If its grandiose plans do not miscarry, the Miss Bohol 2014 beauty contest promises to be a big bang, with the quality of its candidates on top of other considerations to become one. Quality in this genre means beauty, grace, intelligence and talent all rolled into one, making the next Miss Bohol as the ambassadress of goodwill of the province. Giving pomp and luster to the beauty pageant is Balilihan Vice-Mayor Pureza Veloso Chatto, wife of Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, who is making no stone unturned to give a good turnout in terms of representation of the contest. She was also chosen as executive chair of Miss Bohol 2014 knowing that as wife of the top official of the province, at least, “she knows how to push the right button.” Whatever that means, it was expected that Ms. Chatto is the right person for the job.

Speaking of beauty contests, Pureza is no stranger to beauty pageants, herself a titleholder. At 13 years old, she may be too young to be a beauty of her own, but she held her own against elder candidates when she joined the Miss Divine Word College(now Holy Name University) contest years ago. What makes this year's Miss Bohol a litmus test of the combined leadership of Gov. Chatto and City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II is the coordinated efforts of the two LGUs which join hands to make the competition a runaway success. The grand spectacle of this beauty competition is set on July 19, 2014 at the Bohol Wisdom School gymnasium where the showcase of woman pulchritude is pushed to the limits to determine the crème de la crème in Boholano beauty. Being part of the month-long Sandugo festival, the search for Miss Bohol 2014 is considered one of the main highlights of all the activities lined up for the occasion. As a coordinated undertaking with the city, Pureza is being assisted in her bid to make the tilt the mother of all beauty pageants by Ms. Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap, wife of Mayor Yap. In a presentation of candidates held Friday at the posh Bellevue Hotel and Resort, 18 beauties representing the different towns and entities paraded their wares before the ogling eyes of media persons.

The would-be bets for Miss Bohol are Allyson Mycee Zamora Escobia, representing cape town of Anda in easternmost part of the province; Maria Tiffany Ibarra Tabigue -- Balilihan; Lisslee Torregosa Centillas-- Buenavista; Annaleah Unajan Saga -- Carmen; Queenie Melody Fullante --Dauis; Diozel Ramayla Namoco -- Dimiao; Natasha Amethyst Licayan Torralba --Duero; Liezel May Lodonia Turtoga – Getafe. Christine Mae Galemba Cuarto --- Jagna; Jassenie Tito Mangaron -- Loon; Mary Rose Remitar Butalid -- Panglao; Farwah Niyah Buslon Soriano -- Pilar; Geraldine Bernido Topsnik – Tagbilaran City; Jaya Sierras Lozana -- Tubigon; Clowie Clarus Lim – Ubay; Immaculada Cleofe Edubas Leopardas – Barbra Pearls cosmetics (Bohol branch); and Joyce Trexie Marie Barrete Cabagnot – Bohol Island State University (BISU).

Former Miss Bohol Sandugo Ana Maris Igpit, who represented the country for Miss World, played host to the media shebang. In her parting words, Veloso-Chatto said aside from being the quintessential symbol of Boholano beauty, brains and breeding, Miss Bohol 2014 should also be the epitome of the modern Boholana. “Confident, charming and career-oriented, she is also in a unique and privileged position to use her popularity and personality for a good cause by being the spokesperson for various projects, cause and advocacies as well as be a positive role model for her peers and for the community,” the first lady of Bohol said of the soon-to-be-crowned Miss Bohol 2014.(With reports from Ric V. Obedencio)