MANILA -- A 25-year-old marketing head from Olongapo City won this year's Miss Philippines Earth, besting 46 other candidates in the prestigious pageant held Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Angelee Claudett delos Reyes, who is said to be a beauty pageant veteran, wowed the judges not just with how she carried herself during the competition, but with her answer to the final question: “If you could add another criteria to pick a beauty queen, what would it be?”
She said she would add “a good heart or a genuine heart to take care of the environment...not just for ourselves but for future generations."
In winning the crown, Delos Reyes replaced Ms Philippines Earth 2012 Stephany Dianne Stefanowitz. She will then represent the country to the Miss Earth pageant, one of the biggest international beauty competitions.
Winning the crown also makes Delos Reyes the ambassador to environmental protection campaigns in the Philippines.
The other candidates who got titles in Sunday night’s pageant were: Ms Santa Maria, Bulacan Bernadette Mae Aguirre, who won Ms Philippines Eco-Tourism 2013; Ms Fil-USA West Coast Alma Cabasal - Ms Philippines Earth Fire; Ms Zamboanga City Nancy Leonard – Ms Philippines Earth Water; and Ms Nagcarlan, Laguna Kimverlun Suiza – Ms Philippines Earth Air.
The pageant, with a theme that celebrates 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, was organized and launched by Carousel Productions Inc., together with Miss Earth Foundation. It aims to “give a strong emphasis on environmental awareness program,” as stated on the Ms Philippines Earth website at http://www.missphilippines-earth.com/. (Sunnex)