THE Queen of Bohol 2022 pageant of LGBTQ+ in Bohol has chosen its top five for the Darling of the Press award among the 34 hopefuls.
They are Ashley Racuba of Jagna town; Erica Panoga, Maribjoc; Heart Mejia, Talibon; Gwen Torren, Tubigon; and Kate Marie, Ubay.
The selection of the top 5 was undertaken during the sashing held at the City hall atrium yesterday (July 23, 2022). Darling of the press winner will be proclaimed on the grand coronation night on August 28, 2022 at Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium.
Members of the press were: Rey Anthony Chiu, information manager, Philippine Information Agency – Bohol (PIA); Ric V. Obedencio, President – Bohol Tri-Media Association; Paolo Rogotti, half-Swiss/social media influencer, youtuber and entrepreneur; Raul Gatal, host of a number of Miss Bohol, life style writer; Juris Dugaduga, former President Bohol Blogger and a lifestyle writer; and Ate G, well Known Host, Kisss 102.3 Disc Jockey and DYRD Radio Commentator.
The candidates are: (1) ᴀʟʙᴜʀǫᴜᴇʀǫᴜᴇ – Michaela Indayering Gray (2). ᴀʟɪᴄɪᴀ – Keanna Marie Aberasturi (3.) ᴀɴᴛɪǫᴜᴇʀᴀ – Trixie Nicole Concha Smith (4) ʙᴀᴄʟᴀʏᴏɴ – Juliana Jabagat (5). ʙᴀʟɪʟɪʜᴀɴ – Christine Acompañado (6). ʙɪʟᴀʀ – Kim Meg Bracamonte (7). ʙᴜᴇɴᴀᴠɪsᴛᴀ – Rhian Gucor Membreve (8). ᴄᴀʙɪʟᴀᴏ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅ – Devorah Loquias (9). ᴄᴀɴᴅɪᴊᴀʏ – Joosy Osiones (10). ᴄᴀʀᴍᴇɴ – Morgana Manila (11). ᴄᴀᴛɪɢʙɪᴀɴ – Praya Dabalos (12). ᴄʟᴀʀɪɴ – Jane Toyita Madrigal (13). ᴄᴏʀᴛᴇs – Samantha Samson (14). ᴅᴀᴜɪs – Chloe Bulawin (15). ᴅᴜᴇʀᴏ – Kumiko Hermez Lyka Watanabe (16). ɢᴀʀᴄɪᴀ ʜᴇʀɴᴀɴᴅᴇᴢ – Maria Venus Raahah-Belt (17). ɢᴇᴛᴀғᴇ – Tiffany Prescot (18). ᴊᴀɢɴᴀ – Ashley Racuba (190. ʟᴏᴀʏ – Destiny Rose Datoy (20). ʟᴏʙᴏᴄ – Rogeelee Macalam (21). ʟᴏᴏɴ – Mia Estodillo (22). ᴍᴀʙɪɴɪ – Jennymae Vallespin (23). ᴍᴀʀɪʙᴏᴊᴏᴄ – Jericka Mercado Panuga (24). ᴘɪʟᴀʀ – Roxanne Sumabong (25). PRES. CARLOS P. GARCIA – Kentdoll Dolauta; (26). Sᴀɴᴅɪɴɢᴀɴ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅ – Mars Gallo; (27). Sᴀɴ ᴍɪɢᴜᴇʟ – KC Avelino; (28). Sᴏɴ-ᴏᴄ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅ ᴜʙᴀʏ – Amor Precious Powers; (29). ᴛᴀɢʙɪʟᴀʀᴀɴ – Yan Madrigal (30). ᴛᴀʟɪʙᴏɴ – Win Heart Mejias; (31). ᴛᴜʙɪɢᴏɴ – Gwen Torreo; (32). ᴜʙᴀʏ – Kate Marie; (33). ᴠᴀʟᴇɴᴄɪᴀ – Julia Ylizeth Cajegas; and (34). ᴡᴇsᴛ ᴄᴀɴᴀʏᴀᴏɴ – Khel Nahial.
“LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others. The “plus” represents other sexual identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit. The first four letters of the acronym have been used since the 1990s, but in recent years there has been an increased awareness of the need to be inclusive of other sexual identities to offer better representation.”
“The acronym is used to represent a diverse range of sexualities and gender-identities, referring to anyone who is transgender and/or same/similar gender attracted.” (rvo)
RAINBOW CROWN CHASERS
Thirty-four aspiring beauty queens flying the rainbow flag would be exchanging wits, talent and grace to be hailed Queen of Bohol, and become the ambassadors of advocacies that span from gender acceptance, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning awareness, acceptance and affirmation to tourism, environment, education and mental health.
The 34 town representatives of the gay culture met the press at the City Hall Atrium as they take on their best posture walking on glitzy tippy tops and off the rack dresses during the sashing ceremonies and Press Presentation held at the City Hall Atrium, July 23.
Then billed as Queen of Bohol Pageant, the Queen of Bohol is back this year, with a refreshed advocacy in gender awareness and acceptance, affirmation, stopping bullying, anti-drugs and addition, HIV awareness, tourism, environment, education and livelihood, says Kim Villamor, pageant consultant.
Participants have to be 18 years old, Boholana by blood, accepts pre operation and post operated transgenders, must be currently living in Bohol and supported by her local government unit.
Queen of Bohol Pageant was produced in pursuit of a paragon of intellect, physical fitness, good character benevolence, equality and inclusivity who can be beacon of the hope for the Boholano as we engage in relevant community and charity work for the tourism industry, organizers said.
This year’s theme; “Raise your flag, stand proud and be amplified,” serves as a conduit to showcase not just the beauty, talent and wit of our transgender Boholanas but to promote equality, acceptance, understanding, respect and love, the project design stated.
The pageant has deep appreciation and understanding of the collaborative potential of beauty pageants which boost the tourism sector, as well as promote the travel, entertainment and beauty industries not just for male and female but as well as the pageant for alternative cultures, especially during this time.
This is not merely just a beauty pageant that showcases beauty but it is for a cause. We extend our helping hands in the humblest ways to our chosen charity or programs who are our beneficiaries.
As the Boholanos are known to be as resilient, friendly, and religious, yet conservative, this is our courageous way of asking for respect understanding and affirmation as we promote gender equality and inclusivity.
Queen of Bohol Pageant is intended to promote the integration of Boholano LGBTQ+ people in the mainstream life in the province, organizers summed.
For more information about their upcoming schedules, check our Queen of Bohol Pageant Page on facebook. (with reports from RVO and RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
