Loida Lagonoy ‘deprived’ Miss Bohol International?By Leo Udtohan
And it came to pass that while all of us had our eyes and ears glued to the wide-screen waiting to see her again, Miss Bohol International 2006 Loida Tiza Lagonoy (who represented University of Bohol) made the most unexpected “shocking” and “awful” revelation of all time in the history of beauty pageantry in the province of Bohol during the Miss Bohol International 2009 coronation night held on July 24 at the Holy Name University gym.
Loida “accused” the organizers that her round trip ticket prize going to the US in 2006 was not given to her and she was not accorded the treatment that befitted a queen.
She created mixed of emotions—surprising everyone — when she said that her “reign was a reign that never was.”
“My reign was the reign that never was. I have not been involved in any activity that I could serve the purpose of my title well,” she said.
Loida said she was more than willing to assume the role that should been designed for her but it was never materialized.
“I was not able to travel because I didn’t receive any roundtrip ticket which is supposedly one of my major prizes. I had to sweat my way out to claim such an elusive prize which I believed should not reached such a stressful point it had only been effectively facilitated,” she further said.
Unlike the previous winners (Miss Bohol International 1999 Chan Cajegas and Miss Bohol International 2003 Maya Calope Galva) who were treated and pampered more than queens, Loida said she didn’t receive a “queenly” treatment from the organizers. “I didn’t receive a treatment anybody would expect to be given to a beauty queen,” she said.
She also said that she handled the whole affair with dignity, grace and pose.
Loida wants to be remembered as a Miss Bohol International “a person who sincerely expressed her gratitude to the people who helped her… somehow who is giving back to the community her own caring ways, and somehow who remains true and honest in all her dealings with people and around her.”
The irony was while the speech was played, she was smiling and waving to all as if she was mocking them. Her bravura act eclipsed and outshone the crowning of the new queens (the Miss Bohol International 2009 is Carlene Yap representing the Philippine Nurses Association-Bohol chapter).
“I was being honest. If I didn’t do it, I will regret for the rest of my life,” she said.
In the production number, Loida appeared in “Nobody’s dance” together with the dancers but she wasn’t acknowledged. “So, we didn’t know it was her,” said one watcher.
According to “beauty experts” who were at the pageant night, “we admire her guts and for saying it as it was.”
According to VRS, Loida wasn’t in a hurry to get her visa when she won because she was still a 3rd year college student taking up Nursing at the University of Bohol . “Wala siya magdali (she’s not in a hurry) because she know she has 2 years,” VRS said.
The ticket issue mounted weeks ago and we’re thinking there was amicable settlement. In a talk with Ate Vi weeks ago, Loida was not given the roundtrip tickets because she didn’t claim it during her reign. However, Loida said, “I understand there was 1 year claimability and 1 year validity ticket going to LA, USA I was third year when I won. If graduate ko sakto akong calculation that it was time to go to the USA .”
Another VRS said that “it’s sad to say that both parties have no written agreement.” “The winners don’t know their role because beauty pageants in Bohol have no contracts so definitely the winners don’t know their role during their year. It’s about time that the organizers should be professional since the beauty pageant industry is alive.”
After the revelation, Loida is being asked everywhere she goes. “God knows what’s best for me and I need to fight for my right.”
Bared tried to get the side of the organizer (the 1996 Miss Bohol International was chaired BY Dame Pureza Chatto and the 2009 Miss Bohol International is chaired by Vilma “Ate Vi” Yorong) but he failed to. A space will be given to them if they’re ready to air their side.