Year ender 2 - The Return of the Comeback

Mhel with Tracy and Joe

Who would say that i would see myself back on television again? Well well after a botched career in the 90's to the early 2000's I made it back via cable TV's Makisig Channel. This time around it was not a sitcom or a gag show but a basketball talk show entitled Basketball Crazy. YOurs truly is also known as Bill Kosme and together with Tracy Abad and Joe Buduan we tackled the crazy side on basketball in this one of akind show. Do watch us at Makisig 76 or 82 every mondays at 9pm.

Read about Basketball Crazy
http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/07/basketball-crazy-makes-its-debut.html

Celebrity Picture of the Year

Gilber Arenas during the Ateneo vs Lasalle game

They say the first is always the one that you'll never forget. I have photographed lots of celebrities and the one Basketball celebrity that luckily caught my shutter is the Washington Wizard's Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas. Arenas was in the Philippines to promote Adidas shoes and dropped by the Ateneo- La Salle game that opened the 71st season of the UAAP. I was just lucky enough to get a great ringside position which was the path that another superstar Manny Pacquiao passed by. Arenas was so amazed that he even blogged about the event in his NBA blog and even said "everybody should visit manila!" Thanks for the endorsement Gilbert and the picture.

Agent Zero http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/07/agent-zero-says-everybody-should-visit.html

Favorite Personality for 2008

Well I was kinda excited to be back on television with the show basketball crazy. But what excited me more was the fact that I met someone who is so nice to me that I think we hit it off rightaway as friends. So nice and sweet and always with a ready smile. She is very eloquent and always laughs at my jokes. I am really happy that i got to know Tracy Abad.

Tracy Abad http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/07/basketball-crazy.html

Pageant of the year

This year, i believe we tabulated at least 12 pageants excluding the pre- pageants. The one that I believe showed a lot of potential is the Turismo Pilipina 2008. This pageant was custom made by pageant winners led by Ms. International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman. I was particularly struck by the way the candidates introduced themselves and how they carried their respective costumes and cultural attires. Lastly, the judges and presentors included winners from Mutya ng Pilipinas, Binibining Pilipinas, Ms. Philippines Earth and even face of the year winners. Name a pagenat, they definitely invited the winners over. Congrats to the organizers i am definitely looking at this pageant again next year.

My Blog about Turismo Pilipina http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/11/ms-northern-samar-is-ms-turismo.html

Party of the year
Mhel with the Hand of God - Kamae de Jesus

They came, They ate, They partied. After four years, the Bellarmine field was filled with Ateneo well wishers as everyone brought their own food and drinks to be able to party with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. It was a great to be back as champions and for us who were there, parking at the Blue Eagle Gym, walking to the Bel Field and braving the four inch thick mud is worth all the hassles just as long as the Hail Mary Team does it every year!

About the Ateneo bonfire: http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/10/ateneo-bonfire-of-vanities.html

Ms. Northern Samar is Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008

Ms. Northern Samar Sherylee Sustiger being crowned by
Ms. Earth 2008 Karla Henry

GANDA NG PILIPINA! The song performed by the candidates of this very prestigious pageant still plays in my mind for the caption truly captures the essence of the pageant. In one of the most celebrated pageants in recent memory, Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008 united Philippine Pageantry and crowned a worthy ambassador as its first Beauty Queen.

The winners

Representing the province of Northern Samar, Sherylee Sustiger bested 56 other hopefuls as she was crowned Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008 and won the top prize of P250,000 in cash, a house and lot plus other fabulous prizes which includes an STI scholarship. First runner up was the beauteous Ferina de Paz who represents Muntinlupa while Ms. Antique Emmerie Cunanan won second runner-up.

The Fabulous Production number of all candidates in their Cultural outfits

As I mentioned, it may perhaps be one of the pageants that united the most beautiful women in the Philippines in recent years. Turismo Pilipina is headed by Ms. International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman who is the Turismo Pilipina Charities Inc. President. TPCI also involves two other beauty Queens, Denille Lou Valmonte- Bb. Pilipinas International 2006 and Karen Loren Agustin- Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002.

Hans and Miriam talk to Denlle, Lara and Karen

Karen said that after talking and talking about a pageant like this they are very happy that it finally came to existence since they want to share to others the great experiences the three of them had when they once competed. The pageant is actually a nationwide search for the Filipinas who will be the official spokesperson of the Department of Tourism. Our country is in dire need of ambassadors who will promote the beauty of the Philippines and increase the tourism potentials of the Philippines.

Ms. Cagayan, Paula Joy Cusipag is Best in Swimwear.

Ms. Philippines Earth 2004 Tamera Sidzarto presents the award

The pageant was also supported by various beauty queens from other prestigious Philippine pageants led by Binibining Pilipinas World 2007 Maggie Wilson, Binibining PIlipinas International 2007 Nadia Lee Cien Shami, and BP 2007 2nd Runner-Up and now a television personality Abby Cruz. Binibining Piliipinas World 2002 Katherine Manalo-Hernandez. Mutya ng Pilipinas 2003 Jamie Liz Castillo, Ms. Philippines Earth 2004 Tamera Sidzarto, and newly crowned Ms. Earth 2008 Karla Henry who put the beautiful crown on Sherylee’s head.

Ms. Northern Samar is Best in Long Gown which was

presented by Binibining Pilipinas World 2007 Maggie Wilson

Besides Katherine (Binibining Pilipinas), Tamera (Ms. Philippines_Earth) and Jamie Liz (Mutya ng Pilipinas), other notable personalities who were also judges were Boy Abunda, Internationally awarded film maker Jeffrey Jeturian, Singaporean Beauty Queen Genecia Lou, Filipino billionaire Lucio Tan Jr., FDAP President Johnny Abad, Politicians Jennifer Ecleo Villaroman and Edgar Allan Ygona, MAPQI’s Ramona TY and my good friend who I discovered is the first Muslim Graduate of the Harvard Law school, Adel Tamano.

Gracious Hosts, Hans and Miriam

The event was hosted by one of the best duos to host pageants, Hans Montenegro and Miriam Quiambao. The pageant will be aired on ABC 5 on November 22, 2008 at 8:00 in the evening. Congrats to Lara and her team for a wonderful job of uplifting the Filipina beauty for Philippine tourism, truly the pageant personified the “Ganda ng Pilipina!”

Turismo Pilipina: Terno Night

Three hundred years of Spanish rule gives the Filipinos so much Spanish influence in their everyday work. For the organizers of Turismo Pilipina, they perceive the conservative nature of their candidates would greatly uplift then image of every Filipina today. I believe this is the reason behind the fabulous Terno competition for the 57 candidates which gave a positive outlook to the Turismo Pilipina competition.

When the Spanish regime conquered the Philippines one of their major missions was to spread Christianity. The respect and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary played a big role in the transformation of the Terno into a conservative clothing piece for Filipinas. All I remember is that Maria Clara is the symbol of the conservative Filipina and she is always shown wearing a Terno.

The Fashion Designer’s Association of the Philippines took center stage by designing various interpretations of the Terno in a competition that showcased the 57 candidates of Turismo Pilipina. Just like the cultural Night, the variety of perception in the designs made by the country’s best fashion designers made the competition spicier. As shown in this blog various ternos that was not your stereotype design which can be classified as modern but still conservative looking.

Roanne Aguilar's gown has the traditional butterfly sleeve which is one of the most prominent facets of the Terno. Do you think that during the Spanish Era, designers would design a pink terno for an ordinary Filipino. Jonty Martinez is the creator of this beautiful pink terno.

As one of the judges I picked Ms. Antique, Negros Occidental and Ms. Quezon City because after looking at all candidates they are the only three that stood out and I remember best.

Turismo Pilipina 2008 Cultural Night

“Coming from the Island where the Tubbataha Reef is located , I am Kristine Barby Lureno of Puerto Princesa representing the beautiful Island of the last ecological frontier –Palawan.”

That is just one of the opening lines of the 57 beautiful candidates who are vying for the newest most coveted title in the Philippines today – Ms. Turismo Pilipina 2008.  All 57 candidates showed eloquence and elegance in their introductions as they came out with one of the most detailed opening statements i have ever heard in the pageants that I have attended.

I have been to a lot of pageants the past two years and I believe that this one is quite unique and very well thought of.  The Turismo Pilipina 2008 just had their Cultural Night at the Amoranto Theatre in which all 57 beautiful candidates were made to wear their province's local costume.  The accent on pushing Tourism is really something that is quite endearing to all the candidates. I just didn't notice if all regions or provinces were represented.

What makes the cultural night unique is that all the contestants paraded in different costumes which has relevance to the province that they represent.  All candidates explained the relevance of their costumes to their  province in their opening spiels which was enough to capture the significance of what they were wearing.

For me the most notable gowns were worn Ms. Palawan, Ms. Romblon, Ms. Navotas, Ms. Negros Occidental, Ms. Antique, Ms. Aklan and Ms. Laguna just to mention a few.  But honestly I can list down 20 good ones just to show the tight competition the ladies had in this cultural night which obviously showed the interesting diverse cultures here in our country.

I honestly believe that the judges led by fashion icon Rene Salud had a hard time scrutinizing all the beautiful gowns worn by the candidates. I think that this time around it took awhile before the judges came out with their scores and I think they had a hard time because there were a lot of stand outs.

To add more flavor to the event, this cultural night was hosted by two intelligent beauties who were winners of different prestigious national pageants.  Binibining Pilipinas – World 2007 Maggie Wilson and the brainy Ms. Phlippines- Earth 2006 Cathy Untalan were there as emcees and their insights were very valuable specially to the candidates’ supporters and who were there to root for their respective candidates.

After the presentation of costumes twelve candidates showcased their different talents with Ms. Apayao,  Ms. Laguna and Ms. Masbate coming out as the top three in this category. The best in Talent winner will be awarded on the coronation night. 

South Cotabato's most popular city is Marbel or Koronadal City and their  province is ably represented by the beauteous Loradel Reyes who is seen here wearing a the local costume of SOuth Cotabato natives. 

Other events lined up for Turismo Pilipina is the Terno Competition last November 7, 2008, the Long Gown and Swimsuit competition on Novemebr 10, 2008 at the Ynares Gym in Pasig and their interview with the judges on November 11,2008 at Hotel Rembrandt. The coronation  will be on November 14, 2008 at the AFP theatre. 

Coming Soon: Turismo Pilipina 2008

Denille Valmonte, Aga, Lara Quigaman & Karen Agustin

In the Philippines, almost every city, municipality and province conduct their own search for the most beautiful lady in their area. That is why the Philippines will never run out of beauty queens because Filipinos enjoy seeing beautiful women being crowned. That is reason why beauty pageants have sprung from all over the country and TURISMO PILIPINA 2008 is one of the new pageants that is bound to be a big hit because the organizers themselves are revered beauty pageant winners.

Doc Aga with Lara Quigaman

The President of this prestigious group is none other than Ms. International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman who together with two other beauties, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002 Karen Agustin and Bb Pilipinas International 2006 Denille Lou Valmonte are the beauties behind this pageant that attracted 75 contestants nationwide.

The Grand Coronation night will be on November 14, 2008 and the newly-crowned Turismo Pilipina 2008 will receive P250,000.00 Cash, A Talent Management Contract, Gifts from Pageant Sponsors and will compete in Turismo Pilipina International Search to be held next year. Three Special Titles will also be given during the Turismo Pilipina Finals Night this October, Turismo Pilipina – Luzon, Turismo Pilipina – Visayas and Turismo Pilipina Mindanao.

Do watch out for the exciting news about this pageant in my this blog.