Sandugo Queen and Miss Bohol candidates shine in media presentation

The beauty queens talk about their beauty essentials and the causes they believe in

After an extensive screenings, the organizers of the first Sandugo Queen, finally revealed its 17 official candidates last Friday, June 28.

The Miss Bohol 2019 candidates. Photo: Leo Udtohan 

The 17 candidates shared a piece of their mind and showed off their striking personalities to the members of the media.

Sandugo Queen is the first provincewide pageant for gay and transsexual members of the LGBTQAI+ community, a society of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, aromantic, agender, and intersex individuals, with a “+” for those who are in the process of self discovery, or have more complex identities.

According to Khim Ryan Laway Magtagad, Sandugo Queen 2019 pageant chairman, the pageant aims to empower LGBTQAI+  by giving them a platform to express their thoughts and views on inclusion, diversity and equality. It is also a celebration of their unique beauty, wit and talent. 

Sandugo Queen candidates. 

“The pageant is making a big difference and impact of the LGBTQIA+ in the community,” said Magtagad of the LGBT-Tagbilaran community.

She added that the candidates have their own advocacies and the pageant "will be a platform that when they will become part of Sandugo Queen they have the title to touch the lives of other people."

The Sandugo Queen 2019 will crown winners for Sandugo Queen, Sandugo Queen Tourism, Sandugo Queen Youth Ambassadress, Sandugo Queen 1st Princess and Sandugo Queen 2nd Princess.

The swimwear competition is on July 6, at 1 p.m. at the BQ Mall, while the talent competition is on July 17, 1 p.m. at the Island City Mall.

The grand coronation is on July 26, 8 p.m. at the Bohol Cultural Center.

Meanwhile, in their jumpsuit created by Bilar-based couturier Aileen Sendrijas-Pasagad, the 14 candidates Miss Bohol 2019 strutted in front of media, during Friday’s press presentation held at the Ceremonial Hall of the New Provincial Capitol. 

Miss Tagbilaran 1987 Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin
with Mutya ng Pilipinas -Global Beauty Queen 2018
  and Miss Bohol 2017 Pauline  Amelinckx
during the Miss Bohol press presentation on Friday, June 28, 2019.  
Photo by Leo Udtohan

Iza Gail Latonio. 20, representing Atharra Primeland; Mary Tabada, 19, representing Talibon; Catherine Tabaniag, 20, representing Panglao; and Celina Villoceno, 22, representing Tagbilaran City, wowed the press and visitors. Notably, all the ladies answered the gruelling questions from the press.  

Despite their busy schedule, Mutya ng Pilipinas -Global Beauty Queen 2018  and Miss Bohol 2017 Pauline  Amelinckx  and  Miss Bohol 2018 Raclare Stephan Trigo were able to attend the event. They managed to project a positive aura.

On July 12, the ladies will showcase their talent.

The Miss Bohol Grand Coronation Night is happening on July 20, 7 p.m.  at the Bohol Wisdom Gym.

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Scarlet shocked, sad on Eddie Garcia’s untimely death

Wake-uppers:

Scene:  The 17 official candidates of Sandugo Queen 2019.  The search for Sandugo Queen 2019 is open to transgender females that best suit the five titles up for grabs in a competition that showcases their beauty, wit and talent. The coronation night is on July 26, 8 p.m. at the Bohol Cultural Center.

Seen: A new species of shipworm or a clam with a worm-like body found in Bohol was introduced by a group of scientists this week. What’s interesting is this marine species Lithoredo abatanica eats rocks, rather than the wood diet of other shipworm species.

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The world of Philippine showbiz mourned on the passing of Eddie Garcia, a screen icon and director whose career spanned 70 years.

Scarlet Geulen-Boiser on legendary actor
 Eddie Garcia: “He was very modest, very unassuming.
 He was one of a kind.”  Contributed Photo

Garcia died last Thursday, June 20, after nearly two weeks of being in a comatose state. He suffered a neck fracture after tripping on a cable wire during his taping for a GMA Network teleserye.

Garcia was local Showbiz’s Sexiest Man Alive, a durable sex symbol who continued to amaze and intrigue the public by looking 25 years younger than his age.

He joined showbiz as kontrabida (later metamorphosing into a bida so versatile that he could play a screaming faggot with delightful credibility.  In one of his media interviews, he said that “Tubog sa Ginto,” directed by the late Lino Brocka where he played a closet homosexual in that movie, was considered his best performance out of the hundreds of films he had done.

Known as the original “Manoy,” he was a “Festival King” in his own right, who figured prominently in the Metro Manila Film Festival, Gawad Urian and FAMAS. He won several awards for his acting and directing stints.

Colleagues and friends of Garcia took to social media to remember and pay tribute to the veteran actor including Boholano singer-actress-comedianne Scarlet Geulen-Boiser who worked with Eddie in a TV drama.

Their friendship goes almost 7 years back, so when Garcia died, Scarlet grieved as if she lost a member of her family. 

"What do I remember most about Tito Eddie? Well, he was a very nice person. He was very humble and very down-to-earth. He had no star complex at all, despite his stature as a great Filipino star,” she told VRS.

They were together in the 2012 TV drama “Aso ni San Roque” for about three months. 

She shared that at the actors’ hub (standby area), Eddie was so thoughtful that his co-stars loved him dearly.

“He brought fruits in the set and he convinced me to eat fruits rather than eating cakes,” she said.

Garcia was so generous that he even bought all the “ube jam” of Scarlet and gave them to the people in the set.

“He was very professional,” said Scarlet. He didn’t like people working with him are pabaya sa trabaho. That kind of attitude really bugged him. Sometimes he could not tolerate it.

“He told his co-actors that there are no small roles in acting that you could always do well in your roles,” said Scarlet.

In movies and TV series, Scarlet plays her role, no matter how "small" with such honesty, so natural and so casual as if she's not acting at all.  Thanks to Manoy Eddie for being her inspiration.

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Bohol’s Dalareich ‘tableya’ is world’s best

‘Dalareich 100% Unsweetened Chocolate’ wins Gold in London’s Academy of Chocolate

Where to find the best chocolate? Of course, at the Chocolate Hills in Bohol!

Bohol's “Dalareich 100% Unsweetened Chocolate” of Dalareich Food Products (DFP) based in Tagbilaran City has won a Gold Award in a prestigious international London-based Academy of Chocolate Awards 2019.

Elsa Polot sells pure tableya. Photos Leo Udtohan

According to Dalareich Polot, the general manager of DFP, it is the first time that Philippines got the Gold Award since the international chocolate award started in 2015 on all the categories.

“My mom and I are so happy because we were able to go to college because of tableya," said Dalareich who helped the family business since 1994.

Her mother Elsa, owner of DFP, shared that there was no secret that her tableya won internationally with more than 1,500 entries representing producers from 46 nations, making it the most successful year in the history of the awards.

“It’s 100% pure unsweetened chocolate we called tableya,” she said.

It was first time for Dalareich to send an entry to the international chocolate award based in London and “Dalareich 100% Unsweetened Chocolate” got the Gold award under drinking chocolate together with Laguna-based Auro Chocolate.

Other Philippine companies such as Malagos Chocolate, Theo and Philo, also got silver and bronze awards from different categories.

The Academy of Chocolate was founded in 2005 by five of Britain’s leading chocolate professionals, united in the belief that eating fine chocolate is one of life’s great pleasures.

The Academy campaigns for better chocolate and to promote a greater awareness of the difference between fine chocolate and the mass-produced chocolate confectionery which most of us eat.

Dalareich grew up in a family that ran a business of making tableya since 1994. She accompanied her grandmother Tomasa in selling anchovies and tableya in the neighborhood.

Elsa, 54, inherited the small business when Tomasa passed away in 2000.

Elsa, then a street cleaner, and husband Ricardo Polot made tableya on the side to augment their income. But their sideline helped the couple send their five children to college --Irene, 33; Dalareich, 30; Renel, 27; Jessa, 24; and Angelah, 20.

Although a graduate of Computer Engineering, Dalareich helped her parents innovate their products and market it to local merchants.

Dalareich, 30, has been known as the “Chocolate Princess” in Bohol. She established the first and only Chocolate House in the province after studying in Belgium.

From her mother’s tableya, Dalareich launched her own chocolate line—“Ginto Luxury Chocolates”, which has already been showcased in international chocolate exhibits, along with other local brands.

“I want to make chocolates not only tableya on the island of Chocolate Hills in Bohol,” she said.

 To preserve the cacao farming in Bohol, Dalareich launched Adopt-a-Cacao tree advocacy campaign to encourage Boholanos to take care of the cacao trees that had been planted near their houses.

 “We believe that there are more than 10,000 historical cacao trees in each town across Bohol,” she said.

For her, she wants Bohol known not for the Chocolate Hills but also the home of Chocolates.

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Bohol’s Maynard Fullido on GMA’s Starstruck

GMA Network’s original artista search is finally back. ‘Starstruck’ is now on its 7th season and on its pilot episode on Saturday, it has officially revealed the finalists.

Part-time model-performer of The Art Nouveau (TAN) Models Maynard Bungabong Fullido is part of the Top 22 of StarStruck 7.

“I’m fighting for a spot to continue my Starstruck journey.  I am grateful and proud that I came this far andI thank you all who supported me in this journey,” said the 19-year old part-time model from Capitol Valley in Tagbilaran City.

 Maynard tried his luck on GMA’s two-day ‘StarStruck’ audition held at Robinsons Galleria Cebu last Feb. 16.

“My Starstruck experience is unforgettable because I wasn’t expecting that I get passed in audition. There were many young hopefuls like me who auditioned,” he said.

He made the cut and he was told to fly to Manila for the nationwide selection.

“My dream is to become a role model. I want to inspire other people that they can be whatever they want to be in the future,” he told VRS when asked what made him to audition for the  talent search.

He enjoyed the StarStruck audition.

He was also encouraged by his manager and friend Khim Roger Ryan Laway Magtagad of  TAN Models to audition for StarStruck.

Maynard is not a newbie in the entertainment industry.

Maynard Bungabong Fullido of The Art Nouveau (TAN)
Models is a finalist of GMA Network’s
original artista search ‘Starstruck’-7.   Contributed Photo

Aside from being a member of the Bohol Boyband, he was a grand finalist of Mr. BQ Mall 2018 who won the best in talent and production number awards.

Maynard said he is a dreamer, believer and survivor in real life.

Meanwhile, Boholana actress Rich Asuncion posted on Friday her #FlashbackFriday photo  when she joined the Starstruck 4: The Next Level.

On her Facebook status, she narrated her father accompanied her to the Cebu auditions back in 2007.

“We braved through the storm (literally) just to make it there. Luckily, I made the cut and was told to fly to Manila for the nationwide selection,” said Rich.

She said it wasn’t an easy decision to make because she was already enroled for the second semester.

“There was no guarantee that I would even make it to the finals. There were still 100 auditionees and they were cutting it down to only 14 hopefuls through series of eliminations. But I said to myself, this opportunity will only come once. I then took the leap and the rest is history,” she said.
.
Rich said, “I dreamed, believed and survived!”

Teachers use lapel mic to beat noise

Classrooms shortage at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School (DCPNHS), the province’s largest and biggest integrated high school, has been addressed, according to a school official.

As of Friday, they have at least 6,270 enrolees--and still counting.  

                                            

“Our shortage of classroom has somehow been addressed for the time being,” according to assistant school principal II Melchor Daniel, Jr on Monday’s opening of classes. “We have enough for the meantime.”

Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School
in Tagbilaran City, Bohol has a
population of 6,270 students—and still counting.
Photos by Helen Castaño  

The two storey-buildings - with 32 classrooms-were just recently completed were occupied on Monday even though it lacked with sprinkler and electricity.

Daniel said because of the additional classrooms the school can decongest the classes because they have more than 50 students per class.

“Because of this development, we are trying to achieve the ideal number which is 45 students per class,” he said.

Unlike last year that students were greeted from an on-going construction of adjacent two classroom buildings, somehow they felt comfortable.

The shortage of classrooms last year forced them to use makeshift classrooms and the gymnasium.

“ So, there will be no more makeshifts and classes in the gym,”  he said.                  

Although there were two Grade 7 classes were held at the gymnasium on Monday, but it was temporary since the classrooms are still being done especially the flooring.

“Probably within the week and the work will be over so that they can transfer to their classrooms,” he said.

Daniel said they have had to adopt the double shifting scheme to accommodate all enrollees. The first shift is from 7 a.m. to 12 noon, and the second shift is from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

He added that they would only prioritize old students and Tagbilaran residents.

“We are still currently accepting enrolments of our old students; transferees will have to wait and if ever they will be given slots, chances are very slim. It’s not promising for them to be able to study here because we have to accommodate our old students first,” said Daniel.

Daniel said it was impractical for the school to accept students from neighboring towns of Dauis and Cortes since there are high schools in these towns.

Grade 7 teacher Irish Baleling of Dr. Cecilio Putong
National High School is addressing her students
through a wireless microphone (lapel mic). She said
 the lapel mic helps to preserve her voice
 and prevent fatigue. Photo by Helen Castaño  

“We simply can’t accommodate the entire population of Bohol in our school because we have to admit a great number of our students would like to study in Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, and we simply we can’t accommodate all of them. It’s unfortunate but we have to be practical about things.  We can’t sacrifice quality over quantity,” Daniel quipped.

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Not only pop icon Britney Spears and Madonna find lapel microphones or hands-free microphone useful.

At DCPNHS, some teachers have a rock-star look, wearing headsets in their classrooms to boost their voice over background noises and help prevent their voice strain.

 Grade 7-Compassion teacher Irish Baleling doesn’t need to raise her voice.

Her voice rises above distractions, such as noise and the clatter of students hustling through the hallway.

Even when she stands with her back to write on the chalkboard, the students can still hear her. But that's not because she's shouting.

Baleling, 31, is addressing her 43 students through a wireless microphone (lapel mic) clipped to her uniform.

She and other teachers at DCPNHS opted to use lapel mic during classes to preserve their voice and prevent fatigue.

There are at least 259 teachers at DCPNHS.

“As a teacher in this number of students, lapel mic is very much important because if we will not use lapel mic our voice will only last for an hour,” said Baleling who has been using the lapel mic for the past three years.

On Monday, Baleling distributed student handbook to her students. She also handled the one day orientation- about the school’s rules and regulations.

She also told them to spread kindness.

“We’d all like the world to be a better place. It doesn’t take much to turn someone’s day around. A smile, a compliment, a small gesture will do,” she said.

According to her, using lapel mic has proven practical and effective since it enabled her to overcome usual classroom noises and distractions.

“It relaxes me,” said Baleling, a teacher of 10 years.

Using lapel mic to amplify their voices in classrooms has proven practical and effective since it enabled them to overcome usual classroom noises and distractions. The results – the students are more focused and fewer teachers with strained voices.

Student Leah Mae Lozano, 11, said she could hear her teacher clearly.

“Makadungog ko klaro sa gisulti ni Maam tungod sa iyang mic (I can hear our teacher clearly because of her mic)” she said.

Daniel said he has seen similar benefits.  But he said not all teachers are comfortable using the microphones. He said he leaves it up to the teachers.

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The end of the summer is just the beginning of something even better

BACK TO SCHOOL

Summer vacay is over. After spending a summer full of sand, sun and fun, it’s time to dust those textbooks, follow schedules and study for exams.

Tomorrow is the first day of a new school year for more than 1 million students expected to return to schools in Bohol province.  

A new school year starts with so many new things: classmates, books, classes, school supplies, professors, classrooms or even a new school.

These students would no longer be required to clean their school surroundings or classrooms during the opening of classes considering that they have already conducted “Brigada Eskwela” weeks ahead of the school opening.

At least 200 boys and girls who were residents
Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran got their free
haircut and school supplies during the
 "Balik Eskwela Libre Tupi.” Photos by Leo Udtohan

The Brigada Eskwela, an annual activity of the DepEd aimed at cleaning and repairing damaged school facilities, was conducted from May 20 to 25, participated in by students, parents, and volunteers from numerous private organizations and large companies.

Police and military units also assisted the DepEd in the cleaning and repair of schools in preparation for the June 3 public school opening. The 702nd (Bohol) Ready Reserved Infantry Battalion also responded to the call of community service.   They cleaned at least 10 public elementary and secondary schools- Booy Elementary School, Tagbilaran City Science High School, Eastern Cogon Elem. School, Dao Elementary School, Dampas Elementary School,  San Isidro National High School,  Mansasa National High School,  Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School,  Manga National High School and Tabalong National High School.

For a fresh and clean start, some pupils at Cogon Elem. School in Tagbilaran City were treated to free hair cut sponsored by a teacher during the Brigada Eskwela.

Last week, at least 200 boys and girls who were residents Barangay (Village) Booy in Tagbilaran got their free haircut and other items such as notebooks and pencils during the "Balik Eskwela Libre Tupi,” an initiative of former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)  leader and village councilor Clement Paulinel Ingking who started this project in 2011.

“This initiative started when I was an SK chairman and I tried my best to continue it,” Ingking told GMA News.

“This will help especially those families with multiple children and those indigent families. Having a new fresh haircut especially now going back to school this will motivate the children to do well in school,” he added.

The average price of a haircut in Tagbilaran is P45.

Incoming Grade 3 pupil Jerz Cedrick Olorvida was excited for his new haircut.

“Excited nako moeskwela karung Monday kay bag-o kog tupi (I am excited to go back to school on Monday because I have a new haircut),” he said.

Dimiao celebrates 2nd Pamakwan Festival 2019

Farmers in Dimiao town displayed their watermelon of different varieties last Saturday, May 25, for the 2nd Pamakwan Festival 2019. 

The festival aims to boost the tourism industry and to further address the importance of watermelon as the primary product of the town.

At least 62 farmers in Barangay Balbalan grow watermelons for extra income for the family while the extreme heat due to the weak El Nino was drying up the land.

The 2nd Pamakwan Festival 2019 was held
on Saturday, May 25, 2019, in Dimiao, Bohol
where farmers grow the sweetest and juiciest
watermelons in the province for extra income for
 the family while the drought is drying up the land.  Photos by Leo Udtohan

Balbalan, known as Bohol’s “watermelon country,” is producing the one of the country’s sweetest and juiciest watermelons, according to municipal agriculturist Jayrell Adanza.

Their hardwork paid off as they showcased during the festival at least  different variety of watermelons---Sweet 16, buffalo, Diana, cantaloupe, black panther, red and yellow delight,  and honey dew--- they vary widely in taste, texture, and color.

Watermelon season starts from April and ends in late June or July in the country, a period when extreme hot weather persists in parts of the country.

Adanza attributed the distinct sweetness to the farmers’ use of saline water  to irrigate the plants and the juiciness to alluvial soil.

“It’s near the coastal area,” said Adanza who initiated the Pamakwan Festival last year upon the approval of Dimiao Mayor Danilo Guivencan.

Guivencan said the festival is to give recognition among watermelon growers in the town. He hopes an ordinance will be passed by the new administration to give full support to the farmers.

Watermelon planting begins in the Balbalan village on the first week of March after harvesting their palay . They immediately prepared a total of 60 hectares of rice fields to plant watermelons.

Some farmers started planting in April when they have enough funds to buy farm inputs.

Seed germination to harvest usually takes two and a half months.

Watermelon farming here began in 1986 when a few farmers started planting pakwan in Barangay Balbalan. It was stopped for many years since nobody was interested to buy their products.

Farmers came back to watermelon planting in 2000 when the demand was high.

 Many health conscious people buy watermelons. Health experts say that sufficient intake of watermelon is a perfect remedy for a dehydrated body as it contains essential vitamins and minerals.

When other farmers made money from watermelons, others followed, according to Carlito Galleto, president of Dimiao Watemelon Growers Association.

Herasmo Galleto, 62, planted watermelons in early March in his 600-square-meter farm and expected to harvest the fruits in the first week of May. His wife, Eleuteria, 61, and their only son Jeffrey, 18, help in the farm.

Eleuteria said she liked planting watermelons during summer because the waiting time to make a profit was shorter.

Although watermelons thrive on warm weather, she said these still need to be watered twice a day.

Generally, the fruits are ready for harvest after 70 to 80 days. One vine can produce three to five fruits.

She said to know if the fruits are ripe, farmers usually thump the fruits to determine ripeness.  She said a hollow sound indicate that it is right for picking.

Eleuteria and other farmers sell the watermelons under small sheds along the highway for P30 to P35 per kilo for Sweet 16 variety and P50 for Diana variety.  A sliced-cold watermelon put inside a Styrofoam is sold at P10 per slice.

On a slow day, she could earn P5,000 the least.  When sales were brisk, her sales could go as high as P20,000 a day.

Most of the customers are motorists who stop at the shed. Sometimes, vendors buy in bulk and sell the fruits in public markets in the capital city of Tagbilaran.

So far, Eleuteria said it has been financially rewarding.

“Dako gyud  ikatabang, nakapausob sabalay, nakapalit og mga gamit, ug makabayad sab sa mga utang. Basta magkugi naa jud ((It is a big help. We improved our house, buy new things and paid our debts. It’s just hardwork),” she said.

Carlito, 41, said he spent P30,000 in farm inputs this planting season, including watermelon seeds, fertilizers and chemical spray.

Luckily, he has a sales of P200,000 before May ends.

“Bawi na kaayo mao nga nagpasalamat mi sa Ginoo sa iyang kayo (I recovered from my investment and I thank the Lord for his mercy),” said Carlito who started planting watermelons in 2012. 

Neighboring Lila town and even Sierra Bullones, Talibon and Ubay are also growing watermelons, but they can’t match the number of varieties and the quality produced here, Adanza said.

Saturday’s Pamakwan Festival was attended by the farmers, municipal officials and partners from the provincial agriculture, private seed companies and the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 7 (ATI-RTC 7).

It started with field tour that visitors and melon growers visit the farms. Visitors can directly buy their own choice of melons from the farmers.

Dr. Carolyn May Daquio, center director of ATI-RTC 7, said agriculture plays a  big role in the community especially that Bohol is a booming tourist destination.

 She further encouraged and challenged the youth to venture into agriculture.

“Who will feed us for the next 10 years kung  walay mutikad sa atong kaumahan,”  said Daquio.