With the theme “Dyosa ng Inang Kalikasan,” the candidates wore white swimsuits as they paraded near the poolside of a hotel in Manila last Thursday.
Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president and co-founder of Miss Earth, said that this year’s event encourages the public to get involve in promoting the country’s eco-tourism.
“We are in a country that ranks tourism as one of its major sources of revenues. It is only fitting that we become united in protecting these destinations from the effects of human activities.
“Of course, it doesn’t mean restricting people from enjoying these natural wonders, but teaching them to be mindful of their acts that can cause damage to the environment,” said Schuck.
Members of the press also selected three candidates for the Darling of the Press special award – Leandrea Batingan (gold), Zahra Bianca Saldua (silver), and Celeste Cortesi (bronze).
Other candidates who won special awards during separate competitions held at the Versailles Palace Alabang were: evening gown – Berjayneth Chee (gold); Celeste Cortesi (silver); and Halimatu Yushawu (bronze); cocktail wear competition – Halimatu Yushawu (gold), Celeste Cortesi (silver) and Aubrey Pagot Elauria (bronze); and swimsuit competition – Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi (gold); Marra Silvosa (silver); and Princess Faye Tortor Fernandez (bronze). They were awarded by State Properties Corporation president Allen Roxas.
Saldua, 26, of Las Piñas, said that her advocacy focuses on water and eco-preneurship. “Only about 10 percent of the nation’s sewage is treated or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. The rest goes back to nature – usually the sea.”
Silvia Celeste Cortesi, of Fil-Rome, Italy, said: “My advocacy is about trees in Italy because I believe we should protect our urban fragile forest because trees are life. And the perfect example is here in Italy, for the existence of a law that protects monumental trees.”
Halimatu Yushawu, of Zamboanga Sibugay, said: “Garbage floating in the ocean slowly by slowly destroys our marine resources and considering that the Philippines is an archipelago and majority of our people live in coastal areas where fishing is their main source of living.”
The grand finals of the Miss Earth Philippines 2018 will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 19. (Robert R. Requintina)
