigyan niya ito ng pangalang "Harry Potter."

Ang tarsier ay itinuturing na pinakamaliit na primate sa buong mundo.

Noong 2009, ipinagbawal ng Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-005 “alagaan, idisplay at pagkakitaan.” May naulat na rin na mga tarsier na sobrang nastressed at nagsuicide.


NOTES: Provincial Ordinance No. 2009-005, “prohibiting the possession, display for viewing for commercial or business use, or any other purpose not included in the ordinance, of the Philippine Tarsier outside of its natural habitat and from Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and imposing penalties thereof.”

The population of the extinct Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) will continue to shrink as the provincial government, despite an enacted ordinance, remains helpless against a national government bureau who continues to issue permits for the tarsiers’ public viewing.

“Tarsiers are supposedly to rest during daytime because they are naturally nocturnal in their habitat. But what is happening now is that these primates are forced to move during the day while captivity to please tourists. The pets must stay awake while hundreds of visitors come to see and “touch” them. This on top of the artificial habitat which cannot provide their “ecological needs”, a condition that indeed make the tarsier stressed and threatened.

Here is Chito Visarra's report printed in the Bohol Chronicle:

After decades of living in captivity in cramp quarters crudely resembling their natural habitat – the tarsiers are back to the wild. Some 60 cuddly tarsiers that have captured the hearts of millions of visitors will now call home an initial six-hectare wooded lot now called the Tarsier Conservation Area located in Barangay Upper Bonbon, Loboc town. A stone's throw away from the man-made forest in Loboc, the new home of the Bohol Tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta fraterculus) was the choice of the DENR and the 16 tarsier permittees due to the abundance of second growth, primary and secondary forest and dense low level vegetation – the close to ideal habitat requirement of the tarsiers. But it was a rude awakening for the 16 cm. "maumag" as they are locally known, as their arrival was greeted with rain and a rousing welcome from the local community.

In a symbolic emotional ceremony releasing the tarsier to their new quarters, DENR officials led by Assistant Secretary Michelle Angelica Go gently freed from the palm of her hand a shivering and wet tarsius, she offhandedly named "Harry" into its forested home.

The tarsiers allowed to be displayed for public viewing by the DENR were mostly housed along the highways of Loboc together with several known tarsier viewing kiosks spread in the neighboring towns of Corella, Loay, Dauis, Panglao and Sagbayan.

German Palapar, president of the newly formed Bohol Tarsier Permittees Association told the Chronicle that the group has pooled resources to the tune of P1.5 million to transform the area into a world class tourist destination without sacrificing the tarsiers native habitat.

An initial three-hectare area is now ready for tarsier viewing with pebbled pathways for visitors laid out around the wooded sanctuary while a thatched-roofed waiting area showcasing tarsier souvenirs has been constructed to accommodate the expected influx of visitors.

A 60-vehicle parking area with modern and clean rest rooms are all part of the 25-hectare Tarsier Conservation Area.

Umbrellas are also available for the visitors during inclement weather while trained guides will usher tourists around the hilly terrain.

TRANSITION PERIOD

But Palapar cautioned the public that since most of these tarsiers have been domesticated and coddled, the transition from a pampered existence to a life free from human interventions could be stressful to the newly freed tarsiers, as well.

Palapar observed that the tarsiers, with a reported home range of one to two hectares were found to be confused with their new habitat perhaps awed by the ample space of their new environment.

The shift from a pampered life to the harsh realities of the wild, the tarsier permittees will gradually wean them from the comfortable and easy manner of feeding to the natural way of honing their hunting instincts, seizing their prey and bringing with their hands the food into the mouth.

Drenched by a heavy downpour the past few days, the tarsiers are still being fed with their regular diet of cultivated brown wriggling worms reportedly bought for sixty centavos per worm from specialty shops in Cebu.

With a reportedly daily food consumption of twelve grams, a tarsiers diet consists of spiders, small crustaceans and lizards, birds, crickets and grasshoppers, tarsier operators has resorted to feeding them "superworms" due to the dwindling availability of these insects.

Palapar also said that the transfer of pregnant tarsiers is now carefully scheduled to avoid unnecessary danger to the mother and offspring.

Palapar assured the public that measures are in place to prepare the tarsiers of the least stressful conditions during the transition period. FIRST CONCERN The first concern on the preservation of tarsiers started way back in 1997 with the creation of the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. (PTFI). The coordinated efforts of hotelier Anos Fonacier, banker Richard Uy, businessman Marlito Uy and Fr. Florante Camacho came as there was the absence of any serious efforts from the government on how to preserve this endangered species. The foundation which opened its 12-hectare conservation area was visited by several TV and print media documentation on the life and preservation of tarsiers. The famous forester Lito Pizarras is working with the group as the "caretaker" of the tarsiers where breeding is done within their netted area in the forested barangay in Corella town. Asked to comment on the opening of the Loboc site, Fr. Camacho, PTFI chairman told the Chronicle that he does not believe on the claim these Loboc-based operators have their tarsiers multiply in captivity. "What the PTFI is strongly objecting is the set-up where the tarsiers are caged and are allowed to be touched by tourists," Fr. Camacho stressed. Prior to the opening of the new site in Loboc, the tarsiers display, mostly at the Loboc riverbanks became the object of global criticism as they found how the tarsiers were being abused by the tarsier display owners who placed the tarsiers inside cages like birds. ROYALTY

The tarsier had a brush with royalty when Prince Charles of England, a known conservationist visited Manila on July 3, 1997 was allowed to be presented with a pair of tarsiers airlifted from Bohol.

The pair was immediately flown back to Bohol after the presentation in Malacanang in the presence of President Ramos and First Lady Amelita Ramos.

Classified by the DENR as an endangered species, the tarsier, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the mammal with the largest eyes, the sale and trade of the species is banned.

The PTFI together with the DENR is in the forefront of the campaign for the preservation of the tarsier.

A seven-hectare area in Corella, Bohol is home to the Tarsier Research and Development Center serving as venue for research and sanctuary of the tarsiers.

Listed members of the Bohol Tarsier Permittees Association are Vernie Eleazar, Nerio Salaga, German Palapar, Ma. Paz Trotin, Benito Jala, Mario Morala, Neria Saranillo, Buboy Labunog, Joven Ancla, Rosemarie Palapar, Ano Ponio and Alfredo Hilot.

Poked with sticks, blinded by flash cameras, enduring day long petting and forced fed by heartless tourists, can they now live in relative peace? With life beyond those small cramped cages a distant memory, can the tarsius syrichta fraterculus, the Boholano tarsier find happiness in the wilds of Upper Bonbon, Loboc?