I am not here to criticize,..I am not even here to ostracize the standards of beauty pageants in Bohol. I am a proud Boholana myself. I had been in one or two of these events a few years back. Yes, as a candidate. But after witnessing the grand production of MISS CEBU last January 2013, I believe it is time for Boholano pageant organizers to bring the Boholano beauty pageant standards a notch or two higher. Not for the sake of competing against what Cebu or other provinces has achieved but for the sake of bringing the Boholana beauty into a higher, more sophisticated and international-competition-ready level. The standard of a Boholana's beauty isn't the one in question here. It has always been proven throughout the years that Boholanas have what it takes to make it BIG in the world of beauty pageants. Boholanas are known to be witty and attractive. Its just ironic that for some reasons, the production of our beauty pageants has not improved over the past years... No, the level has not decreased...but neither did it improve. Its just stagnant. Like water on a pale. But isn't water more attractive when it is flowing? That's the irony there. I don't really believe that Bohol doesn't have the capacity to improve the whole production of its beauty pageants. Let's focus on MISS BOHOL SANDUGO.
It is thought to be the biggest and grandest pageant in the province because it falls on the Sandugo Festival, the biggest Festival in the province of Bohol. The girls are on the newspaper, yes. Their faces are printed on a tarpaulin hanged somewhere in the city and they're having photoshoots, prejudging, talent shows, etc. But let us look closely on the production of the whole event per se. There really isn't much exposure for the girls, no motorcades, no mall tours or shop tours,their shoes aren't even sponsored and most of them have to spend their own money just to get to the competition, some of them I heard aren't even official representatives. Now let's go to the production of the talent show. In the past two years, the talent night had been held at a temporary stage near the pier. Yes, it is accessible to the city people and attracts attention BUT. Don't the girls deserve a better, more decent place to showcase their talents where there is a proper, well-lighted dressing room, guarded well so that huge perverted eyes could not swivel around looking for any signs of exposed skin and a perfectly safe stage where the girls could shake off the fear of falling off and being embarrassed because of the uneven wooden stage?
Next, the pageant night itself. Yes, it is grand and well-rehearsed but the venue is too crowded, the stage itself is too small if you're talking about 15 or more girls and the backstage is just MESSY and HUMID. No offense to the Bohol Cultural Center but It is definitely not the perfect place where one can conduct a huge pageant. In 2011, the stage had to hold 19 or more girls in trailing gowns and from where I was standing I knew the girls were beyond uncomfortable. The production was simple and safe with a little hint of flare but safe and simple isn't what we are looking for in pageants. We want to be surprised. And we don't get that.
Lastly, I think the production staff should work on the theme of the whole competition, the dancers, the stage lights, the decoration, the marketing, THE DETAILS always counts and it is what is disregarded most of the time. It's frustrating to know that we can give more but we just settle on what's enough.
There really is a lot more to say but I'm probably boring you all. I hope the local government of Bohol and the organizers could work on this one and present a better, surprising pageant this year. Remember, the standard of Filipino beauty pageants are higher, thanks to the likes of Venus, Shamcey and Janine. I really think we should keep up!
If you guys don't know what I'm talking about, like MISS CEBU on Facebook and you'll see a full-blown sneak into the grand production of MISS CEBU 2013 Coronation night. You be the judge..What should we improve?