A 21-year-old aspiring musician from Puerto Princesa, Palawan who pushes for soil protection and minimizing pollution was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2016 during the grand coronation held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City last Saturday night.
Imelda Bautista Schweighart beat 45 other candidates from around the country and Filipino communities abroad in the environment-driven beauty contest. She was crowned by outgoing Miss Philippines Earth Angelia Ong, who is also the reigning Miss Earth.
A crowd favorite since pre-pageant days, Schweighart will represent the country in the Miss Earth 2016 international beauty pageant which will be held in Manila later this year.
Asked about her environmental advocacy, Schweighart said that she wanted to promote soil protection from chemically engineered seeds and organic farming.
The German-Filipino beauty queen also said that she wants to raise awareness to minimize pollution through biking. “It’s good for the health and it will teach us the true value of living in harmony with each other.”
Schweighart has revealed in an exclusive interview that she actually rides the bike from Mandaluyong or Pasig area on her way to the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp in Timog, Quezon City for her pageant training.
Kiaragiel Gregorio, of London, was named Miss Philippines Air; Loren Mar Artajos, Laoag City, Miss Philippines Water; Shannon Rebecca Bridgman, Miss Philippines Fire; and Melanie Mader, Vienna, Austria, Miss Eco-tourism.
Other winners of special awards were Jan Louise Abejero, QC, Best Eco Video; Krissandra Marie Abel, Lobo, Batangas Eco Warrior; April Angeique Arciaga, Muntinlupa City, Best Community Project Award; Eva Eunice Reinoso, Alaminos, Pangasinan, Miss SM Markets; and Gregorio, Londo, Miss Hana.
Kristel Suizo, Best In Cultural Costume Competition; Gregorio, Best in Swimsuit Competition, and Mader, Trash to Class Competition, during challenge contests held at the Versailles Palace in Las Pinas City; and Rachelle Quinonez, Best in Resorts Wear, at Pontefino Residences in Batangas City.
* Dreams and ambitions
Schweighart said that the most unusual thing that she has even done so far was when she competed at the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant when she was only 17 years old. She was the youngest contestant back then.
The 5’6 tall beauty queen finished in the Top 15 and won the Bb. Pilipinas-Pagcor Award.
Later, Schweighart became one of the co-hosts of singer-actor Willie Revillame in his popular game show “Willing Willie” on TV 5. She also said that there were offers for her to appear in films.
But the beauty queen said that her utmost dream is to become a pop-sensation.
“As a servant of the youth I want to contribute and influence my audience through creative skills and talent. After producing my own music and publishing it, I will create my own company for talented dreamers, to search among talented people, train them and brainstorm with them to provide exemplary entertainment in the world,” she said.
Schweighart added that she has composed many songs which she hopes to record them soon.
She also said that her most memorable moment was when she first created the band, Esther, and established the band when she was 18 years old on her own.
“The band was about waking people from ignorance and manipulative ties in deceiving belief systems,” Schweighart added.
She also said that she is not interested in having a relationship these days. Instead, she wanted to focus her energy on music and training for Miss Earth pageant.