By Leo Udtohan(El Progresso)
Has Tagbilaran City run out of beauties? This was a question raised by observant beauty pageant aficionados when a lovely lass from Panglao was crowned Miss Tagbilaran 2008. Yes, she deserved the crown but the main issue is the residency requirement. The truth is she’s from Panglao. Stacy Mae Arisola who represented Taloto has no residency in Tagbilaran City as she hails from Garcia Hernandez town.
The organizers indeed have a lot of explaining to do regarding this matter. Further compounding the issue is the placement of a girl from the town of Clarin as one of the runners- up. There’s no guideline that Miss Tagbilaran is an open contest wherein contestants from other towns and provinces can join.
This year’s sterling committee (headed by Dave Maulas) was in bad light when the “controversy” of the pre-screening erupted in the air lanes. Even Dave was impolite to turn down the phone when he was interviewed on dyRD’s Pulso (hosted by Batchoy Balba and Prof. Rene Real) about the “controversy.”
It started when Susanne Mae dela Cruz “presented” herself as Miss Booy when in fact there’s already Melle Angelie Doroy who won the Miss Boy Search in July 2007. De la Cruz showed no papers as she’s endorsed by barangay Booy making the barangay council headed Jun Telmo in quandary.
“Is it improper to present yourself as a candidate without any proof? And to know that there was a legitimate contestant from that barangay?” True unimpeachable Very Reliable Source (VRS) said.
The pre-screening committee (which I think not needed because not all barangays were represented) decided to choose top 10. Call it “manipulation” that Doroy was not included in the top 10 (she landed 11th during the pre-screening) but when it was thoroughly reviewed it was found out that Doroy was actually the 9th placer. The committee had asked an apology for the mistake they committed and instead of top 10 they made it top 12 either to accommodate other “favorite” girls and to cover the “shame.”
The pageant started on time and opened with the spectacular opening number which showcased the dazzling and breath- taking costumes of the 12 candidates and the superb performance of the Diwanag Dance Theatre and Cultural Troupe.
Miss Tagbilaran 2008 holds the distinction of being the first local pageant to be held at an air- conditioned venue, the Bohol Cultural Center.
This year's batch of candidates is one of the most competitive in recent years. After the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, the top five were proclaimed and the interview portion immediately followed. After an intermission number, the final three were called and asked the final question. After the obligatory farewell walk of last year's winner, the new Miss Tagbilaran and her court were proclaimed and crowned.
The minus points of the pageant include the very dragging choreography. For instance, in the gown portion, each candidate was given at least three to five minutes to show off her gown. By the time the evening gown portion was halfway through, a sizable number of the audience had either gone home or silently protesting of the ordeal of sitting through the rest of the show. The technical aspect of the show particularly the lighting effects were disappointing to say the least.
Furthermore, the AVP's shown on the wide screen were very amateurish.
