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Hi to Rafa, Deybid and to all wonderful CB supporters:
I arrived Boracay at 7 P.M. and I was met by the representative of the La Bella Casa de Boracay Hotel who accompanied me while I was checking in. After settling in my hotel and checked in my luggage, I hurriedly went to Eco Village Resort and Convention Center for the girls' scheduled press conference which was preceded by cocktails.
The distance from my hotel to the said resort is quite far and it took me around 15 minutes to get there by public transport.
The scheduled press conference started at 7pm. Originally, it was supposed to be held at a poolside but due to continuous downpour during late afternoon, they decided to hold the said event just outside the convention center, the venue of the finals come Nov. 22.
Too bad for me that I missed the first half of the girl's introduction due to my late afternoon flight, but still , I am overwhelmed that I was able to cover it.
The girls were clad in their colorful cocktail dresses as they met the press. Each girl introduced herself and spoke about her environmental concern, her platform/advocacy( the same ones you hear during press conference held in Manila)
As I was busy taking pictures of the girls (please see the galleries of Miss Earth), I looked around and saw familiar faces - Noemi Melendez, the national director of Miss Cuba-Jamillette Gaxiola. I met Noemi for the first time during Miss Earth 2007. We greeted each other and I did tell her about the wonderful response of the Filipino People to Jamillette as she is doing a remarkable job so far.
Also spotted was Paul Marsell, national director of Miss Mexico. He is in high spirits that his delegate, Natalia Quińonez, will duplicate the victory of last year's Miss Mexico.
Two of them were ecstatic upon seeing me last night.
The rest of the attendees were parents and supporters of some of the delegates like Misses India, Belgium, Netherlands, Gabon, Puerto Rico, and of course, the members of the press
After the event, the delegates came out from the room and was given time to have a photo op with the press photographers.
I had a wonderful time mingling with the delegates. Basically, I asked them how they fared during the prejudging held last Sunday. Were the questions hard? What questions were asked? Were they nervous? Surprisingly , more than 30 delegates that I asked answered me the same: "I did fine. I am confident and I answered all the questions they asked me. I felt like I was just conversing with them."
The event ended just before 10 P.M. and the girls returned to their official hotel in Fairways and Blue Water (just a short distance from the venue) as they prepared for tomorrow's morning event at Pukka beach.
Critical Beauty would like to give thanks to the wonderful people of Carousel Productions for allowing us to cover the press presentation and the cocktails.
A special thank you to Mr. Ricky Abad, the pageant's official swimwear provider and designer in accompanying me last night.
Date Posted:14:26:44 11/19/09 Thu
Portraits of grace and wellness
November 19, 2009, 2:27pm
The beautiful women of Miss Earth 2009 show off their fine form: The collective result of a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, exercise and a tall, confident posture.
The Miss Earth candidates gladly share their secrets to achieving beauty through a healthy lifestyle for our benefit:
Diet and nutrition
Miss Japan Tomomi Takada, for example, says a proper diet is her investment for maintaining good posture by keeping her bones healthy and strong.
“Yes I am very much concerned about maintaining good posture. I know that a tall and confident posture depends on strong and healthy bones. I mostly eat fish, vegetables, and foods rich in amino acids and calcium.
“I like milk and its other products because it contains calcium and its good for bone growth and bone health. In Japan, we eat foods that are rich in calcium such as fish,” she reveals.
Latina beauty Gisela Menossi, who is representing Argentina in the pageant, also believes in eating only the right foods.
“To keep my bones strong, I drink milk and eat cheese, vegetables, fruits, fish, and foods that are rich in calcium. Yes I love milk. I make sure that I drink four glasses of milk a day to keep my bones strong and healthy,” says Menossi.
Bones and exercise
But there’s more to a healthy lifestyle than just eating the right foods in the proper amounts. For Miss Venezuela Jessica Barboza, exercise is a vital component of living a healthy life.
“I do a variety of workouts. I alternate pilates and yoga. I do kickboxing to release myself from all the stresses of the day,” says Barboza.
Miss Spain Alejandra Echevarria also works out regularly. “To maintain the health of my bones, I engage in exercises and get involved in sports.”
Coming from a place famous for its beaches, it’s no surprise that Miss Australia Melinda Heffernan works out near the sand and surf. She’s so rigorous about her workouts that she describes it as being similar to military training.
“I attend this boot camp near the beach where I do weights and running thrice a week,” says Heffernan.
As for Miss Jamaica Jenaae Jackson, she took her workouts seriously after getting chosen to represent her country for Miss Earth. “I started working out after winning Miss Earth-Jamaica; but before that I never really worked out. Nowadays I run on the treadmill for cardio, and I also do some weight training twice a week to help build up my muscles,” she says.
Meanwhile, Miss Earth Philippines Sandra Seifert says that one can mix working out and having fun: In her case she really enjoys sports, so her hobby is at the same time her workout. Seifert says that she gets her workouts from playing basketball, volleyball, and swimming. She’s actually a competition-level swimmer, having won a swimming competition in Jakarta, Indonesia when she was a student.
Tall, poised and confident
Some Miss Earth 2009 candidates also pointed out that a tall and confident posture also shows a woman’s character and interior qualities.
“I agree that people, especially women, should have good posture. Good posture makes one taller and more confident. It shows independence. Everyone should have the independence and the confidence to stand up for what is right. That, for me is what having a good posture projects to other people,” says Takada.
Having a good posture is also a sign of health and sexiness, as well as strength and courage, says Miss Spain Alejandra Echevarria.
“Good posture shows off your good health and sexiness. Furthermore, a tall and confident posture shows that you have the guts and the strength to face the difficulties of everyday life. If you slouch, you look weak and insecure,” Echevarria explains.
Beauty. Strength. Health. Courage. Independence. These and more are the womanly qualities that come into focus whenever a woman stands tall, poised and confident.
These are the very same qualities women commemorate whenever they drink a healthy glass of Nesvita Pro-Bone Protection, the milk that provides a woman all the essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium that strengthens her bones and helps prevent osteoporosis.
Furthermore, Nesvita Pro-Bone Protection is low in fat and has CalciLock, a combination of minerals that allows the body to absorb more calcium from the milk it drinks.
So let’s all drink to Nesvita Pro- Bone Protection, to health and wellness, and to womanhood – embrace her strength, celebrate her beauty and let her courage give hope to all.
Date Posted:07:50:35 11/19/09 Thu
MISS SINGAPORE DESERVES TO BE IN THE TOP 18.
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT. SHE'S NATURAL UNLIKE THE LOCAL GIRL WHO IS ACTING LIKE A DIVA AND ASKED THE ORGANISER NOT TO GIVE HER A ROOM MATE.
LET'S GIVE AN APPLAUSE TO SOUTH EAST ASIAN GIRLS LIKE THAILAND, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA, WHO, DESPITE NOT WINNING, REMAINS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PAGEANT.
November 19, 2009
We’re in paradise!
We arrived last night when the sun was setting and its magnificent rays painted the sky with streaks of pink, orange and red. It was hard not to gawk at such a sight.
Whisked away to the Shangri-La Resort for some drinks, we were then stunned by the beauty of the pristine white sand and calm blue sea. Definitely a perfect location for a romantic getaway with that someone special. The architecture and layout of the Shangri-La is spectacular. Newly opened in March, I wanna go back there again soon for a proper holiday!
Dinner at Kasbah was one of the best we’ve had. Not only did we savour fantastic mutton stew, pita bread with hummus and loads of other goodies, we for once, dined in peace without so much as a fly bugging us. The soft sand beneath our feet coupled with the gentle crashing of waves barely 10m away from our dining area made for a romantic and relaxed place for us girls to hang out after a long day of travelling. Naturally with such a serene scene, we took pictures both in and out of the water.
This morning, breakfast overlooked a sea so blue it was as though someone had poured paint into it. Soon we headed out to the amazing greens in our resort Fairways and Bluewater for a photoshoot. Zooming by in our golf buggy, flashes of brilliant red from the hibiscus flower peppered the sidewalks. In the blazing yellow sunlight, we posed for pictures and had a blast getting an uneven tan.
Now sitting in the lounge with the wind gently caressing my cheek and playfully messing my hair up, I listen to the soothing sound of the waves while staring out into a black canvas. I am truly awe struck by having experienced the spectrum of colours of our world in a day. But it would be such a pity if we did not take care of our planet Earth now. The beauty that we’ve come to know and love so well will not be around for future
Date Posted:07:06:54 11/19/09 Thu
THERE'S A RUMOR FLYING AROUND SPECIALLY AMONG NATIONAL DIRECTORS OF MISS EARTH AS WELL AS THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.
APPARENTLY, ALL THE DELEGAES WILL STAGE A WALK OUT IF EVER MISS PHILIPPINES IS ANNOUNCED AS MISS EARTH 2009.
IF THIS IS TRUE, WELL.. IT IS A BIG SHAME. CAROUSEL PRODUCTIONS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS TO CORRECT THIS MATTER.
HOWEVER SOME SOUTH EAST ASIAN CANDIDATES WILL NOT JOIN THE WALK OUT SPECIALLY MISS SINGAPORE, MISS MALAYSIA AND MISS THAILAND.
MISS USA AND AUSTRALIA ARE QUOTED TO SAYING THAT IF EVER MISS PHILIPPINS WINS, THEY WILL CONVINCE THEIR NATIONAL DIRECTORS TO BOYCOT MISS EARTH.
GO TO MISSOLGY WEBSITE, THERE'S A PICTURE THERE SHOWING SANDRA SEIFERT AND KARLA HENRY TRYING TO FIT THE NEW CROWN AND THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN DOUBLE MEANING BY SOME SPANISH WEBSITES.
WELL... WE WILL FIND OUT ON SUNDAY.
THEY SAY IT IS ONLY PHILIPINOS WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PAGEANT AND IF YOU VISIT OTHER MESSAGE BOARD THEY HARDLY TALK ABOUT MISS EARTH. TO CREATE PUBLICITY, SOME OVERZEALOUS PHILIPINO FANS POST EXCESSIVE PICTURES IN NON PHILIPINO MESSAGE BOARDS AND POST A REPLY BY THEMSELVES.
AND THE WINNER IS .....
MISS EARTH IS PHILIPPINES
BEST IN SWIMSUIT - PHILIPPINES
BEST IN EVENING GOWN - PHILIPPINES
OTHER CORPORATE AWARDS WERE ALSO WON BY PHILIPPINES.
Date Posted:21:25:29 11/18/09 Wed
Miss Earth Guam represents island well: Rock concert this weekend
Pacific Daily News staff • life@guampdn.com • November 13, 2009
Guam residents have a chance to show their support for one of their own, by going online and voting for local beauty Maria Luisa Santos in the 2009 Miss Earth Pageant.
By heading to the pageant's Web site, fans can vote for their favorite Miss Earth model, says Miss Earth Guam National Director Frank Santos. The model who receives the most votes by the pageant date of Nov. 22 will be awarded with the "Miss Photogenic" prize.
Maria Luisa Santos, 24, currently is at Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center in the Philippines with 89 other contestants from around the globe for the competition -- and she's turning heads.
During preliminary events the Dededo resident earned the distinction as the "most natural beauty" at this year's pageant -- having received the Miss PASIGandahan Award -- and was voted in the top five in the preliminary evening gown competition, says Frank Santos.
"We're very proud of Malu and we're excited that she has garnered such distinction so early in the competition -- it's long overdue," Frank Santos says.
"We have an opportunity to further place our island on the map and I invite everyone to support Miss Earth Guam by voting for her online."
Date Posted:18:34:28 11/18/09 Wed
Former supermodel to be Miss Earth jury member
18:21' 18/11/2009 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Elite Vietnam’s manager and former supermodel Thuy Hanh has agreed to join the jury for the Miss Earth 2009 pageant in the Philippines.
Thuy Hanh
She went to Philippines on November 18 to meet the organizing board and contestants.
Hanh said she gained some experience as a jury member of the Miss Intercontinental pageant in the past but she was still nervous because Miss Earth is among the largest beauty contests in the world.
The Vietnamese former supermodel and other jury members will have to choose the top contestants of the pageant.
The final night of Miss Earth 2009 will take place on November 22 on Boracay Island in the Philippines. Thuy Hanh will be there in a night gown designed by Hoang Hai. On November 11, the Vietnamese jurywoman will be interviewed and shot in a video clip to broadcast on the final night.
This is the second time Vietnam has been represented in the jury of the Miss Earth pageant. The first is Nguyen Cong Khe, former chief editor of the Thanh Nien daily in 2007.
Truong Thi May
Meanwhile, model Truong Thi May, who missed the pageant due to an accident, was invited to be a guest at the final night.
THE HUNT FOR "EARTH WOMAN" BEGINS ~
by Giovanni Paolo J. Yazon
Contributor
AN inclement weather usually affects the attendance of people to an event. But it was a different story during the Miss Earth 2009 press presentation of candidates, held at Mader’s Garden in Valle Verde last Nov. 4.
The heavy rain showers wet-dirtied the constructed runway, stage as well as the lavishly set up audience seats at the garden area. It also delayed the show for an hour. But the tremendous downpour did not stop members of media and fervent Miss Earth followers from trooping the residence of style guru Ricky Reyes in Pasig City.
The number of candidates who will vie for the crown currently worn by our very own Karla Paula Henry has skyrocketed to 80 this year! But one thing has not changed: Miss Earth continues to remind us that beauty is neither just about wearing two-piece swimsuits and shimmering evening gowns, nor what’s inside the contestants’ makeup bags. It has more to do with what are in their hearts, and how can they preserve and protect the environment.
With the racks and ruins brought about by tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng recently, this “search for a cause,” established in 2001 by Carousel Productions Inc., seeks to amplify the message that, “Mother Earth is telling us something.” Ramon Monzon, the organization’s president, said: “There were warnings in the past which most of us ignored and were complacent about. The recurring abnormal weather pattern around us is a reminder that we can never afford to wait until the worst-case scenario happens. We must act with urgency.” Executive vice president Lorraine Schuck added: “We can all contribute by simply changing our lifestyle and seriously implement the 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and [above all] RESPECT.”
Notable changes
The organization also welcomed its new vice president for external affairs, image consultant and former model Ping Valencia. She replaced the “grand dame of beauty,” Joji Felix Velarde, who died of cardiac arrest last May. A new crown will also be unveiled on pageant night. Jeweller Ramona Haar crafted the Miss Earth tiara for this year, and designed necklaces and earrings that symbolize the earth, air, water and fire—all of which will be worn by the top four winners during official functions.
Instead of the top 16-8-4 selection process being done since 2005, 18 ladies will be picked to go on in the semis this year. From among them, 12 will be chosen for the evening gown, and then eight will move to the final round—the interview segment—to determine the three runners-up and the winner. The coronation night will be held outside of Luzon for the first time. It will conclude in the island of Boracay, Western Visayas.
18 roses
The grand staircase in Reyes’ magnificent home became the backdrop of this year’s press presentation. The event proved to be so intense for the candidates who seemed to have already battled it out for the semi-final slots. Here are 18 Earth women who are deemed capable of doing Karla Henry’s tough job:
Belgium’s Isabel van Hoof, 18, is a dead-ringer for pop princess Britney Spears. She pursues a degree in elementary education at the Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen in the province of Antwerpen; Larissa Ramos of Brazil, 19, is a biology student at the Universidad Federal de Amazonas.
Canada’s Lateesha Khamila Ector, 25, is a customer service agent who graduated with a degree in psychology at the Concordia University in Montreal. She describes herself as a big melting pot: “My father is a Venezuelan while my mother has Chinese and Scottish parentage. My parents were both born in Trinidad and Tobago and their respective families migrated to Canada in the ’70s.”
Alejandra Castillo de Munera of Colombia, 22, a political science major at the Universidad Libre de Colombia, wants to become a lawyer someday, “to strengthen the environmental laws in my country, and if possible, in the whole world to ensure a better place for the future generations”; Czech Republic’s Tereza Budkova, 18, is a stunning high school student who grew up in Greece.
Jamillette Gaxiola of Cuba, 19, is a top bet by most Miss Earth aficionados. She is a communications major at the Community College of Southern Nevada; France’s Magalie Thierry, 22, has Spanish and German roots. She is completing a master’s degree in biology and ecology. She wants to become an educator someday.
Shriya Kishore of India, a 23-year-old hotelier, has a way with words ala Sushmita Sen. She obtained her hotel management degree at the Manipal University in Karnataka state; 22-year-old fashion design student Yeju Park of Korea, a taller and leaner version of actress Ara Mina, believes that “it is possible for progress and nature to go hand in hand.”
Diana Kubasova, 20, comes from a wealthy family. She became popular in Latvia after starring in a local TV show. Often likened to Paris Hilton, she owns “Lilly Pet,” a pet boutique and spa; Theodora Banica of Luxembourg, 21, is a psychology major at the University of Luxembourg. She is a cross between TV host Donita Rose and Hollywood actress-cum-humanitarian Audrey Hepburn.
Our very own Sandra Inez Suravilla Seifert, 25, is a registered nurse who earned her degree at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York. If Venezuela had a back-to-back victory in Miss Universe, why couldn’t we have it in Miss Earth? After all, the best Miss Universe we never had is so prepared—evidently witty, voluptuous, speaks from the heart, and proves that Asians can have impressive runway skills.
Spain’s Alejandra Echevarria Pedrajas, 20, is a business administration student and a professional singer. The organizers of Miss Spain pageant was supposed to send her in Miss International, but Pedrajas preferred to participate in Miss Earth, “because it fits my personality, not to mention my enthusiasm with nature and great interest in the preservation of the environment.”
At 6 feet and 5 inches, Aheu Deng Kudum, 18, of South Sudan now holds the record being the tallest woman ever to participate in an international beauty pageant. The feat of this high school student has been submitted to the Guinness World Records for inclusion and certification as the “World’s Tallest Beauty Queen”; To outdo the performance of Miriam Odemba who finished second overall last year, Tanzania sent Evelyne Almasi here in Manila, a 24-year-old model. Her tree-inspired ensemble won Best in National Costume.
Thailand’s Rujinan Phanseethum, 20, is a junior communication arts student at the Bangkok University. She looks like a porcelain doll and has an understated class, and loveliness; and after wins in Miss Universe and Miss Intercontinental, Venezuela might experience another rich harvest season in Miss Earth, with Jessica Cristina Barboza Schmidt, a 22-year-old lawyer.
United States’ Amy Diaz, 25, is a strong contender for the Best in Swimsuit award, what with her well-toned body. A semi-finalist in the Miss USA 2008 tilt, she earned her diploma in broadcast communication with a minor in psychology as well as post-graduate degrees in business administration and sports management at the Barry University.
Miss Earth’s grand coronation night will be held on Nov. 22, Sunday, 7 p.m., at the 3,000-seater Main Hall of Boracay Ecovillage and Convention Center. It will have a delayed telecast on ABS-CBN-2 and The Filipino Channel at 9:30 p.m.
TOP 15 EVENING GOWNS, 15 lovely ladies participated in the Long Gown Competition of Miss Earth 2009. The 15 delegates were chosen from different Long Gown Preliminaries held in various locations. The girls who competed were Miss Colombia, Miss Paraguay, Miss India, Miss Philippines, Miss Guam, Miss Mexico, Miss Ukraine, Miss Spain, Miss Poland, Miss Venezuela, Miss USA, Miss Thailand, Miss Brazil, Miss Italy, Miss Korea (From OPMB Videos)
Beautiful BORACAY ISLAND, The girls final destination
The Miss Earth crown has become a symbol of unparalleled pulchritude and enduring advocacy through the years. To underscore and remind the Miss Earth titleholders the responsibilities that come with this crown, Carousel Productions commissioned the Official Jeweller of Miss Earth, Ms. Ramona Haar, an ecologically-minded artist, to design and craft a new Miss Earth crown. This radiant masterpiece that embodies a broader meaning of “beauties for a cause” was unveiled last November 16, 2009.
The new design features various gemstones endemic to the countries participating in Miss Earth Pageant, which they donated as a symbol of cooperation and unity towards a universal goal of saving Mother Earth. To lessen the environmental impact of mining, the new crown is made of 100% recycled 14K Gold and Argentums Sterling Silver. The central design is a flower to symbolize a happy and thriving earth. As Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it, “the earth laughs in flowers.” The recurring spiral motif, on the other hand, has always been associated with maternal power and feminine prestige.
But the gems are the highlights of this masterpiece. Black Diamonds, Sardonyx, Calcite, Ruby, Jade Quartz Crystal, Garnet, Peridot, and Pearls are some of the stones that adorn the exquisite Miss Earth crown. Gathered from 80 of the participating countries this year, the stones signify more than just the Earth's precious resources. They characterize the diverse backgrounds, cultural significance, and mystical embodiment of our beauties. Although they come in different shapes, sizes, color and finish, they all form an integral part of the most coveted Miss Earth crown in undeniable harmony. Just like the crown, the Miss Earth beauties work together to have all nations unite in our joint efforts to help preserve and protect our one and only home: the planet Earth.
THE NEW MISS EARTH CROWN !
