Miss Universe PH-Bohol ‘bleeds’ for Chocolate Hills amid outrage on resort

Miss Universe Philippines-Bohol Bianca Gaviola. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina

MANILA, Philippines—Pauline Amelinckx, 2023 Miss Supranational first runner-up and the first-ever The Miss Philippines titleholder, has already expressed her concern about the Chocolate Hills in her home province of Bohol where a resort was constructed. Another Boholana beauty queen has shared her thoughts on the viral issue.

“I was born and raised in the province of Bohol, so it bleeds me, this is a natural monument. And when you say natural monument, it has to be loved, protected by laws and cared for, for the people,” Bianca Gaviola told INQUIRER.NET in an interview on the sidelines of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant’s signing event with Jell Life at the ballroom of Hilton Manila in Pasay City on March 14.

“When we talk about Bohol, you never miss Chocolate Hills. It’s iconic… And right now, on my end, as my sentiment, morally speaking, it doesn’t mean that you could, you should,” continued the 24-year-old lass from Tagbilaran, who joined the rest of her fellow Miss Universe Philippines delegates in the event.

The geological attraction, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a sprawling destination that spans the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. A resort constructed between hills located in Sagbayan recently made the rounds on social media, and earned various remarks, many of them unfavorable.

Amelinckx, in a social media post, reminded the public to “balance progress with protection and preservation of our natural landmarks,” and said the hills “are part of every Bohol-anon. It’s part of the land we call home, part of the soul of our island.”

The Belgian-Filipino model, host and civil society leader continued: “We all must play a part, big or small, to regenerate our earth, so it may regenerate us too…May we never forget about the beautiful land given by God. ‘Hatag ni Bathala.’”

READ: Chocolate Hills resort construction dismays Anne Curtis

Gaviola, for her part, also shared on social media her visual art works of the Chocolate Hills and the other natural assets of Bohol, as “a reminder for people to love what God gave us.”

She also said she feels “blessed” to carry the province after Amelinckx’s commendable three-time stint in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant. “Ate Pauline, thank you so much for that wonderful representation for three years. I hope I can also do justice. I love Bohol. I love the Filipinos, and let’s do this,” Gaviola said.

The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant is the fifth edition of the standalone contest that chooses the country’s representative to the Miss Universe competition. This year’s winner will compete in the global tilt’s 73rd edition in Mexico later this year.

Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee finished in the Top 10 of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, topped the fan vote, amassed the most votes for national costume, was one of the three “gold finalists” in the “Voice for Change” initiative, and received the “Spirit of Carnival” award from Carnival Cruises.

To date, four Filipino women have been proclaimed Miss Universe—Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018.