BEAUTIES of the earth gathered in this year’s edition of Miss Earth Philippines, which is one of the biggest national pageants in the country. The search, which highlights environmental protection and the role of women as responsible stewards of nature, concluded the competition with last year’s Lin-ay Sang Negros Jessica Zevenbergen landing at the Final 12.
The Filipino-American local title holder represented the town of Murcia. She topped Lin-ay 2015 after representing San Carlos City. This time, however, she opted for Murcia after it was suggested by the organizing team that they look for municipalities with strong environmental programs and outputs.
She disclosed that Murcia is one of her favorite destinations for short road trips and affordable local finds. That is why, after a series of exchanges between the Tourism Office and the local government headed by Mayor Andrew Montelibano, Jessica officially represented Murcia in the annual pageant.
Although she failed to be enlisted in the Final 5, her answer in the Q and A rounds proved that she is a golden treasure in her own rights. The partisan take in me says that she delivered powerful lines, describing the pageant as a good avenue not only to display beauty, but more importantly, to showcase the role women play in safeguarding Mother Nature.
Jessica envisioned to champion simple solutions to usual garbage problems through recycling, reusing and reducing.
I got a word from an insider, who was affiliated with a beauty pageant portal, that the primary reason why Jessica was not shortlisted because she is a little short compared to other contestants. Buying a little more time in rehearsing the proper and winning form in walking and standing could have made the tricks, he further disclosed.
However, pageant enthusiasts from this side of the archipelago could only be more proud as the number 12 finish in the highly contested beauty tilt is already one for the books.
Last month, we have pulled a team to do her video shoot as a requirement for the competition. The short interaction proved that she is a Queen for so many reasons. She takes good care of her mother, keeps herself focused to achieve her goals, and spends so much time in transforming herself through sports. At a young age, you can feel her determination to give her family a kind of life that they deserve. To mention, she’s afraid of butterflies and most insects, which the team finds cute rather than weird.
Meanwhile, the night capped with crowning Imelda Schweighart as the new Miss Philippines Earth last Saturday, June 11, at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City. The Puerto Princesa representative succeeds reigning Miss Earth Angelia Ong, who was famous for her “we will, because we can,” campaign.
The new queen is 21 years old and a theater arts student who aspires to protect the “welfare of my fellow Filipinos,” as published in the pageants online portal.
Title holders included: Miss Eco-tourism: Vienna – Melanie Mader; Miss Philippines Fire: Rosales, Pangasinan – Shannon Rebecca Bridgman; Miss Philippines Water: Laoag City – Loren Mar Artajos; Miss Philippines Air: London, Kiaragiel Gregorio.