Is it time for Mindanao to reclaim the Miss Philippines Earth crown?

Stay tuned for more Miss Philippines Earth 2024 updates!

Miss Philippines Earth 2024 frontrunners (from left) Ira Patricia Malaluan, Irha Mel Alfeche and Sam Samara. Image: Facebook/Miss Philippines Earth

Luzon and Metro Manila have been dominating the Miss Philippines Earth pageant since its establishment in 2001, with a total of 18 winners produced. And while Visayas already has three queens, only one winner from Mindanao has been crowned. There has also been one winner from an overseas Filipino community.

But with tonight’s coronation show set to be held in Bukidnon, and with formidable Mindanaoan delegates competing for the crown, a candidate from southern Philippines could claim the Miss Philippines Earth title once again.

The first, and so far only, winner from the southern regions of the Philippines was April Ross Perez from Zamboanga City, who was crowned in the pageant’s second edition held in 2002. She also finished in the Top 10 of the international Miss Earth pageant.

Irha Mel Alfeche from Matanao, Davao del Sur, could make it happen once again for Mindanao. She topped the swimsuit competition and placed third in the beach wear competition. Zamboanga City’s Ansha Lichelle Jones also has a chance of scoring a win, after leading the long gown competition.

Mindanaoans also dominated the talent competition, with Iligan City’s Kristel Codas topping the contest, followed by Chaoncy Rich Azucena from Baungon, and Reca Mae Abueva from Davao City. Gwen Marie Perion from Opol, meanwhile, got the third-highest votes in the “Darling of the Press” poll.

But Ira Patricia Malaluan from Batangas City and Sam Samara from Makati City are raising the banner for Luzon and Metro Manila, respectively, with three medals each.

Luzon has produced the most winners in the national pageant with a total of 10 queens including reigning titleholder Yllana Marie Aduana from Siniloan, Laguna, who was eventually crowned Miss Earth-Air in the international competition.

Metro Manila, meanwhile, has eight winners, two of whom even scored victories in the Miss Earth pageant—Angelia Ong in 2015 and Karen Ibasco in 2017, both from the City of Manila.

And while the Visayas has only three national winners, the central Philippine islands produced the Philippines’ first Miss Earth winner, Karla Henry from Cebu. Another Cebuana, Jamie Herrell, duplicated her feat in 2014. Negros Occidental’s Sandra Seifert, meanwhile, finished as Miss Earth-Air in 2009.

The 2024 Miss Philippines Earth pageant will crown the new queen in the town of Talakag in the province of Bukidnon tonight, May 11. The show will be streamed real time on the pageant’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, with a telecast on A2Z on May 12.

The winner will represent the Philippines in the 24th Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam later this year, and try to become the fifth Filipino woman to win the international title.