Monday, November 20, 2006 World's bets for Miss Earth 2006 visit Candaba By Joel P. Mapiles
CANDABA -- Twenty-seven candidates for Miss Earth 2006, who went to this town last Friday, expressed admiration over the hospitality of the Candabeños and their efforts to protect the environment -- particularly the Candaba marsh, a favorite roosting place of migratory birds.
The Miss Earth candidates said they were amazed when they learned that this town is home to migratory birds coming from other Asian countries.
"This is our way of promoting the potential of this town in eco-tourism, it being a sanctuary for migratory birds," Mayor Jerry Pelayo told the Miss Earth beauties.
The locals -- children and adults alike -- patiently waited at the Miss Earth Park to see the candidates vying for the Miss Earth 2006 crown. The candidates were warmly welcomed by the Candabeños led by Pelayo and other local officials.
Asked about their stay here in the Philippines, Nancy Dos Reis, 21, representing South Africa, said she did not expect that the Philippines and its people are so wonderful, helpful and kind.
Blerta Halili, 20, who represents Albania, said the Philippines is a lovely country and even asked the Filipinos to help preserve the environment and Mother Earth by making it free from pollution.
"The main thing is we have to act now before it's too late," she said.
Asked about Candaba and its people, Miss Albania said, "I love the place, it's very safe and quiet and it seems that you would have a very wonderful stay considering that the people are so gentle and warm. The people in my country are friendly but the Candabeños are extremely friendly and really care particularly to visitors like us, they always say hello and it's so great to be here."
Eugenia Lattou, Miss Greece, said she is so glad to stay here in the Philippines, expressing gratitude for the hospitality of Filipinos, even as Miss Mililani Tofa of Samoa said she is very much happy in joining the beauty pageant for a cause.
Amruta Patki, Miss India, said: "The people here love to welcome people. They always say 'Hello Miss India, mabuhay.' The people in this particular place are so warm. Each one of us here is treated as a friend. So, I really enjoy my stay here."
"I have traveled in different countries but the Philippines is very wonderful because when you are here, you feel like home. I feel home life. It's a different feeling, it's a new experience," Patki said.
She said she really likes the Filipino food.
"It's quite different with our food but it so nice and delicious. I also like the language. I really like to know Tagalog. I'm trying to learn a little, like good morning-magandang umaga, good evening-magandang gabi. It's a very nice language. The people said, 'maganda ka' to me," Patki said.
Patki said as Miss India, she was associated with cancer and mentally challenged patients and spearheaded a cleanliness campaign in India.
Pelayo said the Miss Earth competition reinvented and improved the concept of beauty pageants, as it encouraged beauty queens to effectively advocate worthy causes.
"The active promotion and involvement in the preservation of the environment is truly an honorable undertaking," he said.
"Carry within your hearts that despite the racial and cultural differences, we have a common goal and we share the same ideas that we must protect the one and only habitat -- Mother Earth -- and this tree planting is a good step in ensuring the vitality of our planet," he pointed out.
