Will a Cebuana bring home Miss Philippines Earth crown?

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s Miss Philippines Earth 2011 representative proved she’s a candidate to beat by reaping the most awards in her batch during pre-coronation night activities. One of the top 10 finalists among 50 aspirants and after a series of thrilling eliminations, Muriel Adrienne Isidore Orais collected eight citations namely Best in Casual Wear, Best in Amazon Costume, the Gandang Ricky Reyes Award, Mutya ng Santacruzan, Miss Globe, Miss RCBC Savings Bank, Miss Catanauan Caove and Miss Photogenic. She was also proclaimed 1st runner-up in the Long Gown Competition.

The 19-year-old Cebuana, whom pageant-watching netizens say is a cross between Kim Chiu and Marian Rivera, is a Nursing student at Velez College. A model under Danny Booc’s Ozar Models, Muriel has previously placed in campus-based tilts such as Ms. Nursing of Velez College 2009 and Miss PRISAA 2009 2nd runner-up. So far, her biggest achievement was winning the nationwide search of Ms. Olive-C Campus Model Search in 2010.

If her early sashes are any indication, she might just bag one of the Miss Earth tiaras at stake (Miss Philippines Water, Miss Philippines Air, Miss Philippines Fire and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism), or better yet, romp away with the major Miss Philippines Earth crown.

Muriel had one time auditioned to be a housemate in ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother House, but a doctor did not allow her to push through because of a health condition. She had just undergone an operation to remove the cyst between her lungs and heart. The pretty lass is definitely not wasting her second chance at life by persistently chasing her dreams of becoming a beauty queen and professional model.

Meanwhile, Carousel Productions, Inc., the producer of Miss Philippines-Earth, brought a drastic twist to this year's format by eliminating candidates before finals night, until only the best 10 females remained for the grand coronation.

Muriel is up against these nine other strong bets vying for the Ms. Philippines Earth crown: Ma. Alicia Elena Ariosa (Pagadian City), Edan Dafilmoto (Cotabato City), Michelle Gavagan (Las Piñas City), Jonavi Quiray (Puerto Princesa City), Denisse Toribio (Malolos City), Brenna Gamboa (Fil East Coast USA), Athena Imperial (Casiguran, Aurora), Tarhata Rico (Makati City), and Catrine Rosary Ocampo (General Santos City).

Now on its 11th year, Miss Philipppines-Earth has consistently worked for public awareness on important environmental issues. This time around, the pageant highlights the pressing concerns that face the country's deteriorating forests, in line with the International Year of the Forests.

The annual contest searches for a special group of ladies who do not only possess the beauty of face and figure but those who could also be Ambassadors of the Environment. They become advocates of Mother Earth as they go around communities to hold seminars, tree planting, coastal clean-ups and other activities which aim to encourage more people to help lessen the problems of the environment.

Grand coronation will be held this Sunday night, June 5, in Palawan’s Puerto Princesa City Coliseum and will be aired by ABS-CBN at 10 pm. (FREEMAN)