ATHENA Imperial from Casiguran, Aurora
This year’s Miss Philippines-Earth pageant is undergoing a strict selection process. From 50 contestants, only 10 will compete in the finals.
Organizers have explained the drastic elimination method. Catherine Untalan, executive director of pageant partner Miss Earth Foundation, said the competition now has a different set of criteria. “More than physical attributes, we’re looking for someone committed to the advocacy,” she told Inquirer Entertainment.
Scores will be tabulated, thus: 60 percent for beauty and body proportion, and 40 percent for environment awareness.
“You can be drop-dead gorgeous and score 60 in beauty, but if you get a 10 or a zero in environment awareness, then definitely you won’t make it,” said Untalan.
Peachy Veneracion, project manager of pageant organizer Carousel Productions, said intelligence and communications skills are important in selecting the Miss Philippines-Earth winners because “[they] go on school tours every year and discuss the advocacy with young kids.”
Carousel executive vice president Lorraine Schuck stressed, “Listening to the contestants is easy because they are beautiful. But they have to [sustain interest], so their communication skills are very important. That is why we have [stringent requirements].”
The pageant held four elimination rounds. Among the last women standing are Best in Swimsuit and Best in Cocktail Dress Jonavi Quiray from Puerto Princesa. She has bagged national and international titles before, having being crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas 2008 and Miss Asean TV Charm 2010.
MAKATI’S Tarhata Rico in her swimsuit
Finals set
Other finalists: Best in Long Gown Brenna Gamboa, from the Filipino community of the US East Coast; and Muriel Orais from Cebu, who was proclaimed Best in Casual Wear and Best in Amazon Costume. Orais also won Miss Photogenic through online voting.
Rounding out the final 10 are Athena Imperial from Casiguran, Aurora, Tarhata Rico from Makati, Edan Dafilmoto from Cotabato, Catrine Ocampo from General Santos, Michelle Gavagan from Las Piñas, Mary Denisse Toribio from Malolos and Alicia Ariosa from Pagadian.
The finals will be held at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum on June 5, to be aired by ABS-CBN on the same night at 10.