Miss Philippines Earth 2016 semi-finalist Bellatrix Tan has defended herself from criticisms after a video of her remarks in the question-and-answer portion of the environment-driven beauty pageant went viral recently.
“I know po talaga ’yung El Niño and La Niña. Kasi alam ko po talaga na ’yung El Niño, drought po, dry;
“Sa La Niña naman po, heavy rainfall. Kasi nung na-realize ko na mali pala ‘yung pag-deliver ko, ‘yung pag-answer ko, bigla pong nag-react na ako;
“Sinabi ko na nga po dun sa host na alam ko kung ano ang La Niña, heavy rainfall. Hindi ko po ma-explain kung bakit ganun po [ang naging pagsagot ko],” she said, in an interview over DZMM recently.
Tan, 20, was asked about her thoughts on the El Niño-La Niña issue during the Q&A portion of the pageant held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City last June 11.
She answered: “El Niño is what we are facing right now. If we do simple things like planting trees, then we will not experience drought, right? If we start now, we will achieve La Niña. Thank you.”
Tan’s amusing answer then became viral and trended on social media. Others described her answer as confusing.
Given the chance to improve her answer, Tan said that she will say: “El Niño and La Niña are both effects of climate change. If we don’t do our part, we will really experience drought and heavy rainfall. Act now so we can have a better future.”
Tan also told her bashers that it is not easy joining a national beauty pageant.
“Siguro try niyo sumali ng national pageant. You’ll know the feeling. Usually po talaga, napapansin din po talaga ng supporters ko na ‘yung mga nagba-bash, ‘yun po ‘yung mga hindi ko po alam kung na-experience na ba nila.’’
German-Filipino Imelda Schweighart of Puerto Princesa, Palawan won the beauty pageant in the field of 46 candidates.
She will represent the Philippines in the Miss Earth contest to be staged in Manila later this year.