(L-R): Miss Philippines-Air: Michelle Martha Braun (Aklan), Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism and Miss PAGCOR: Adie Adelantar (Victorias City),  Miss Philippines-Water: Miss Philippines-Earth 2009: Sandra Seifert (Negros Occidental), Miss Philippines-Fire and Miss Science and Technology: Patricia Marie Tumulak (Quezon City), Miss Philippines-Water: Catherine Loyola (Fil. Sydney)

The recently concluded Coronation Night of Miss Philippines-Earth 2009 which was held at the The Arena Entertainment and Recreational Center of the People, San Juan City on May 10, 2009 glorifies the Reigning Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism 2009 and Miss PAGCOR 2009, Grizelda Enis “Adie” Adelantar.

Adie, to her friends, is very kind and sweet. Way back our freshie year in UP Diliman (Centerfold, Kalayaan Residence Hall), she used to be the “ate” of everyone else. Ever since, she has already that role-model image to all of her friends and colleagues. She is a very diverse woman. She loves to participate in events for a cause (she was one of the UP Corp of Sponsors), she loves to dance (she participated in the Cheerdance competition that was organized by UP Pep Squad), she speaks so well (when aspiring men court her, she politely turns them down explaining that she has priorities), she loves to do so many things, she just can’t help it! But, above all these, she’s a colleague, a friend, and a sister to every Centerfold lady (Go UNGASTIG!).

Familiar with the lovely pictures? Of course. Who cannot recognize the Pink Empire of the Queen City of the South, Cebu? The grandeur Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa owned by the legend, Manny Osmena (he also formerly owned Waterfront Hotel).

Early this evening, I got a chance to meet and interact with this multi-millionaire for an hour in CAV Wine Shop-Cafe in Fort Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig. The setting: job interview. Yes, he interviewed me! What was he offering? Wine Ambassadorial position. The perks? Monthly salary, house and lodging, food and transportation allowance. Basically all. Plus the opportunity to be personally trained by him in countries like France, China, Singapore and Hongkong. As a wine ambassador, it is expected that you handle everything that is asked of you. You travel anywhere in the Philippines, day and night, if the need arises. You talk to media, promote the wine products. “You do this, and many more, with sophistication” — these are his very words I could not forget.

Wine, for him, is a lifetime business and even beyond. The learning experience continues every single day. Wine, for him, is never tainted with negative vibes, as those compared to beer, vodka, tequilla, etc. Wine is never an alcoholic drink. It is a drink that invigorates the soul, releasing the positive energies of your being. It is all about sophistication.

As his final words, “think about this, and if you decide to work with me, I will personally train you because I know that you belong to the Class A circle. Someday, you will achieve more than you could think of.”

There’s nothing much relevant and new that happened to me this week. Except for the very fact that sometime this week I had the opportunity to meet with this person who has been familiar, either by name or by face, to us Boholanos, well, at least, to those people who are engaged to local politics or even to those who merely have an interest on it.

Last Wednesday afternoon, in a coffee shop in one of the hotels in Quezon City, I had an appointment with this Lobocanon. We basically had a little chat on local politics until it broadened up to the national level. The person I am referring to is no other than Mr. Angelo Balili himself. It has been significant for me because I have learned a lot from the discussion we had.

First. After we introduced each other, I was astonished by the fact that the discussion went on spontaneously. It seemed that when a certain topic is raised, new topics are already waiting to be opened and tackled. We basically talked on the situation of the local politics in Bohol. It had become interesting each minute because I learned those crazy facts about politics in our local setting. There had been stories he shared which I previously thought was just a political myth until I realized it might be possible on the other end. Such stories had something to do with political dynasties, making politics as a source of family income and allowing politics to be the channel for fame, power and wealth.

Second. He is no political figure because technically he hadn’t run for any local or national position in the government. But in his blood runs the essence of leadership. He has become known because of the fact that he believes in ideal, dedicated and true leadership. He supported a number of people in their candidacies because he believed in the capacity of these leaders to render service to its constituents. He debunked the traditional politics and joined the people in their quest for genuine leadership. In other words, he has made his contribution to the local politics – how people admired him, how others despise him – for both sides of the coin.

Third. He had broke the notion that rich and really rich people are out of reach, no time to talk to ordinary people, all devoted to business related activities. Considering his valuable time, he still spent a little time to sit and chat with people like me who wants to know his secret behind his success. He’s a businessman and he’s achieved tremendously in his field especially in the busy world of Makati but based on that meeting, he has proven to me that the Boholano character in him, the unexplained kind of connection we extend to our fellow Boholanos whether we know that Boholano or not, is very explicit. He has his own world out here in the Metropolitan but his heart remained true to his constituents.

The Da Vinci Code has become the talk of the town since Dan Brown released this novel last two years ago. It has already been everybody’s mouth in school and everywhere I go. Before I left Quezon City for semestral break last 2005, I always heard my friends and dormitory mates, teachers and block mates, even strangers talking and debating about the content of this novel. Curious as I am, I borrowed a copy from my friend who by that time squealed every detail of the novel. Of course, I always wanted to have a personal experience with the book than just learn its summary by what other sources say. So, among with a good number of friends this friend of mine has, I bequeathed myself with this “virtual pila” that existed on who goes to read the book first and who goes next. By the time it reached to me, sembreak was already striking so I didn’t have the chance to read it from cover to cover. When I get back to my province for vacation, I remember I kept on asking my father to not to forget to get me a copy of it by the time he visits Cebu. And he did. I have a copy of it and so I get the opportunity to finish reading it during my free time.

Yes, the contents of the story are very novel to me. It depicts the “hidden life” of Jesus Christ, his relationship with Mary Magdalene and all other “controversial” facts about his life. According to the book, the Holy Grail is Mary Magdalene herself. Of course, as the author always stresses it, it is a fiction; therefore it is purely a product of human imagination and may not be true and possible. As we Roman Catholics recognize, the church reacts negatively on the “information” this novel exhibits as this can possibly shake the faith of its believers.

Until a movie has been drawn from this novel. Among with other inquisitive minds, I watched the movie myself despite the contradictions of the Catholic Church, not to contravene the doctrines of my church but for me to have a disclosure of all the issues related to this matter.

I read the book and watched it in the theater and it didn’t change my constructive view on faith and religion. Personally, I believe that an individual always has the power to personally think, decide and act based on his own concepts as influenced by the environment. That’s willpower. As Robert Langdon said on his final statement, “believe in what you think is right.” You do not alter your life because you feel like following the principles of others but you direct your life in the point where it leads to personal growth – spiritually, mentally and emotionally.