Miss Philippines Earth beauties mark ‘Earth Day’ in Antique
A relaxing bike ride at the Antique Esplanade caps the ladies’ first day in the province./LOREN LEGARDA FACEBOOK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Philippines Earth pageant has been championing the cause of environmental awareness and protection since 2001, and 2023 is no different. The 29 candidates of this year’s competition marked “Earth Day” on April 22 with a visit to the province of Antique.
The delegates went on a tour of the Visayan province which saw them visiting various ecotourism sites. They also participated in a special “Patadyong” fashion show that showcased indigenous fabrics woven using traditional methods, which the ladies also got to try themselves.
They paid a visit to the old capitol building, or the “Presidencia,” which was restored under the initiative of Sen. Loren Legarda, who extended the invitation to the ladies to her province. The ladies also went to “Balay nga Bato,” an historical residence that served as quarters for the Japanese when they occupied Antique and the rest of Panay. The structure was also a hospital during World War II.
The ladies also went to the University of Antique and the “Bamboo Processing Center.” They also got their hands literally dirty when they learned about the province’s creative pottery at the brick-making facility. They capped their first day with a sunset view at the Antique Esplanade, where they also rode bikes to relax.
The 2023 Miss Philippines Earth delegates try their hand at Antique’s creative pottery./LOREN LEGARDA FACEBOOK PHOTO
A visit to the Cotton Processing Center in Patnongon marked the start of their second day in the province, which was the day after Earth Day. It is the first cotton processing center in the Visayas and the first fully-operational one in the Philippines.
The delegates communed with nature at the Calawag Mountain Resort in Tibiao, where they also experienced an indigenous “jacuzzi,” dipping in a huge cauldron, the same type used in preparing “muscovado” sugar and molasses.
The Miss Philippines Earth pageant and its counterpart international tilt Miss Earth, both organized by Carousel Productions, promote environmental awareness by crowning winners who work on projects and programs that help save the planet from further degradation. This year’s theme is “MELoves20TREE” to highlight the value of trees in our lives.
The 2023 Miss Philippines Earth coronation night will be staged at the Toledo City Sports Center (Megadome) in Toledo City in the Province of Cebu on April 29, at 6 p.m. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the pageant’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel, with a delayed telecast on A2Z on April 30, at 10 a.m.
Reigning queen Jenny Ramp, who finished in the Top 20 of the international competition, will crown her successor who will represent the Philippines in the 2023 Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam later this year. Four Filipino women have captured the title so far—Karla Paula Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017). EDV
