Miss Tagbilaran Celina Mejos Villoceno was crowned Miss Bohol 2019 on Saturday night, capping a back to back win for Tagbilaran in the Miss Bohol pageant.
The 22-year-old Tourism Management student won the city’s 11th Miss Bohol crown bested other 14 candidates.
Fans screamed at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium as outgoing Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Stephan Trigo crowned her successor.
The event was also a homecoming of Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados, who was first runner-up in Miss Bohol 2017, who served as one of the judges.
Tagbilaran is the only municipality/city to win back-to-back in Miss Bohol crowns when Celina Villoceno was crowned by the previous winner, Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Stephan Trigo for quite a long time.
Catherine Cadayona Tabaniag of Panglao was first runner-up followed by Miss Atharra Primeland Iza Gail Perez Latonio as second runner-up; Miss Talibon Mary Therese Polestico Tabada as third runner-up; and Miss B n J Computers Doanne Kristett Echivarre Manhilot as fourth runner-up.
During the final question, Villoceno was asked “Aside from tourism, what do you think is the best asset of Bohol which can bring the province global recognition?”
She replied that the people of Bohol are the best asset of the province who are more resilient and tougher against the daunting challenges.
Villoceno, who hails from Barangay Taloto, shared that her ultimate goal was to become Miss Bohol 2019, her personal data sheet provided by Miss Bohol said.
“After Miss Bohol I’d Like to become a flight attendant and travel around the world,” she said.
Her fans when she posted a photo of her injured foot that caused an obstacle for her to swerve on the catwalk hours before the talent competition last July 12.
Regardless of the condition of her foot, Villoceno was determined to see her Miss Bohol journey through to the end. She didn’t skip the talent competition tonight.
READ: Tagbilaran’s bet injures foot
She likes hiking, travelling, modeling, blogging and chasing waterfalls.
She also shared that she is a fan of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
“I must say it’s Catriona Gray. She is truly inspiring and empowering for aspiring beauty queens like me. I admire so much how goal driven she is,” she said.
She added, “Catriona is my epitome of beauty with a purpose. She has raised our flag in the universe by simply carrying with her our culture through her attires. Catriona is a total package and worthy of emulation. If may not be easy to have all eyes in every inch of your movement but our Miss Universe is making every stare so worth it.”
She is amenable to banning single-use plastics to save the world’s oceans and to protect marine wildlife.
“The waters surrounding our island home is a sanctuary to a diverse marine life. This has helped boost our tourism industry and improved our economic growth. However, a silent threat is slowly emerging in the form of plastic wastes,” she said.
Villoceno, who was crowned Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019, said that being a beauty queen enabled her to know the realities about the environment, including the conservation of oceans and aquatic life.
“I am moved to commit to the advocacy of banning single use plastic by making conscious choices every day and to campaign to the different public schools in the city and hopefully province wide, it’s harmful effects to the environment especially to the oceans and the alternatives we can use instead of these plastics,” she said.
“With this initiative and with each one’s contribution, no matter how small, we can transform this plastic ridden world one sustainable act a time,” she added.