After another eventful year, VRS revisits the stories
that moved us – the big news and the moments we can't stop talking about.
RARE PHENOMENA
Nature is mysterious and unpredictable, and often leaves
us open-mouthed at the inexplicable manifestations of its power.
Last Jan. 31, stargazers, occultists and Wicca followers
witnessed the rare triple moon phenomenon - the “super blue blood moon.”
The “super blue blood moon” was the first time that a
blue moon (two moons within the same month), a super moon (a full moon that
comes as close to the earth as it can in its orbit), and a lunar eclipse (also
known as a blood moon) happened simultaneously after 150 years.
Edward Guyano, a media personality, was waiting for the
rare celestial event that graced the skies. He gathered his crystals and other
gems for cleansing, blessing and renewal of power since many occultists
considered the phenomenon a night of compounded lunar activity.
In Ubay town, residents were treated to a rare phenomenon
o May 16 when the sun appeared surrounded by a halo of light.
The rare solar halo circling the sun has a natural
explanation: It is formed due to high clouds.
Scientists call it the halo because it has an approximate radius of 22
degrees from the sun.
Residents of Pilar town were surprised at a hailstorm
last August 24. Witnesses said it lasted for only about five minutes. The
residents were surprised of the hail, the size of a corn kernel.
It was the second time that a hailstorm had occurred in
the town. The first hailstone happened in March 1964.
NATURE’S FURY
Nature humbled us. On Feb. 13, Typhoon “Basyang” also
flooded several houses in Duero and Guindulman towns. The flood and mud also damaged the desks,
chairs, teaching materials and student records at the Guinsularan High School
and Guinsularan Elementary School (Annex) .
More than 300 people were in Candijay town when the
typhoon crossed the province. At least 180 hectares (444.79 acres) of rice have
been damaged or destroyed.
The typhoon drenched Tagbilaran City overnight but caused
no widespread flooding. The sprawling capital of 105,000 people has been hit
hard by floods in some areas because of poor infrastructure and clogged
drainage and water canals.
“Basyang” also destroyed some roads and bridges in
Guinacot Bridge in Guindulman and Abachanan in Sierra – Bullones town.
Farmers have been complaining of lack of rain that has
affected at least 6,000 hectares of rice fields in Bohol, considered the rice
bowl of Central Visayas.
PROUD GRADUATE AT 69
For 69-year-old Virgilio Ganade Penticase, it’s never too
late to go back to school and take home a diploma.
He was the oldest graduate in the school’s history — a
distinction made even more remarkable by his inclusion in the pioneering batch
of senior high graduates under the K-12 education reform program.
As he walked across the stage to accept his diploma,
everyone cheered. Others watched
through tears as the entire Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS)
Class of 2018 stood to cheer on him.
And even though he would be 70 to start his college in
June 2018, he has no plans to stop chasing his dreams.
“I'm 69 years old.
If I could do it, they could do it. All they have to do is keep going and don't
give up," he said.
NEW ATTRACTIONS
The town of Loon has plenty of other
intriguing attractions to offer to its visitors. People visit the
town to see the “Coral Garden” in Barangay Tangnan which offers new
exhilarating experience.
The red orange
color which gives a panoramic view are not because of corals but of the
sun-loving purslane (ulasiman or ngalog) wild plants which naturally grow in
the area, declared as geological monument, after the 2013 earthquake.
Locals called the
perennial herbs as “bilang” (Blutaparon portulacoides) of the Amaranthaceae
family. It looks like Portulaca (ulasiman
or pigweed species).
“Hugot” lines?
Loon town has many of them. The
“Tajang Pass Causeway and Mangrove Garden Road” on Sandingan Island would also
bring flashbacks of failed loves and embittered “hugot” lines (emotional quotations).
The sadder, the better.
It hurts, you know! The funnier, the best. It melts your heart!
The Loboc Wildlife and Nature Park in Barangay Bonbon
Upper houses a little over a hundred species of animals roaming on one-hectare
of natural environment in an interior mountain village of Loboc town.
WE LOVE BEAUTY PAGEANTS
Whether catwalking or simply talking, Bb.
Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2018 Karen Gallman has a magical way of charming and
endearing herself to people, so down-to-earth, and thus grounded, that you want
to hug her.
When she was approaching the group of well-wishers, it
was noticeable that she was much lovelier in person. Our admiration strengthened
when she spoke to us in her thick Bisaya accent.
“I always look forward to visit Bohol. It’s home for me,”
said the 25-year-old beauty queen.
She first joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2012 at the age
of 19 and made it to the top 12 of the national beauty pageant and was also
named Miss Photogenic of the batch.
Another Boholana, Miss Bohol 2017 Pauline Amelinckx was
crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas - Miss Global Beauty Queen 2018. Pauline will be representing
Philippines for Miss Global Beauty Queen 2018 which will be held in Seoul,
Korea in May 2019.
In the early ’70s, local organizers would comb the entire
town for beautiful women of good moral character and entice them to join the
search Miss Loboc until it folded in 1990s. In its returned last May, Erika
Limbago was crowned Miss Loboc 2018.
Incidentally, Erika’s mother, Cynthia was crowned Miss Loboc many years
ago.
We love Miss Bohol, don’t we?
Not everyone was happy for Miss Tagbilaran Raclaire
Stephan Trigo who was crowned as Miss Bohol 2018. Instead of the usual
cheering,
the audience booed the judges' decision, making it known that
crowd favorite Miss Maribojoc’s first place wasn't good enough.
Trigo’s winning added to the theory that the Tagbilaran
always is favored, a homecourt advantage, and a cooking show.
However, Trigo
kept her poise like a true beauty queen during the coronation despite the boos
and chants of "Maribojoc!
Maribojoc!" that drowned out the moment.
The pageant emcees (whose voices were decibels down) and
organizers didn’t step in and tell the crowd to calm down and respect the
winner as the process was hard and stressful.
People bashed the pageant’s segment, “Walk of Shame,” the
most talked in the social media after they have taken to social networking
sites to vent out their frustrations
“Where you can see
a beauty pageant which insulted directly or indirectly the candidates by way of
announcing first those who did not make it? You have insulted the candidates,
their families their supporters and friends. How cruel and rude of you,” former
society writer Gisela Mae “Jiji” Apalisok expressed her disgust on the walk of
shame.
Others said that the “walk of shame” was rubbing salt to
an injury and also an upfront to the towns. It was an idea patterned after reality
TV show or an America’s Top Model that Boholanos are not yet ready to embrace a
new style.
US-based socialite and beauty pageant expert Mikey Gatal
defended the organizers saying there was nothing wrong with the new concept.
Pageant fans also expressed their support for Trigo, saying she was the real winner in
their hearts.
In the world of modeling, Danica Joy Mahumot, 17, was the
first and only Boholana who competed in the “Catwalk Philippines Modelling
Competition 2018.” She was discovered last
year while swimming in Caingget Beach.
PEOPLE WE’VE LOST
Acclaimed director Maryo Jarolan delos Reyes—Direk Maryo
J to many—had thoughts of retiring in his mother's hometown in Alicia where he
owned several pieces of property. But Direk Maryo didn’t make it home. He died
on Jan. 27 after suffering a heart attack.
The industry began an outpouring of grief and remembrance
immediately after news of his death. The
director’s reputation and generosity evidently touched those across his life.
His critically acclaimed drama films were
"Magnifico" (2003) which received the Crystal Bear in the 2004 Berlin
International Film Festival, "Naglalayag" (2004) which garnered major
awards in the 2004 Manila Film Festival, the box-office hit "A Love
Story" (2007) and his last film "The Unmarried Wife" (2016).
Despite the fame and recognition, Direk Maryo remained
grounded and level- headed.
“He felt he was really Boholano even though he was born
in Manila,” said Gerry Lugod, close
friend of Direk Maryo.
Direk Maryo made an effort to showcase local talents and promote
Bohol when he directed movies such as “Nandito Ako,” “Nagmamahal Sa’yo” and
“Bamboo Flowers” which were entirely shot in Bohol.
Tributes to former Sevilla Mayor Ceferino Digal began
pouring in within minutes following the news of his death last Aug. 9. His youngest daughter Marie Karen Joy Digal
said that it was such a healing gift to be surrounded by people who love and respect his father. “Daddy, you were always there when I needed
you, and I know you are still with us now. Remember that I will always be
‘Daddy's Little Girl’,” she said.
Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell “Sample” Tirol was killed
by unknown suspects inside the cockpit arena he owned.
Police are considering politics, business, and personal
conflict as possible motives behind the killing of Tirol, 38, a bachelor, and a
scion of a political family in Bohol.
The death of multi-awarded sharp-shooting cop SPO1
Adonis De Los Amantes Dumpit shocked the entire region as he was killed in a
buy bust operation on June 27 in a joint operation by the Regional Intelligence
Division of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI)-Bohol.
Ma. Ella Amores, 45, the live-in-partner Dumpit, believed
Dumpit was ambushed. But NBI-Bohol head Rennan Augustus Oliva denied Amores’
said it was a legitimate operation that they had monitored Dumpit’s illegal
activities.
Oliva also
stressed that the information that Dumpit was a “narco police” first came from
the police and not from NBI.
CELEBRITY WEDDINGS
Boholano actress Rich Asuncion and her longtime
boyfriend, Filipino-Australian rugby player Benjamin Mudie, tied the knot
in Hong Kong last May 28.
Her family and a few close friends -- Gerry Lugod, former
beauty queen and reporter Mayumi Lugod-Ortiz, actress Cathy Remperas, April
Recio, Vanessa Ramirez-McLaughlin and Kikoi Busalla –have flown to Hong Kong to
witness the union, which took place at the Hong Kong Marriage Registry.
“It was an
intimate, beautiful wedding and Rich looked absolutely stunning in her wedding
dress,” said Gerry.
After getting married, the couple had a celebration on a
yacht.
Another Boholano actress, former Pinoy Big
Brother housemate and GMA star Cathy Remperas, finally tied the knot with
her non-showbiz beau Edmar de Luna last Oct.
Before their wedding, the couple flew to Tuscany, Italy
for their prenuptial photos and videos.
TWO MAYORS IN PANGLAO
We found ourselves
embroiled on Panglao town having two mayors.
Embattled Panglao Mayor Leonila Paredes-Montero returned
to office on Sept. 10 even without a DILG order, triggering a
confusion since the town had two mayors.
Employees were confused when they were confronted by the
sight of two officials attended the
weekly flag-raising ceremony.
Tension worsened when the office of Fuertes was cemented
by unidentified men to prevent him from reporting. The incident was under
investigation by NBI.
On Oct. 29, Montero, reclaimed her position as town mayor
after the Court of Appeals granted her appeal.
Speaking of Panglao,
the island was the next target of President Duterte's marching orders to
shut down erring resorts. The DENR said it is suffering from environmental
problems because of unregulated development, lax enforcement of laws, and
continued surge in tourist arrivals.
COLORFUL CANDIDATES
We exercised our
rights, voting in the barangay elections.
But we were excited on the filing of the certificates of candidacy COCs.
Clad in a Barong Tagalog and black pants, Santos Amaga
Abella, 56, a farmer from Dagohoy town, filed his certificate of
candidacy at the provincial Comelec office.
He said he wanted to run for senator but he didn’t have
enough financial resources to go to Manila and file his COC.
But he said his dream to be a senator could wait.
When comedian Roberto Gloria Reyes, popularly known as
“Amay Bisaya,” entered the office to file his candidacy, he tickled our fancies
and funny bones.
Reyes, 60, and a native of Tubigon town, filed his
certificate of candidacy for governor
against Rep. Arthur Yap of
Bohol’s 3rd district and resigned Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr.
“I am more qualified (to be the next governor). You
cannot be an actor if you’re crazy,” he said.
Reyes was confident that he would be able to beat Evasco
and Yap.
NEW AIRPORT
After three decades, the once “airport in the sand”
became a reality.
The P7.8-billion Panglao Island International Airport,
renamed Bohol Panglao International Airport, was inaugurated last Nov. 27.
The airport would be the country’s first eco-airport to
be dubbed “Green Gateway to the World.”
Tourism makes up
90 percent of Bohol’s industry and tourists are expected to swell with the new
airport.
Bohol officials
consider the new airport an economic landmark and a game changer for the
province’s progress.
SURVIVORS
Then, we ended the year with the news that PO3 Gifredo Hampac and Reynaldo Felisilda
survived two days at sea by thinking of Christmas. They drifted at sea for
two days and were rescued by a fisherman in Zamboanga del Norte, about 140
nautical miles from Bohol.
Hampac was hugged tightly by his wife, Anecita upon his
arrival in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on Saturday night (Dec. 22), grateful to be
alive.
***
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