Trishia Libres: 'Beauty is what we see, feel and believe.'

Trishia Marie Castulo Libres is on cloud nine. She has won the Miss Silka Bohol 2019.

She said joining pageants isn't an easy task.

"My preparation before the pageant is to come prepared," she said with a smile.

She said her victory is not just for herself but also for her hometown.

"I come by giving full efforts and pride in my hometown," she added.

She will compete in the Miss Silka Philippines 2019 on Nov. 29 in Manila.

Trishia, 19, who hails from Barangay Canhaway, Guindulman town, wants to become a flight attendant someday.

Here's my chat with Trishia:

Describe your self: I am a kind-hearted, family-oriented, and independent person. I am always ready to face any challenges and also to help others in need. I can be quiet at first, but I have unending stories to tell. One aspect that helped me grow is being a leader of the Youth for Christ organization which deepened my faith in God.

What are your preparations for the upcoming Miss Silka Philippines 2019?  To be one of the candidates of Miss Silka Philippines is such an honor.  This pageant may be different from my past experiences because this time, I am bringing the pride of my beloved province, Bohol. Just like any preparation, I will come prepared. I undergo trainings and identify room for improvements and sharpen things up. It will be hard because I am a student and balancing both of these things is essential. But I believe, through the help of G-d, family, and friends, I know I can.

Who are your inspirations? There's no other group of people that inspired me more than my Family, the Youth for Christ organization,  The Art Nouveau, and to everyone who's always been there since day one. I wouldn't be here without these people.

What dreams do you want to achieve? Science experts say that the brain is a goal-seeking organism. Whatever personal goals you give to the subconscious mind, it will work night and day to achieve them. Which is why my dream is to wake up. A dream remains a dream if we don't start working for it. Waking up is at the top of my priority. To face any challenges that come my way. And one day, when that dream becomes a reality, I will have the freedom that comes with intentions. To inspire the youth, and to act as what I say I will do.  Because a queen does not only wear the crown, she wears it with a purpose.

Likes? Hates?  I like being the person who has a privilege to be open-minded, to understand a soul behind any masks that people wear. And I hate people who are hypocrites and don't even make a single attempt on making this world a better place. 

Future Plans? I may have future plans but I believe that God's plan is way better than mine. His will be done.

How were you  discovered by Khim of The Art Nouveau? I was discovered by Ate Khim through my Facebook account way back year 2014. But I wasn't an active member of The Art Nouveau Models since my hometown Guindulman is far from Tagbilaran. Just this July 2019, Ate Khim and I crossed paths once again and that was the time my journey with her begun.

How do you define beauty? People often define beauty according to what a person looks like.
But I define beauty in a way that cannot be seen only by sight but with the heart and soul. Beauty is a combination of what we see, what we feel and what we believe.

How do you define a modern Boholana? I can say that a modern Boholana has found their voice, power, and purpose in life. Many times, we are neglected because we come from a province that is not very popular compared to the major cities in the Philippines. But today, I come as one of those modern Boholanas, and we came here to fight and show the world that we are more than just any probinsyana.

How Miss Silka Bohol 2019 experience is?It was a challenging but worthwhile experience. I situated myself in a place that I know that I can possibly receive both negative and positive comments. But receiving it was a gift, It inspired me to improve more and proving them that I am more than just what meets the eye. With all that being said, I did surpass it all with the guidance of everyone and I am very thankful than ever.

What is your message to those young girls who aspire  to become beauty queens? To the youth who always dreamt of being a beauty queen, don't give up.  Always live up to the dream you want to achieve but do it together with the people who were always there since you started. Be the role model that the future generations will look upon to. Be the positive change.

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93 COUNTRIES IN COMPETITION FOR 2019 INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM OSCAR®

Ninety-three countries have submitted films for consideration in the International Feature Film category for the 92nd Academy Awards.

 An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track. Ghana, Nigeria and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants.

Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to rename the Foreign Language Film category to International Feature Film and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.

The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:

Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
Austria, “Joy,” Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
Bangladesh, “Alpha,” Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
Belarus, “Debut,” Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
Belgium, “Our Mothers,” César Díaz, director;
Bolivia, “I Miss You,” Rodrigo Bellott, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “The Son,” Ines Tanovic, director;
Brazil, “Invisible Life,” Karim Aïnouz, director;
Bulgaria, “Ága,” Milko Lazarov, director;
Cambodia, “In the Life of Music,” Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
Canada, “Antigone,” Sophie Deraspe, director;
Chile, “Spider,” Andrés Wood, director;
China, “Ne Zha,” Yu Yang, director;
Colombia, “Monos,” Alejandro Landes, director;
Costa Rica, “The Awakening of the Ants,” Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, director;
Croatia, “Mali,” Antonio Nuic, director;
Cuba, “A Translator,” Rodrigo Barriuso, Sebastián Barriuso, directors;
Czech Republic, “The Painted Bird,” Václav Marhoul, director;
Denmark, “Queen of Hearts,” May el-Toukhy, director;
Dominican Republic, “The Projectionist,” José María Cabral, director;
Ecuador, “The Longest Night,” Gabriela Calvache, director;
Egypt, “Poisonous Roses,” Ahmed Fawzi Saleh, director;
Estonia, “Truth and Justice,” Tanel Toom, director;
Ethiopia, “Running against the Wind,” Jan Philipp Weyl, director;
Finland, “Stupid Young Heart,” Selma Vilhunen, director;
France, “Les Misérables,” Ladj Ly, director;
Georgia, “Shindisi,” Dimitri Tsintsadze, director;
Germany, “System Crasher,” Nora Fingscheidt, director;
Ghana, “Azali,” Kwabena Gyansah, director;
Greece, “When Tomatoes Met Wagner,” Marianna Economou, director;
Honduras, “Blood, Passion, and Coffee,” Carlos Membreño, director;
Hong Kong, “The White Storm 2 Drug Lords,” Herman Yau, director;
Hungary, “Those Who Remained,” Barnabás Tóth, director;
Iceland, “A White, White Day,” Hlynur Pálmason, director;
India, “Gully Boy,” Zoya Akhtar, director;
Indonesia, “Memories of My Body,” Garin Nugroho, director;
Iran, “Finding Farideh,” Azadeh Moussavi, Kourosh Ataee, directors;
Ireland, “Gaza,” Garry Keane, Andrew McConnell, directors;
Israel, “Incitement,” Yaron Zilberman, director;
Italy, “The Traitor,” Marco Bellocchio, director;
Japan, “Weathering with You,” Makoto Shinkai, director;
Kazakhstan, “Kazakh Khanate. The Golden Throne,” Rustem Abdrashov, director;
Kenya, “Subira,” Ravneet Singh (Sippy) Chadha, director;
Kosovo, “Zana,” Antoneta Kastrati, director;
Kyrgyzstan, “Aurora,” Bekzat Pirmatov, director;
Latvia, “The Mover,” Davis Simanis, director;
Lebanon, “1982,” Oualid Mouaness, director;
Lithuania, “Bridges of Time,” Audrius Stonys, Kristine Briede, directors;
Luxembourg, “Tel Aviv on Fire,” Sameh Zoabi, director;
Malaysia, “M for Malaysia,” Dian Lee, Ineza Roussille, directors;
Mexico, “The Chambermaid,” Lila Avilés, director;
Mongolia, “The Steed,” Erdenebileg Ganbold, director;
Montenegro, “Neverending Past,” Andro Martinović, director;
Morocco, “Adam,” Maryam Touzani, director;
Nepal, “Bulbul,” Binod Paudel, director;
Netherlands, “Instinct,” Halina Reijn, director;
Nigeria, “Lionheart,” Genevieve Nnaji, director;
North Macedonia, “Honeyland,” Ljubo Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska, directors;
Norway, “Out Stealing Horses,” Hans Petter Moland, director;
Pakistan, “Laal Kabootar,” Kamal Khan, director;
Palestine, “It Must Be Heaven,” Elia Suleiman, director;
Panama, “Everybody Changes,” Arturo Montenegro, director;
Peru, “Retablo,” Alvaro Delgado Aparicio, director;
Philippines, “Verdict,” Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, director;
Poland, “Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa, director;
Portugal, “The Domain,” Tiago Guedes, director;
Romania, “The Whistlers,” Corneliu Porumboiu, director;
Russia, “Beanpole,” Kantemir Balagov, director;
Saudi Arabia, “The Perfect Candidate,” Haifaa Al Mansour, director;
Senegal, “Atlantics,” Mati Diop, director;
Serbia, “King Petar the First,” Petar Ristovski, director;
Singapore, “A Land Imagined,” Yeo Siew Hua, director;
Slovakia, “Let There Be Light,” Marko Skop, director;
Slovenia, “History of Love,” Sonja Prosenc, director;
South Africa, “Knuckle City,” Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, director;
South Korea, “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho, director;
Spain, “Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodóvar, director;
Sweden, “And Then We Danced,” Levan Akin, director;
Switzerland, “Wolkenbruch’s Wondrous Journey into the Arms of a Shiksa,” Michael Steiner, director;
Taiwan, “Dear Ex,” Mag Hsu, Chih-Yen Hsu, directors;
Thailand, “Krasue: Inhuman Kiss,” Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, director;
Tunisia, “Dear Son,” Mohamed Ben Attia, director;
Turkey, “Commitment Asli,” Semih Kaplanoglu, director;
Ukraine, “Homeward,” Nariman Aliev, director;
United Kingdom, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” Chiwetel Ejiofor, director;
Uruguay, “The Moneychanger,” Federico Veiroj, director;
Uzbekistan, “Hot Bread,” Umid Khamdamov, director;
Venezuela, “Being Impossible,” Patricia Ortega, director;
Vietnam, “Furie,” Le Van Kiet, director.

The shortlist of 10 films will be announced on Monday, December 16, 2019. Nominations for the 92nd Oscars® will be announced on Monday, January 13, 2020.

The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Beauty queens turned doctors

Tubignons celebrate the recent milestones of their beauty queens who passed the September 2019 licensure examination for physicians during the thanksgiving party held last night at the Tubigon Cultural and Sports Center.

The thanksgiving party was attended by their close family relatives, friends, well-wishers and townmates.

Among  this  young generation of Tubignon, they are the first beauty queens turned physicians.

Both graduates of the Cebu Institute of Medicine who epitomize “beauty with a purpose” – saving lives, Dr. Clarice Elaine Falcon Radoc (Miss BACS Personality 2008 and Anyag sa Tubigon 2008) and Dr. Farrah Faye Abarquez Mian (Miss BACS Personality 2009, Miss CVIRAA 2010, Anyag sa Tubigon 2010, and Miss Bohol Sandugo 2011) have been classmates since prep.

They have undoubtedly inherited their beauty, charm, and bearing from their grandmother, erstwhile Maribojoc Mayor Paula Raagas Valles, who was Miss Bohol High School and Miss Bohol respectively in her younger years.

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Wonderful Wincie at 80

In 1961, she was a gymnast who placed first in the regional swimming competition held in Cebu City to recruit members for the Philippine Swimming Team.

In 1979, she founded the Bukang Liwayway Dance Troupe (BLDT), a folkloric group based at Bohol National High School. In 1980, she choreographed the first-ever Sandugo re-enactment performed in Bohol for the Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines and Philippine Diplomat Carlos P. Romulo during the Blood Compact Anniversary, which also became the champion in the 1981 “Alay sa Pangulo” in Cebu City.

In 1990, she was second placer and the only solo entry in the 2nd Philippine Annual Philippine Folk Dance Festival held at Pace University, Manhattan, New York City.

These are just some of the highlights in the life of Wincesa Espejo Araoarao, the eldest child of former Cogon Barangay Captain Hilario Araro Espejo and homemaker Josefina Mercader Balatero.

Even at a young age, she has been accustomed to working hard, helping her parents in their simple carenderia at the pantalan and taking care of her younger siblings while her parents were away.

Her terpsichorean prowess and grace ushered her way towards  taking up Bachelor of Science in Education – Major in Physical Education at the University of Southern Philippines in Cebu City. Following her initial teaching stint at St. Mary’s High School in Marawi City, Lanao del Norte in 1963, she welcomed the opportunity to teach at her Alma Mater – Bohol High School.

In 1969, she married Derclo Reparato Bongoyan Araoarao, a Philippine Banking Corporation employee.

Their union was blessed with five offsprings: Fiel Angeli A. Gabin (Tagbilaran City, Bohol), Hannah Gay (died of meningitis in 1974), Reparato Anthony (Pearland, Texas, USA), Ann Claire A. Young (Haymarket, Virginia, USA), and Coeli Marie A. Ruiz (Salem, Oregon, USA).

Being the First Lady of Panglao when her husband “Rep” served as Mayor of Panglao from 1980 to 1986, “Wincie’s” passion for culture and performing arts never waned.

This unrelenting dedication for her advocacy to selflessly share her talent to preserve and promote culture and the arts has made her withstand life’s challenges, anchoring on God as her main source of strength.

Her 80th birthday celebration last September 28, 2019 was made more meaningful with the reunion of her children 23 years after her daughter Fiel’s August 10, 1996 wedding to Jerome John J. Gabin from Siquijor.

According to Albert Einstein, “Only a life lived for others is a life well lived.”

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Dalareich wins Best Family Support Award for APEC Best Award 2019

After winning in the Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, Bohol’s Chocolate Princess, Dalareich Polot of Dalareich Chocolate House won the “Best Family Support" Award for APEC “Business Efficiency and Success Target” Award 2019 (APEC BEST Award) during the Women and the Economy Forum in La Serena, Chile.

Dalareich competed with other nominees from 21 other APEC economies.

The Philippine Commission on Women nominated her on this.

“I didn’t expect any award because I feel like it’s lesser chance for Philippines to win because I only presented online," said Dalareich whose business model presentation was done via Skype.

She was given seven minutes for her presentation and another five minutes for the Q and A.

"God is good! This is not my award. I owed this to people who believe and support us all the way. Receiving 3 international awards this year 2019 are all His plans. I'm forever grateful," Polot said.

The award was received by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VII Director Aster Caberte, who represented the Department of Trade and Industry in the APEC Ministerial Meeting from October 2-9, 2019.

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Amalia Fuentes dies, 79

Amalia Fuentes, the former Movie Queen of Philippine cinema, passed away on Saturday. She was 79.

Her nephew, former child star Niño Muhlach, confirmed her passing in an Instagram post.

Fuentes’ granddaughter, Alyanna Martinez, also announced the late actress’ demise via her own post.

“It is with great sadness that I together with my siblings Alfonso and Alissa, inform you that our Grandmother, Amalia Amador Muhlach has taken her last breath this morning in the Philippines,” she wrote.

According to Muhlach, Fuentes succumbed to cardiac arrest at 4 a.m.

Muhlach added that the veteran actress was “paralyzed” and “bed-ridden” over the past four years.

Details of the actress’ wake would later be announced, Muhlach added.

Dubbed as the “Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines” for her striking resemblance with the legendary Hollywood actress, Fuentes achieved leading lady status as she starred in various films for Sampaguita Pictures during the late ’50s to ‘60s.

Haze still in Bohol

Wake-uppers:

Scene: The local government of Candijay has placed the town under a state of calamity to help the more than 2,000 farmers who were not able to plant their palay due to the long drought that has dried up their farmland.According to Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, the resolution was passed in mass motion so help would be provided to the affected farmers. Candijay was the second town in Bohol that was placed under the state of calamity due to the water shortage.

Seen: Miss Bohol Sandugo 2011 Farrah Faye Abarquez Mian passed the September 2019 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE).

Scene: Boholano singer Allan Roy Santarin of Valencia town is step closer to his dream after making it to the Top 64 of GMA’s singing competition "The Clash" Season 2.

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It's 'Plastic Free Bohol' not 'Free Plastic Bohol'

More than 2,000 volunteers joined the International Coastal Cleanup in Bohol province last week.

The presence of Bohol's "mermaid"Jammy Ungab of "Plastic Free Bohol" movement inspired many young people to help clean the environment.

Jammy, who fights for tighter regulations on the use of plastics,  was included in Inquirer's "33 people and projects that moved PH communities" in 2018.

In Doljo Beach in Panglao, volunteers were able to collect a total of 2,300 kgs of non-biodegradable trash.

Plastic Free Bohol also clarified that the movement is "Plastic Free Bohol," and not "Free Plastic Bohol."

"Plastic Free Bohol has been doing what it is doing for more than three years now (and still counting), and yet we still hear from people calling or labeling us differently—such as Free Plastic Bohol,"  a statement posted on Friday.

"Plastic Free Bohol" is a network of volunteers that aims to end plastic pollution in the province, while "Free Plastic Bohol" is a phrase that either suggests releasing plastic or giving away plastics for free in the province.

See the big difference!

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The haze remains in Bohol’s atmosphere, at least until yesterday, and authorities are urging the public to still take precautionary steps, especially those who have sensitive health conditions.

Engr. Cindy Ochea, head of the Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - 7, said that it's still there.

Six-year-old Jessa Mae Jala has been sneazing and coughing since Wednesday last week. At night time, the child has been hack that prompted her mother, Rowena, to bring her to a clinic for a check up.

The child is not the only one suffering.  All over Bohol, some people are coughing, wheezing and sniffing as a spike in air pollution due to haze which is experiencing in the Central Visayas.

Dave Albarado, 44,  was complaining of runny nose, dry throat and cough since Sunday last week.

He said he has allergies but the weather for the past days worsen his situation that already affected his work becoming focus less.

"I think the haze could be the contributing factor of my allergies because my allergies last only for 24 hours. As of now, it has been days. I don't know what other possible causes of my allergies," he said.

To protect himself from air contaminants, he decided to buy and wear a mask.

"I am doing my best to stay indoor and take medicines to control my symptom," he said.

Residents have taken to social media how the haze is affecting them as air quality continued to worsen.

Some teachers at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School were also wearing masks to protect themselves.

Another Tagbilaran resident Helen Alagadmo, 43, said she had escaped to  the countryside last Friday for a fresh air.

She went to Barangay Mayana in Jagna town, the highest point in Bohol, but she was surprised to find out that it was also blanketed with haze.

“There is no escape from it. But still a relief to be able to breathe in a cool place," she said while at the strawberry farm at Mayana Upper Sampong overlooking the mountain covered with haze.

“I woke up this morning and my nose was blocked once more,” she added.

The haze enveloping Bohol, which usually enjoys relatively clean air for a province its size, has prompted warnings to the young and elderly to wear mask.

The EMB and the state weather bureau Pagasa had confirmed the presence of haze affecting the Central Visayas including Bohol.

EMB  is monitoring the air quality, but it does not include Tagbilaran and Bohol just yet.

Ochea urged the public to wear protective gear like face mask and to stay indoors as much as possible.

Dr. Jeia Pondoc, Tagbilaran City Health Officer,agreed.

She said she was unsure if the haze contributed to the illnesses experienced by some residents lately.

But she said it was nonetheless necessary to take precautions.

“We advise them to wear the N95 mask rather than the surgical mask,” she said.

N95 masks, she added, could prevent hazardous substances from entering the nostrils.

“The surgical masks have big holes and are merely used in hospitals,” Pondoc said.

Aside from wearing face mask, she also advised the public to eat healthy and nutritious food and to drink plenty of water.

She advised people to stay indoors.

"We have to stay indoors especially  those patients who have history of asthma or having asthma, indoors jud, especially those patients who are susceptible for allergies or having allergies. It could be better for them to stay indors, refrain from outdoor activities just for this time," she said.

Aside from this, the public is advised to monitor updates on the haze situation.

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Borrowed freedom

With P3,000 in his pocket, rape convict Melchor Jumamil was giddy like a little boy as he stepped out of the  National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa after 32 years.

Since it was Good Friday that morning on April 19, he went to church to thank the Lord that he was finally released for good behavior.

But his freedom was short-lived.

Jumamil, now 55, was attending to his farm in Cortes town in Bohol on Sept. 5 when he was told by siblings that President Duterte ordered the convicts released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance law to surrender within 15 days or face the possibility of being shot  by authorities as fugitives.

He was crestfallen.

"Why would they want me to go back to BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) when I already served more than my 32 years," he said.

But the fear for his safety prompted him to comply with the President's directives.

A total of seven convicts had turned themselves in Bohol, according to the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).

Jumamil was 21 and a sophomore high school student at the then Bohol School of Arts and Trade when he and eight others were accused of raping a neighbor.

But only he and Reynaldo Mercado, who was then 19, were arrested.

While both claimed they were innocent of the crime, they were later convicted and were sentenced to life imprisonment for rape with abduction.

Jumamil was sent to the the Bilibid prisons while Mercado was served his term at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog town, Southern Leyte.

Mercado, however, was released earlier, on Dec. 18, 2018, under the GCTA law. Jumamil followed four months later in April.

Jumamil said he immediately took a boat ticket to Cebu upon his release on April 19. From Cebu, he took a fast craft back to his home-province which he had not seen for 32 years.

He was overjoyed to finally come home but at same time, amazed by how different Bohol was 32 years ago.

There were tall buildings at the capital city of Tagbilaran and the houses had mushroomed. 

He was pleasantly surprised that the road to his hometown in Cortes, about 10 km from Tagbilaran, had been paved when it used to be littered with potholes.

"It changed a lot..I am no longer familiar with the place," he said in a local dialect.

He even got lost while looking for their house  in Barangay Upper de la Paz.

His eldest brother, Felix, answered the knock on the door.

Although surprised by the unannounced arrival of his brother, Felix gently hugged him and cried.

All his four siblings were happy that he was finally home.

Jumamil was sad when he learned that he had to go back to jail.

He and Mercado decided to surrender at the Cortes police station out of fear that they might be killed.

Mercado said he would have wanted to start a new life after spending many years in jail.

He wanted to work to help his siblings, nieces and nephews.

Another convict Marcial Auguis, 69, arrived in Bohol on Sept. 6 only to be told by his nephews and nieces three days later that he had to back to jail on President's order.

"I only spent a few days with my family and now they wanted me to go back. I don't want to go back because life there was miserable,” he said.

Auguis was released from the New Bilibid Prison last Aug. 19 after spending nine years in jail for killing a relative.

He first visited his grandson in Cavite before deciding to go home in Barangay Villa Milagrosa in the island-municipality of President Carlos P. Garcia in Bohol.

Auguis was so happy to have come home but didn't expect to see the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport.

When told that he had to go back to jail, Auguis couldn't help but feel sad especially that he had just come home.

Like Auguis, Nemesio Bacalso,  66, didn't also want to go back to jail but had no choice.

"I only have a few years left to live. I just want to enjoy the remaining years of my life,” he added.

Bacalso was in his 30s  when he was sent to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan for forcible abduction with rape.

After spending 30 years in jail, he was released last February 8 for good behavior under the GCTA.

When he returned to Bohol, Bacalso recalled he didn't know his way around Tagbilaran since he was gone for at least 30 years.

The only sign he was home was the Chocolate hills.

He never realized that his freedom was temporary.

Bacalso was shocked when told by his neighbors about the President's order. For him, he had served more than enough number of years.

The convicts, however, hoped that they would be properly released, saying they merely caught up in the mess at the BuCor.

All of them said they surrendered for their security and to make clear they did not pay anyone for their release.

"Kung gusto nila ibalik sa Correction walay problema na. Di ako parolado, wala kaming binayaran na ano. Paano kami magbayad na wala kaming ikabayad dahil pobre kami,"  said Jumamil.

Mercado said he wanted to start a new life after spending many years in jail.  He wanted to work to help his siblings, nieces and nephews.

And their families too were praying that the next time these convicts stepped out of jail, their freedom would be lasting.

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Bohol’s 'mermaid' fights for plastic free

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Lutgardo "Gardy" Labad for being recognized and awarded by the Film Development Council of the Philippines' "SineSandaan" as one of its Luminaries in the field of Music Score. His contribution and excellence in film scoring include Ganito Kami Ngayon, Paano Kayo Ngayon; Magnifico, Ang Tatay kong Nanay, Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang, etc.

Scene:  Andrew Braker from SHS Department and  Carl Joellie Tentativa  from College of Nursing were crowned  Mister and Miss UB Personality 2019.

***

What do young people and plastic have in common? They will both be around longer, especially the plastic.

Plastic waste that we are inheriting as it accumulates everyday on land, in the oceans, in their food chain and in their bodies.

But there is a "mermaid" in Bohol fighting for tighter regulations on the use of plastics and better waste management in Bohol province.

Because of Jammy Ungab's "Plastic Free Bohol" campaign, some local governments started banning the use of plastic bags.

Jammy, 34, earned the moniker “The Mermaid of Bohol” because of her advocacies-and she spends most of her time in the seas.

In 2018, Jammy was included in Inquirer's "33 people and projects that moved PH communities."

As an ambassador of Save The Mermaids and 5 Gyres , Jammy joins other young people to fight plastic pollution through science, education, research, and adventure.

“We are fighting to save the sea from human pollution,” she said. “I have to start it here in our home province.”

“I love to travel, surf, hike, and take pictures of landscapes. My love for adventure has brought me to off the beaten spots and made my eyes open to the reality our environment, especially our oceans, are facing,” she said.

She has been to beautiful remote spots around the country and she said those beautiful spots have something we don’t usually see on the internet before....plastics.

“I love the ocean. It is my home, my church, and my best friend. The ocean is so dear to my heart not only because it provides us most of the oxygen we breath, and provides us food and livelihood, but the ocean also helped me beat depression,” she said.

From the moment she found genuine happiness and herself again, she vowed to help protect our oceans in her own little ways.

Spending so much time in the sea, Jammy also created and designed her own “eco-friendly” bikini line “Marikit.” It is a handmade crochet swimwear which a portion of the sale goes for ocean conservation and end starvation of children in the Philippines.

“I moved back to Bohol three years ago to start my small sustainable business that gives back to the ocean. That was also when I noticed how bad littering and the solid waste management is in our province. I went home upset one day after seeing all the trash that were left by beach goers and next thing I knew, I published a social media page called Plastic Free Bohol,” she said.

Plastic Free Bohol is a grassroots movement Jammy  started to raise awareness on plastic pollution in Bohol island since there were no groups or organizations in Bohol that are actively campaigning against single use plastics.

“I started sharing articles and my journey to a less waste lifestyle (not zero waste yet),” said Jammy who realized it’s not an enough effort, so she started organizing beach cleanups to get the community involved.

“Cleaning beaches is not the solution, but it helps make the animals safer and it is also a great venue to raise awareness and meet like minded people,” she said.

When she has time and opportunity, she also talks to politicians and business owners to encourage them to ban single use plastics. The journey, according to her, is not a walk in the park. She said it is actually very hard and challenging.

“Being an ambivert, but more of an introvert, it is a big challenge for me to talk with a lot people I don’t know and even more challenging if you’re trying to change their mindset, convincing them to change some of their habits,” she said.

Jammy said she is not good in public speaking, but she does everything to get the word out there.

“It’s about time that we should stop ignoring plastic pollution. We might not feel the effects here in our province now, but we will in the next few years when we are already swimming in a sea of plastic,” she said.

When Panglao Island was haunted by environmental problems and woes, Jammy and her group conducted regular clean-up drive in the touristic island.

The movement’s “Bohol’s Baktas” clean-up on Alona beach stretch last June yielded about 8.7 lbs (approx. 4 kilos) of cigarette butts alone.

There is a need to continue educating both locals and visitors.

“Teach them on how to be more responsible with their trash,” she said.

She said 8 million tons of plastic enters our oceans every year and it will only get worse if people are still not going to do something about it.

She said scientists agreed that by year 2050, there will be more plastics in our oceans than fish.  She urged people to be part of the solution.

“You don’t have to be a marine biologist nor a scientist nor a policy maker to help fight plastic pollution. You just need to have love and compassion,” she explained.

“Love for your health, for our Mother Earth, and for the generations to come. There’s so much you can do. How? You can start by saying NO to single use plastics, by choosing reusables over disposables, by buying less, by picking up at least 5 pieces of rubbish everyday, and stop littering,” she added.

And the mermaid is watching!

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