A gallery of winsome ‘environment warriors’

As usual, as in other beauty contests, in the ongoing search for the 2007 Miss Philippines-Earth there are showbiz dead-ringers, observed Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib who attended the press presentation at the InterContinental Hotel in Makati City. The grand finals are slated tomorrow, April 29, at the UP Theater, Quezon City, and find out for yourselves from the ABS-CBN "live" coverage (starting at 9:30 p.m.) which candidates look like Iza Calzado, Tweety de Leon, Assunta de Rossi, Joyce Jimenez, G Tongi, Vanessa del Bianco, Raven Villanueva, Megan Aguilar and Angelu de Leon.

The seventh edition of the Miss Philippines-Earth pageant will be hosted by heartthrobs Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz. International beauties who will sit as judges include the reigning Miss Earth Hil Yesenia Hernadez Escobar of Chile, 2004 Miss Earth Priscilla Meirelles of Brazil and 2006 Miss Poland-Earth (and 2006 Miss Earth finalist) Francys Barraza Sudnicka.

Carousel Productions has gathered 23 stunning ladies from all over the country and from some Filipino communities abroad to serve as "environment warriors" for Mother Earth. Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president of Carousel Productions, also announced the launching of the Lil’ Earth Angels, whose winners will be crowned together with their big sisters on pageant night. "These little girls will serve as partners of our Miss Philippines-Earth ladies in teaching young minds in preserving the environment," said Lorraine.

Again, Funfare’s "beauty experts" (with the help of other beauty-pageant aficionados) picked the 12 "most likely" candidates.

• No. 14 Emerald Ong Morales (USA-East), 25, 5’10", 120 lbs., 34-24-34 . A Management and Accountancy graduate from DLSU-Dasmariñas. This morena charmer who exudes class and elegance has been living in Florida for the last six years. She was fourth runner-up in the 1999 Elite Model-Philippines search. She has already won three special awards in this year’s pageant: Face of Placenta, Miss Golden Sunset Resort and Miss Crowne Plaza Galleria.

• No. 19 Sarah Katrina Abella Minoza (Central Visayas), 22, 5’7", 118 lbs., 33-24-34. A Management and Accountancy graduate from San Carlos University, this Cebuana stunner was 2005 Miss Cebu, 2004 Miss Mandaue and 2003 Miss Lapu Lapu.

• No. 9 Jean Angeles Harn (Metro Manila), 25, 5’7", 110 lbs., 33-24-34. One of the country’s top ramp and commercial models, this pageant veteran from Rizal was a former Calcarrie model, 2001 Sta. Lucia Generation East winner, 2002 Bodyshots Miss Photogenic and one of Top 5, and Miss Talent in the 2004 Bb. Pilipinas pageant. She is this year’s recipient of the Gandang Ricky Reyes special award.

• No. 18 Krystle Ann Gonzalez Dizon (USA-West), 19, 5’6", 100 lbs., 33-25-36 . A sophomore nursing student from Diablo Valley College in Brentwood, California, she is easily a top pick among mestiza-loving Filipinos. She has the largest contingent of admirers in every event.

• No. 4 Anna Katrina Raquindin Bautista (Ilocos), 23, 5’7" 120 lbs., 34-24-35. A registered nurse from Lorma Colleges, this morena Ilocana beauty is the reigning Miss San Fernando, La Union.

• No.1 Annemarie Rose Santos Jebb (Metro Manila), 21, 5’8", 118 lbs., 36-25-35. A freshman management student from the Asia Pacific Collge, this half-British beauty grew up in Amsterdam and was a finalist in the 2005 Mossimo Bikini Summit. She is this year’s recipient of the Miss Sorciage Wacoal special award.

• No. 17 Vanessa Combatir Hicban (Metro Manila), 21, 5’7", 120 lbs., 34-26-36. A BS Psychology graduate from St. Scholastica’s College, this pageant neophyte is part-Spanish. She considers her natural curly locks as her grandmother’s legacy to her.

• No. 6 Rochelle Anne Tolentino Miguel (Central Luzon), 20, 5’10", 118 lbs., 34-25-35. This Kapampangan beauty, an HRM graduate from the Angeles University Foundation, is considered as the "beauty queen university" in Central Luzon.

• No. 11 Mary Liza Bautista Dino (Metro Manila), 25, 5’7", 120 lbs., 36-25-36. A Speech and Communications senior from UP-Diliman, she was 2001 Mutya ng Pilipinas third runner-up in 2001 and competed in the Miss Tourism International pageant in the same year. She once belonged to the GMA Artist Center, and starred in the indie films Rome & Juliet and Compound.

• No. 21 Isabella Signar Miquiabas (Northern Mindanao), 18, 5’6", 115 lbs., 34-26-36. Easily noticed because of her husky voice, this Cagayan de Oro native is an Information Management freshman from Ateneo de Cagayan. She competed in the 2005 Miss Teen Philippines-Northern Mindanao search.

• No. 5 Katherine Balfour Alano (Metro Manila), 18, 5’6", 90 lbs., 33-24-33. A Liberal Arts sophomore from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), she plans to take up Nursing. This half-British beauty is the reigning Miss Liberal Arts at PLM and second runner-up in the 2006 Miss Teen Philippines pageant.

•No. 16 Charisse Bat-og Gangoso (Western Visayas), 20, 5’6", 118 lbs., 33-24-34. This beauty from Bacolod is an Accountancy graduate from Colegio San Agustin. She was 2005 Miss Masskara.

The rest of the candidates are:

• No. 2 Jessa Marie Alvarez Conmigo (Canada)

• No. 3 Katrina Alparce Villanueva (Metro Manila)

• No. 7 Joan Christine Lao Sy (Metro Manila)

• No. 8 Pamela Gomez Tumulak (Metro Manila)

• No. 10 Apple Balmadres Fernando (Southern Tagalog)

• No. 12 Joyce Abajero Nocomura (Bicol Region)

• No. 13 Jogielyn Deza Laosantos (Metro Manila)

• No. 15 Anna Gabriela Castro Estimada (Metro Manila)

• No. 20 Ederlyn Alina Aguilar (Metro Manila)

• No. 22 Goldy Olvido Baroa (Metro Manila)

• No. 23 Geraldine Lorenzo Ong (Metro Manila)

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)