CLIMATE CHANGE – Jay P. Delgado updates Highspeed on two beauty pageants: Miss PH Earth and Miss Tourism World Philippines.
Let’s start with Miss Earth.
The winners of the 16th Miss Philippines Earth Pageant have been crowned and feted at UP Theater last June 11 after a closely-fought battle for the coveted crowns to become the newest stewards of Mother Earth, all of them committed to address climate change through the 5Rs: Re-think, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Respect.
Filipino-German artists Imelda Shweighart, 21, from Puerto Princesa City, bested 45 other contestants and advanced her advocacy of banning genetically modified organisms and chemically engineered seeds for better health and environment.
Also known as Imee Hart, Schweighart will vie for the 16th Miss Earth Pageant in Manila later this year, with an opportunity to become the third straight Filipina winner after Jamie Herrell in 2014 and Angelia Ong last year. Karla Henry was the first Filipina and Asian winner in 2008.
Crowned as Schweighart’s court of “elements” were: Kiaragiel Hamlig Gregorio, an A-level student of Greensward Academy in London, UK, Miss Philippines Air 2016; Loren Mar Guillermo Artajos, 25, a registered nurse from Laoag City, Miss Philippines- Water 2016; Shannon Rebecca Pascual Bridgman, 24, a half-Australian doctor’s assistant from Vienna, Austria, Miss Philippines- Eco Tourism 2016.
Kiaragiel and Shannon, who both competed for Mutya ng Pilipinas last year as delegates of overseas Filipino communities, are batting for natural resources management and environment education, respectively. Loren campaigns for renewable energy citing the power windmills of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, while Melanie advocates for water protection and conservation.
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Born in Milan, raised in Manila – And now the focus is on Sharyl Diana Mararac Catchillar, 23, the newly-crowned Miss Tourism World Philippines 2016, is a BS Biology graduate of St. Scholastica’s College Manila who plans to take up Molecular Medicine after representing the country at the Miss Tourism World Pageant later this year.
The elder of two siblings, Sharyl was born on October 11, 1992 in Milan, Italy to Pangasinense parents Ireneo Catchillar from Basista and the former Rosemarie Mararac from Laoac, both OFWs in Milan.
Standing 5’5” with olive complexion, Sharyl topped the field of 45 contestants at the 5th Miss Tourism Philippines finals last may 28 at NPAT, Resorts World Manila, and also bagged two other special awards: Miss Lady Grace and Miss Charity.
Inspired by her hardworking parents, Sharyl strived hard to do her best in every endeavor that she undertook and will continue to do so “to show my love and gratitude for them, to make them proud that all their hardships and struggles have paid off.”
With ace make-up artist Gio Flores of Kagandahang Flores pageant camp as her mentor for many years now, Sharyl knows that she is in very good hands and promised to prepare intensively for her upcoming international pageant.
Sharyl was recently feted with a fiesta-themed victory party at Manila Polo Club with Miss Tourism Philippines Organization founder Gareth Blanco, president Amelia Sunio-Abarquez, and her co-winners in attendance.