Ms PH-Earth ’14 a ‘more aware’ batch

THIS year’s batch is also described as “formidable.”

Greeting spectators “Happy Earth Day!” 49 delegates to this year’s Miss Philippines-Earth pageant presented themselves to members of the media at the poolside of the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City on Tuesday.

Unfazed by the intense mid-day heat—a manifestation of global warming, which they aim to help combat—the ladies, representing different parts of the country and overseas Filipino communities, paraded in multicolored, two-piece swimsuits, flashing toothy grins at every camera.

CANDIDATES announce their mission.

The 14th edition of the annual national beauty pageant attracted a bevy of formidable aspirants, prompting organizers to declare that judges would certainly have a hard time choosing the winner, who will be proclaimed at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 11, 7 p.m.

Tough job

“It will be hard to pick the Top 16. There have been years when it was easy to choose; this isn’t one of them,” Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president of organizer Carousel Productions, told the Inquirer.

“We are seeing a new breed of young ladies. The judges’ job won’t be easy,” added Schuck, herself a pageant alumna (runner-up, Miss Asia 1979).

Fellow beauty queen Peachy Veneracion, Carousel vice president and project director, likewise noted an improvement in this batch. “The candidates are more aware of the environment because of social media and the Internet; the pageant’s advocacy is really getting to the younger generation,” she explained.

Veneracion and Schuck said the pageant seeks “an extraordinary woman whose credentials go beyond a beautiful face and a stunning figure.” Added Veneracion, “We are looking for someone who loves the environment and will be a role model to little kids, to make them aware of [and care for] the environment.”

LAST year’s Miss Philippines-Earth, Angelee Claudett delos Reyes.

Veneracion elaborated: “All of the catastrophes happening in the world right now are the result of how we have been treating Mother Earth. Our winners have helped make people become aware of this. They now know how to dispose of garbage properly, how to address global warming in their individual capacities.”

Ongoing mission

Schuck put it simply: “The next Miss Philippines-Earth should have a heart for the environment, who will pursue the campaign even after her reign ends.”

The winner will represent the country in the Miss Earth tilt, a Philippines-based international contest considered one of the most prestigious competitions by big pageant organizers around the world, including Venezuelan Osmel Sousa, national director of the beauty queen factory of Latin America.

Last year’s Philippine representative, Angelee Claudett delos Reyes, told the Inquirer that she hopes to relinquish her title to someone who is “not just beautiful or has a beautiful physique, not just intelligent, but has a good heart.”

A very busy year awaits the next Miss Philippines-Earth, revealed Delos Reyes, who finished in the Top 8 of the 2013 Miss Earth pageant.

Stay beautiful

“It’s a lot of hard work in high heels, but a lot of fun, too. She will be busy every day and has to remain beautiful even if she lacks sleep. It’s a true test of grace under pressure, so she has to love what she’s doing,” she said.

Among this year’s delegates are returning aspirants Monique Teruelle Manuel of Dinalupihan, Bataan, and Diane Querrer of Tanauan City, Batangas. Makati’s Mary Ann Ross Misa and Gapan’s Maria Bianca Paz, runners-up of the rival national tilt Miss World Philippines, are also in the contest.

The province of Cebu, which produced Asia’s first Miss Earth winner, Karla Henry, is represented this year by Jamie Herell of Cebu City, Crystal Star Aberasturi of Liloan, Hannah Marie Caayon of Mandaue City and Pircelyn Pialago of Dalaguete.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Inquirer Libre are official media partners of the 2014 Miss Philippines-Earth pageant.