And in a display of why they are called "beauties for a cause," this year’s candidates in the Miss Earth 2005 beauty pageant paused from their rigorous schedule to take part in a beach clean-up drive that covered the famous Boardwalk area here.
Thirty-one candidates, representing countries from Afghanistan to South Africa, readily took to the beach and helped out officials and employees of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) by picking up litter and other kinds of trash along the waterfront.
Joining the candidates were top SBMA officials headed by senior deputy administrator for operations retired general Jose Calimlim, deputy administrator for administration Ramon de Leon and tourism department manager Kenneth Peralta.
"We thank the delegates for joining us today in our beach clean-up drive. It is refreshing to have beautiful contestants like you and your presence here is a manifestation of your objective to help preserve the environment," Calimlim told The STAR.
Calimlim cited the uniqueness of the pageant, saying that the delegates’ participation in the clean-up drive is aligned with the thrust of Miss Earth.
According to Joji Felix-Velarde, executive vice president of the Carousel Productions, the outfit handling the Miss Earth Pageant, the pageant is not just a beauty contest but also a worldwide advocacy for the preservation of the environment and natural resources.
"After the contest is done and all of these contestants fly back to their mother countries, they will be going around their local public schools to help in spreading the good word and campaign to save the earth," Velarde told The STAR in an interview.
Delegates of the pageant also take part in tree-planting ceremonies, environmental and cultural immersion programs, among other activities in line with promoting ecological causes.
Apart from Subic, Velarde also said some of the candidates would also be going to other tourist spots here like Bohol, Pagsanjan, Cavite and Tagaytay.
After the beach cleanup, the contestants will be preparing for their Talent Competition Night to be held at the Subic Legenda Hotel and Resorts this week. — Bebot Sison Jr.