New twist in Miss Philippines-Earth pageant

FILIPINO-Puerto Rican-American Daphne Joy: “The role required actresses to be great swimmers.”

MANILA, Philippines—The 2011 Miss Philippines-Earth pageant will have a ground-breaking “twist,” said Miss Earth Foundation executive director Cathy Untalan during the candidates’ press presentation recently at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

“We’re going to do something that hasn’t been done before in any pageant,” Untalan, also the 2006 Miss Earth-Water titleholder, told Inquirer Entertainment.

Even officials of pageant organizer Carousel Productions are excited about the changes. Project director Peachy Veneracion and executive vice president Lorraine Schuck did not elaborate.

First elimination night

The pageant will hold its first elimination Friday night in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, in which the 49 candidates will be whittled down to 40 at an Evening Gown competition.

This marks the first time that a Philippine pageant will eliminate official candidates before its coronation night. Organizers said more cuts will be made afterwards.

The final elimination will be announced at least a week before the finals on June 5.

The Miss Philippines-Earth pageant, now on its 11th year, chooses the county’s representative to the Miss Earth competition, which seeks an ambassador for environmental issues worldwide.

This year’s pageant takes on a forest-inspired theme, following the United Nation’s declaration of 2011 as the “International Year of the Forests.” And to further push the advocacy, the coronation night will be staged in Puerto Princesa, tagged as “the city in the forest.”

The June 5 pageant date, which airs at 10 p.m. on ABS-CBN, is also a special occasion because it falls on World Environment Day, said Untalan.

Veneracion pointed out that the winners will have their hands full because of the pageant’s partnership with environment-related organizations and other groups, including the Inquirer.

The Miss Earth Foundation has a long-term partnership with the Inquirer’s Read-Along program in which pageant titleholders participate as guest readers in the paper’s storytelling sessions.

Among those who have guested as a storyteller is Tarhata Rico, this year’s candidate from Makati.

Also joining the roster of aspirants is 2008 Mutya ng Pilipinas Jonavi Quiray, who was proclaimed Best in Swimsuit during a special activity at the Golden Sunset Resort and Spa in Calatagan, Batangas, on April 30.

At the same event, Cebuana Muriel Orais received the Gandang Ricky Reyes Award.