Dragon boat competition slated in July

By Leo Udtohan

The Bohol Paddlers Association, Inc. (BPAI) will hold the "Bohol Island Dragon Boat Festival 2023" in line with the celebration of Sandugo Festival in July. 

Dr. Theodore" Doyet" Dumaluan, BPAI president, said the dragon boat racing will be the first to be held since it started in 2013, which was suspended due to the pandemic. 

He said  there will 30 paddler groups which are expected to join the event including those from the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Each group is composed of 12 persons.

Dumaluan said the resumption of the tournament is their way of showing to the people that the situation in the province has gradually returned to normal after the pandemic. 

"We want to show that the province is an ideal place for the competition since the water here is calm from Tagbilaran City to the municipality of Panglao,” Dumaluan said.

Outdoor adventure is another tourism circuit the provincial government of Bohol is actively harnessing and promoting with the objectives of diversifying the province's offerings. 

Dragon boat racing on Bohol started in 2011 after it was introduced to Dumaluan. He then organized with other people who shared a love for dragon boat racing and put together the province's first dragon boat team. 

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Saulog Festival is back!

By Leo Udtohan 

After three years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, folks in Tagbilaran City are celebrating the Saulog Festival again this year. 

After the launching on Thursday, March 16, which coincided with the 458th commemoration of "Sanduguan" of Rajah Si Katuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, residents and spectators enjoyed the reenactment and dance highlighting the city’s culture and tradition. 

"And now, we are back to face- to- face activities," said Mayor Jane Yap.  

The last face-to-face Saulog street dancing was in 2019. 

"This is our avenue to promote the tourism industry in Bohol and our beloved city of Tagbilaran," she added. 

She said tourism recovery also translates to economic recovery.

Data from the Tagbilaran's tourism office estimated that 80% of tourist activities in the city were back to normal and that arrivals were still rising.

This year, Saulog will feature concerts, parades, Mutya sa Tagbilaran, sporting events, and religious activities that are expected to return to their pre-pandemic glory. 

"A fitting shout-out to the world that we are resilient, we are moving pn, and we are profoundly grateful to God through Saint Joseph the Worker," said Yap. 

Tagbilaran as a gateway to Bohol offers a wide range of business and investment opportunities.  It is the center of Bohol's education, trade and business, as well as the seat of political power. 

The Saulog Festival will end on May 21.

The highlights of the celebration are the following: 

458th Blood Compact Commemoration Program and Saulog Launching-April 16

Tagbo sa Tagbi/Kumbira sa Tagbilaran (Food Fair)- April 14-May 7

Mutya sa Tagbilaran - April 22, 2023

Himug Huni Interschool Songwriting Competition – April 23, 2023

Saulog Festival King and Queen - April 26, 2023

Saulog Fluvial Procession - April 29, 2023

Saulog Street Dancing Competition and Parade - April 30, 2023 

Maoy sa Mayo Saulog Concert - May 1, 2023

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95th Oscars: See the Full List of Winners

And the Oscar goes to...

On Sunday, the multiversal heroes from Everything Everywhere All at Once — the year's most nominated film — gathered together at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood with Na'vi aliens, estranged Irish mates, First World War soldiers, a new class of Top Gun graduates, Lydia Tár and the King of Rock and Roll, and more for the 95th Oscars. Host Jimmy Kimmel presided over the ceremony, as Oscar statuettes were awarded for all 23 categories and, in the end, Everything Everywhere All at Once was named Best Picture.

"We want to dedicate this to the mommies. All the mommies in the world," Daniel Scheinert said onstage, while Daniel Kwan dedicated the Oscar to "my immigrant parents — my father who fell in love with movies because he needed to escape the world and, thus, passed that love of movies onto me. [And] my mother, who is a creative soul, who wanted to be a dancer, actor, and singer, but could not afford the luxury of that life path, and then, gave it to me."

Everything Everywhere All at Once took home seven Oscars in total; also for Best Directing, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. All Quiet on the Western Front, meanwhile, won Best International Feature Film for Germany among four total wins.

Below, find the complete list of winners from the 95th Oscars:

Best Picture

All Quiet on the Western Front
Malte Grunert, Producer

Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

The Banshees of Inisherin
Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers

Elvis
Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss, Producers

WINNER: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers

The Fabelmans
Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers

Tár
Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers

Top Gun: Maverick
Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers

Triangle of Sadness
Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers

Women Talking
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Austin Butler in Elvis

Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin

WINNER: Brendan Fraser in The Whale

Paul Mescal in Aftersun

Bill Nighy in Living

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin

Brian Tyree Henry in Causeway

Judd Hirsch in The Fabelmans

Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin

WINNER: Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett in Tár

Ana de Armas in Blonde

Andrea Riseborough in To Leslie

Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans

WINNER: Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Hong Chau in The Whale

Kerry Condon in The Banshees of Inisherin

WINNER: Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Animated Feature Film

WINNER: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Joel Crawford and Mark Swift

The Sea Beast
Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger

Turning Red
Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Best Cinematography

WINNER: All Quiet on the Western Front
James Friend

Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Darius Khondji

Elvis
Mandy Walker

Empire of Light
Roger Deakins

Tár
Florian Hoffmeister

Best Costume Design

Babylon
Mary Zophres

WINNER: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ruth E. Carter

Elvis
Catherine Martin

Everything Everywhere All at Once
Shirley Kurata

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Jenny Beavan

Best Directing

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

WINNER: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, Tár

Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness

Best Documentary Feature Film

All That Breathes
Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy Leifer

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov

Fire of Love
Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman

A House Made of Splinters
Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström

WINNER: Navalny
Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris

Best Documentary Short Film

WINNER: The Elephant Whisperers
Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga

Haulout
Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev

How Do You Measure a Year?
Jay Rosenblatt

The Martha Mitchell Effect
Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison

Stranger at the Gate
Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

Best Film Editing

The Banshees of Inisherin
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Elvis
Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond

WINNER: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Paul Rogers

Tár
Monika Willi

Top Gun: Maverick
Eddie Hamilton

Best International Feature Film

WINNER: All Quiet on the Western Front
Germany

Argentina, 1985
Argentina

Close
Belgium

EO
Poland

The Quiet Girl
Ireland

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

All Quiet on the Western Front
Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová

The Batman
Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Camille Friend and Joel Harlow

Elvis
Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti

WINNER: The Whale
Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Annemarie Bradley

Best Music (Original Score)

WINNER: All Quiet on the Western Front
Volker Bertelmann

Babylon
Justin Hurwitz

The Banshees of Inisherin
Carter Burwell

Everything Everywhere All at Once
Son Lux

The Fabelmans
John Williams

Best Music (Original Song)

"Applause" from Tell It like a Woman
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren

"Hold My Hand" from Top Gun: Maverick
Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop

"Lift Me Up" from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler

WINNER: "Naatu Naatu" from RRR
Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose

"This Is A Life" from Everything Everywhere All at Once
Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Best Production Design

WINNER: All Quiet on the Western Front
Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper

Avatar: The Way of Water
Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter; Set Decoration: Vanessa Cole

Babylon
Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino

Elvis
Production Design: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration: Bev Dunn

The Fabelmans
Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara

Best Animated Short Film

WINNER: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud

The Flying Sailor
Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Ice Merchants
João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano

My Year of Dicks
Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It
Lachlan Pendragon

Best Live Action Short Film

WINNER: An Irish Goodbye
Tom Berkeley and Ross White

Ivalu
Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan

Le Pupille
Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón

Night Ride
Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen

The Red Suitcase
Cyrus Neshvad

Best Sound

All Quiet on the Western Front
Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte

Avatar: The Way of Water
Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges

The Batman
Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson

Elvis
David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller

WINNER: Top Gun: Maverick
Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

Best Visual Effects

All Quiet on the Western Front
Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar

WINNER: Avatar: The Way of Water
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett

The Batman
Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick

Top Gun: Maverick
Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

All Quiet on the Western Front
Screenplay by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Written by Rian Johnson

Living
Written by Kazuo Ishiguro

Top Gun: Maverick
Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks

WINNER: Women Talking
Screenplay by Sarah Polley

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Banshees of Inisherin
Written by Martin McDonagh

WINNER: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

The Fabelmans
Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner

Tár
Written by Todd Field

Triangle of Sadness
Written by Ruben Östlund

95TH Oscars opens with US Navy Flyover

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences partnered with the United States Navy/U.S. Naval Air Forces for an unprecedented opening segment at the 95th Oscars®, airing live today, March 12, on ABC.  At the top of the show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, two aircraft flew 1,000 feet above the ground at 300 knots/345 mph over the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood.  Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, the “Flying Eagles,” located at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, was the supporting squadron.  The mission of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 is to provide dynamic training to future Naval aviators and maintainers who operate and sustain the world’s most capable and lethal aircraft carrier-based strike fighter, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing.  “Making an incredibly entertaining show was our top priority, and what better way to kick things off than with an unforgettable moment that sets the tone for the whole evening,” said executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner.  “A huge thank you to the U.S. Navy for helping execute a once-in-a-lifetime Oscars opening.”  “As someone who grew up in a Naval Aviation family watching F-14s in Miramar, attended TOPGUN (U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School) in 2012, and advised during filming on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in 2019, it’s an absolute honor to lead the flyover as a tribute to ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’” said Lt. Cmdr. Doug Morrow of VFA-122.  “The movie is the ultimate love letter to Naval Aviation and all the sailors around the globe who are currently standing watch.  It’s humbling to be a part of this year’s Oscars celebration.” The 95th Oscars is airing live today, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and is being televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. # # #

Alturas honors loyal employees in celebration of golden anniversary

By Leo Udtohan

At least 469 employees of Alturas Group of Companies (AGC) were honored during the company's golden anniversary. 

The founders' second generation presented the awards to the 10-to-30-year awardees, while the three 40-year awardees received their tokens from incorporators Marlito Uy and Nelita Uy-Fuertes.

Uy, who also serves as AGC’s general manager, expressed his gratitude to all the awardees, acknowledging that their efforts have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the group. 

"We believe that our employees are our greatest asset. Their hard work and dedication have been instrumental in our success. We are honored to celebrate the 26th Alturas Group Loyalty Awards with them.  We look forward to continuing to take care of our employees by recognizing their loyalty and hard work,” he said.

The ceremony also included testimonials from representatives of the awardees, namely, Anna Palban, Armicito Bitero Jr., Rolando and Ma. Fe Jagunos, and Romulo Polinar. 

To make the occasion more exciting, 20 lucky awardees won Php 10,000 each in the instant raffle, while others took home minor prizes. There were 40 winners of P2,000 and 25 winners of P5,000. 

Since 1998, AGC has valued the length of employment service and dedication of its workforce,  through the ups and downs of the business. The same tradition continued even during the pandemic, where deserving employees were conferred with the same tokens without formal gatherings. 

In addition to the Loyalty Awards ceremony, AGC also hosted its annual Family Get Together event at the CPG Sports Complex earlier this year. More than 12,000 employees joined in the celebration, which was filled with fun and laughter.  Over P3 million worth of raffle prizes were given away.

As AGC celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company reaffirms its commitment to driving strategic, sustainable progress that benefits Bohol and the rest of the Visayas. 

"We are excited to celebrate another milestone and are looking forward to another year of meaningful and impactful experiences for our customers. We remain committed to our mission of serving the community and uplifting lives and continuing our contribution to the growth and progress of the areas that we serve,” Uy said.

AGC is a highly-diversified and integrated retail, tourism, commercial, and agro-industrial conglomerate known for the values incorporated in its slogan, "Serving the community, Uplifting Lives." 

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M/V Filipinas Ubay launched for Ubay-Cebu route

By Leo Udtohan

With the launching of MV Filipinas Ubay, you can now travel from Ubay town, Bohol to Cebu and vice versa by boat for 4 hours. 

The blessing and launching ceremony on Saturday, March 11, was attended by Chester Cokaliong, CEO and COO of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc.,  Anna Lynne Cokaliong, Chanel Cokaliong, Gov. Aris Aumentado, Vice Gov. Victor Balite, 2nd district Rep. Vanessa Aumentado, Ubay Mayor Constantino Reyes, Vice Mayor Victor Bonghanoy, Ubay councilors IC Besas, Violeta Reyes and other local officials,  Clarin Mayor Eugene Ibarra and officials of the Philippine Ports Authority. 

In his message, Chester said he heeded to the "kakulitan" of Aris to invest in Bohol. 

He said M/V Filipinas Ubay, which is worth P110 million, was purposely bought for the town of Ubay upon the request of Aris. 

"Mingsud ta diri tungod sa request ni  [Gov.] Aris [Aumentado] . Nanawag si Aris nako 'Gobernador nako Sir, ayaw nako balibari sa barko para sa Ubay.' Panahon siya sa Congressman pa sigeg update nako," Chester said in his message. 

"Nag-invest ang Cokaliong sa municipality of Ubay og P110 million," he added. 

The  MV Filipinas is the smallest and 16th vessel of Cokaliong Shipping Lines. 

It is a roll-on-roll-off passenger ferry, it has a passenger capacity of 350 and cargo capacity of 20-25 trucks. 

As of today, Cokaliong Shipping Lines has been connecting Mindanao and Visayas with their 15 vessels.

Aris said the new Ubay-Cebu route will have greater connectivity, improved competition in the shipping industry, and lower cargo costs. 

"Pinaagi sa M/V Filipinas Ubay sa Cokaliong Shipping Lines, mas mapadali na pagbiyahe sa atong mga higala sa Ubay ug sa Segundo Distrito," said Aumentado. 

Vanessa said it will make the province more connected as well as help boost its economic activity.  

She added that the new ship will also enhance the province's attractiveness as a destination by promising greater passenger safety, welfare and comfort.  

"This will greatly contribute to the development of Ubay and Bohol, and it will open more opportunities," said Vanessa. 

The new daily trip schedules: Ubay-Cebu from 8:00 A.M.-12:00 NN and Cebu-Ubay from 8:00 P.M.-12:00 MN.

Tickets cost P400 for economy and P440 for tourist.

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ECPay is reliable for cashless transactions

By Leo Udtohan

The first ECPay in Bohol was launched last  Feb. 27, 2023. The do-it-yourself Vending Machine Online Payment by Globe Telecom can be found outside the Plaza Marcela. 

Present during the event were Dennis Ruiz, operation manager of M &M celldepot; Airen Te, operation manager of Globe Broadband; Aldrin Avergonzado, business development expert; and Edsel Angeles, mall manager of Plaza Marcela.

Ruiz said Globe Telecom has introduced the use of ECPay for a cashless-contactless transactions. 

He said ECPay is reliable and convenient as many Filipinos have shifted to digital channels.

ECPay is a company engaged in the provision of information technology and electronic commerce related solutions, and operates a multi-tiered platform that offers secure electronic solutions for various transactions such as load purchases.

"Mobile technologies continue to evolve to make our life easier and we now see cashless payments using mobile phones," said Avergonzado. 

Avergonzado said they place ECPay machines in towns. 

 This time, members of the Association of United Development Information Officers (Audio)-Bohol, have helped to combat cybercrimes in the country by conducting a SIM Sign-Up Drive.

The info drive in partnership with Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Bohol was held at Bohol Island State University (BISU)- Tagbilaran Campus on Thursday, March 2.

As of 12 noon, there were are at least 400  teachers and students have their prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards registered.

Ma. Lydia Bantugan, president of Audio, said that the info drive would lessen victims of fraud and scam.

"This is to spread awareness on the importance of registering their SIM cards as this will help combat cybercrimes in the country," she said.

"They should register at once and not to wait for the deadline to lapse to avoid the inconvenience of getting deactivated," Bantugan added.

After BISU-Tagbilaran, Audio plans to hold the info drive in other campuses and schools.

Audio is composed of information officers from municipalities and government agencies.

Bantugan said they could help to promote responsible use of SIM cards, educate their stakeholders on the benefits of mandatory SIM card registration and guide them through the whole registration process.

Invited speakers were lawyer Alan Felix Macaraya, Jr., legal officer of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC); Victor Magallanes, provincial officer of  Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Tiarra Cabilla, Smart Communication's  Stakeholder Management Officer-Visayas; and Jose Luis Varquez, Globe Telecom’s Channel Transportation Strategy Development manager.

Macaraya explained Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Card Registration and its importance in fighting text and online scams which are becoming more prevalent in recent years.

Varquez urged their customers to take the opportunity of registering their pre-paid SIM cards now to avoid a surge in the system when the deadline comes.

Aldrin Avergonzado, Globe Telecom’s Consumer Business Development Expert, shared that Globe customers can now register their SIMs through the GlobeOne app, another convenient and accessible option to comply with the SIM Registration Act.

By making SIM registration available on the app, Globe hopes to expand reach to its subscribers and finish registration of roughly 86.7 million SIM users under the Globe network by the deadline.

Under the law, all existing SIM card users must register their number to their name by submitting requirements — personal details, identification cards, business names, and other information — on a website provided by the telecommunication company that provided the SIM Card.

All prepaid subscribers in three telcos — Globe, Smart, and Dito —have until April 26, 2023 as deadline for registration.

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