Monday, April 20, 2009

Thousands line up for PBB, PDA auditions in Bohol

Two friends who met in a foreign land have married after falling in love on the scenic Bangkok.

Cromwell Besmark Cortes and Michelle “Dane” Dalida were just good friends... until they decided to settle down for good on April 7, at three in the afternoon, at the Bongabong Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Oriental Mindoro. Another reception was held on April 14 at the Sandugo Ballroom of the Bohol Tropics Resort for the sake of other friends and relatives of the groom who weren’t able to attend the wedding in Mindoro.

Many of my high school friends have decided to get married — and Cromscort is the latest to do so after finding true love in Thailand. Cromscort --- the tallest in our batch and has the boyish charming smile (De Ers, mi amiga para vivir, called him a hunk) — is the youngest son of Salvador “Boy” Cortes and Prof. Bernardita Cortes (nee Castillo), the best English professor UB has ever had.

Currently Cromwell is an English teacher teaching high school and elementary in Thailand. He plans to proceed his law degree in the future, while Dane (daughter of Charney Ilacio and Vilma Turnino Dalida from Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro) is working as an English teacher in a private school in Thailand teaching Kindergarten. She plans to create and manage her own business
sometime in the future.

Dane says, “Before Crom and I became lovers I really believe that I could meet my ideal man. Things changed when I met Crom. I realized that I could only see the ideal man I'm looking for when you see yourself trusting and believing to the person you love and the one who loves you to the fullest. We went through lots of difficulties in our relationship but we could feel that we're becoming stronger than before. And now, I can't ask for more except thanking the Lord for thinking about me by giving me another gift of love...In Crom I have found...the greatest joy in my life.”

Cromwell was with his brother Jasper when he met Dane. He shares, “I was with Jasper when he introduced me to his group mates the Unceasing Cantica one Saturday afternoon, Dane was one of them. Though there were a lot of people in the group this quite petite girl with a beautiful face and carefree laugh intrigued me the most. We didn't click right away; we were just normal friends, though I could safely say I was attracted to Dane. It was in the end of May when we started texting and calling each other more often, we became good friends and it became constant when we call early in the morning and we read passages and verses almost every night.

Soon, we felt texting and calling wasn't enough, I was working on the suburbs of Bangkok while Dane was in the Metropolis. But as they say, love conquers all, and that includes the two- hour heavy traffic ride, sometimes I took the Sky Train just to beat the traffic and to have more time being with Dane. We found ourselves spending more time with each other, talking about just anything and soon I realized we didn't have much in common with our personalities which was more intriguing on my part, the more I knew Dane the more I was mistaken with all my first impressions on her and I knew she was something special. Indeed she was, I opened up my affections to her and I'm glad that she took it. Looking back, I can honestly say in His own time God has handed me a perfect gift that I would cherish and love for the rest of my life...my Dane.”

They plan to have their honeymoon in the timeless romantic Thailand where they first met.

***

They idolize Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu and Sam Milby. They love Yeng Constantino.

Yes, they were part of the PBB and PDA auditions. Despite the roasting heat of the sun, more than 5,000 hopefuls have tried out for the special auditions of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Regular Edition, Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition and Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Some hopefuls came as early as 5 a.m. and all of them came with stories of their life struggles. By 9 a.m., the crowd estimate was 3,000, and the number continued to
go up. By 11 a.m., the number of aspirants already reached 4,000.

There were 1,918 auditionees for the PBB Teen, PDA has 582 and PBB regular has 1, 671. The figure isn’t bad at all for a city like Tagbilaran, in fact, Manila has 10,000 auditionees while Cebu has 8,000.

The PBB auditions caused a monstrous traffic inside the mall. Fast food chains like Chowking, Jollibee, KFC, RaiRai Ken and Greenwich were crowded at lunchtime.

ICM, which gives a total shopping leisure for all Boholanos, was unanimously chosen by ABS-CBN executives. It has a spacious parking area and has good relations with the network.

The Bohol auditions were applauded. “No bad incident happened. Everything’s in order,” said AGC publicist Ariel Fullido (also of CenterStage band).

PBB director Laurenti Dyogi has spearheaded the auditions for PBB regular. People patiently waited for their turn to show their talents but very few were able to get in the audition area. The organizers have announced that the audition for Bohol was closed and begged for the public’s indulgence that the network will not anymore accept auditionees. The auditions finished Friday night at 11p.m.

The success of Pinoy Big Brother has an unwavering influence on the youth to dream big. Unbelievably, there were those who came from General Santos, Dumaguete City, Cebu City and Manila. Overwhelmed, I texted Maam Linggit Tan, PBB business head, informing her of the auditions resounding success, she replied, “Wow grabe! Thanks for the support.” On the other hand, Maru Benitez, one of the producers of PBB was happy to learn about the success of the auditions, saying “Good to hear that.”

At the end of the auditions, 56 Boholanos make it to the finals for the PBB regular and teen editions. These 56 Boholanos will be brought to Manila where they will be screened -- along with other finalists from Visayas and Luzon. This time, the 12 housemates will be chosen.

No results yet for how many were chosen for the PDA. ABS-CBN will give the official reports on Monday.

"We still don't know how many will be chosen from Bohol. Pwedeng wala. But I hope, even one can make it," a source from ABS-CBN said.

According to a Very Reliable Source (VRS), there were Boholanos who auditioned in Cebu on March 15 and there was one from Panglao who has the chance to become a housemate. Who is he/she?


***

Last week, Bared presented the contestants for the Mr and Ms Teen Bohol from the first district of Bohol. As what I’ve promised, here are the contestants from the second district of Bohol captured by Ryan Macalandag (Fotomoments, contact numbers: 038-5019447 and +63921.570.6574, email addresses: fotomoments@yahoo.com.ph, ryanmacalandag99d@yahoo.com):

Here’re the female contenders:
• Ybonne Gracia Evangelista (Danao), 16 years old, 5’4”
• Jennylou Easter Dunting (Inabanga), 18, 5’4”
• Rolah Artiaga (San Miguel), 18, 5’4”
• Ceinena Grace Añora (Buenavista), 18, 5’3”
• Maria Cheryl Gutierrez (San Isidro), 18, 5’3”

The male contestants are:
• Renieven Berdon (San Isidro), 18, 5’5”
• Mark Johnuel Duavis (Buenavista), 18, 5’11”
• Lennin Baay (San Miguel), 18, 5’3”
• Jan Jeffrey Reston (Inabanga), 19, 5’10”
• Dominador Tubalado (Trinidad), 18, 5’6”

Briefly noted:
• Feliz compleaños to April Mel Lupot and Frances Bobbith Cajes-Auza, April 18.
• From frosmusic@yahoo.com: It's a sad Easter evening for us here. Fr. Romy Bancale, SVD was pronounced dead at 5:30 pm today. Drowned at their place in Panglao on the occasion of the SVDs Easter picnic. It seemed he had a stroke while at sea. Same place (daw), where the late Fr. Alphonse Lesage, SVD drowned. Well, we are comforted with the fact that Fr. Romy passes away on Easter Sunday. It reminds us that wherever we are, on earth and the place beyond, we are safe in the company of the Risen Lord. Our condolences to the family, relatives, friends and the SVD family of the passing of Fr. Romy Bancale.
• Calling all participants for the SK Dance War and SK Pop Idol. Deadline of the submission of requirements is on April 25 (for the SK Pop Idol) and April 30 (for the Dance War). Call 411-5914 or visit www.skbohol.com for further information.

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