Live Blogging Miss Philippines Earth 2008

This is a live-blogging entry of the Miss Philippines Earth competition aired on May 11, 2008 from Crowne Regency Galleria, through ABS-CBN. (Production number had a special participation of the Bellestar Dancers! Bongga!)

(NOTE: There will be a lot of typos and grammar lapses in this post. Please bear with me, I will edit them tomorrow. Thanks!)

Opening Production Number is fast-paced, lively and not boring, kinda similar to Miss Universe 2007.

Most of the girls are surprisingly pretty! Some are just surprising.

10:34 Miss Philippines Earth Hosts Introduced: Rafael Rosales, Nikki Gil and another girl Ginger Conejeros (thanks to Jeric for the info)

First time that there are as many as 41 candidates.

Commercial Gap 1

The usual 24 candidates has almost doubled this year. Past years represented their regions; this year they’re representing province, city or municipality.

Little Earth Angel also to be awarded.

Miss Pagcor International - new title. To support PAGCOR and Miss Earth Projects.

Announcement of Winners of Special Awards.

Miss Congeniality - Miss Municipality of Indang, Cavite - Jaydielou Dilidili
Miss Photogenic - Miss Fil-USA West Coast - Nikki A. Martin
Miss Talent - Miss Municipality of Obando, Bulacan - Marian Michelle Oblea

Best in Cultural Attire - Miss Municipality of Candaba - Ma. Kristelle Lazaro
(Rafael Rosell announces Miss Municipality of Canada, Nikki corrects him afterwards saying it’s actually Miss Candaba)

Best in Long Gown - Miss Obando - Marian Michelle Oblea (2nd special award for the night)
Best in Swimsuit - Miss Fil-USA West Coast - Nikki A. Martin (2nd special award for the night)

Semi-finalists list to be announced after the break. Only 10 out of the 41 will continue on.

Commercial Gap 2

Back from Break.

Competition will intensify even more as they reveal the 10 finalists.

Panel of Judges introduced:

Kim Atienza
Ricky Reyes
Anne Curtis
Gen. Manuel C. Roxas
Bridgette Trattner
Eric Pineda
Dr. Corazon Claudio
Hong Jin
Celine Clemente
Chairman: Gerard Chesnel (host said “extraordinarie instead of extraordinaire)

Recognized Carousel Productions: Peachy Veneracion, Joji Felix-velarde, Lorraine Schuck, Ramon S. Monzon

SGV Hands envelope.

10 FInalists random order: (Rafael said in Random orderS.)

Miss Cebu City - Karla Paula Henry
Miss Fil-USA West Coast - Nikki A. Martin
Miss Zamboanga City - Sharina Deriza
Miss Fil-France - Alexandra Albert
Miss Dipolog - Marie Razel Eguia
Miss Legazpi City - Ma. Venus Raj
Miss Bulacan - Joanna Rumohr
Miss Candaba - Ma. Kristelle Lazaro
Miss Fil-USA East Coast - Melanie Felix
Miss Obando - Marian Michelle Oblea

Little Miss Philippines Earth Angel Up next

Commercial Gap 3 11:03 PM

back from break (11:11 PM)

Little Earth Angel

10 Finalists will be given awards

Angel of Wellness - Joanne Fajardo
Angel of Forest - Hanna Pauline Somosot
Angel of Marine Life - Queennie Vivian Garces
Angel of Fauna - Tricia Cristobal
Angel of Flora - Jan Kayla Orozco

Little Earth Angel Eco-Tourism - Princess Sabando
Little Earth Angel Fire - Erica Rose Franco
Little Earth Angel Water - Margaret Lipnitz
Little Earth Angel Air - Jazzmine Macdonal
Little Earth Angel - Joanna Mari Marcelo

Miss Philippines Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn and Her Court farewell walk.

Swimsuit Competition up next

Commercial gap 4: 11:21 PM

Back from Break: 11:25 PM

Swimsuit Competition (sponsored by Champion)

10 Semi-Finalists

4 Minutes by Madonna

Cebu City
Fil - USA West Coast
Zamboanga City
Fil-France
Dipolog
Legazpi City
Bulacan
Candaba
Fil-USA East Coast
Obando (My Personal favorite for this round)

Question and Answer with a twist up next

Commercial Gap 5: 11:34 PM

back from Break 11:41 PM

Question and Answer Portion
Divided finalists into two groups
Group 1 semi-finalist will pick a name from Group 2. That candidate will interview Group 1 candidate. Role-reversal afterwards

(DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE NOT THE VERBATIM ANSWERS OF THE CONTESTANTS, I JUST GOT THE GIST OF WHAT THEY WERE SAYING.)

Miss Cebu - picked Miss Legazpi
Question: What is the greatest gift you can give mother earth?
Answer: Time. Time to pick up trash. time to conserve water. Time to join Miss Philippines Earth

Miss USA West Coast - picked Miss Obando
Question: If you will be having a chance to speak to GOd, the creator, what would you ask or tell him
Answer: Ask him in prayer to help everyone help others and help everyone to make a difference, conserve the earth

Miss Zamboanga - picked Miss Candaba
Question: Please cite one practical and simple way to prevent global warming
Answer: Stop burning falling leaves the leaves in the soil. If you burn them, the air that burnt leaves will produce will burn the ozone layer

Miss France - picked Miss France
Question: Do you agree that the informal settlers of the rivers are the causes of pollution?
Answer: (Can I answer in tagalog) Sa tingi niya oo naaffect yung squatter sa environment, hindi nagseseparate ng tama ng basura, hindi marunong magtipid sa water at kuryente. Kelangan ng awareness, we need to aware them. Kailangan ituro sa kanila

Miss Dipolog - picked Miss East Coast
Question: Who are your role mdoels in the global campaign to save the earth
Answer: Parents, because they instilled in her the value of diligence and taught her well (didn’t catch the last part)

Commercial Gap 6: 11:48 PM

Back from Break : 11: 51 PM

Second set

Miss Legazpi City - Miss Fil-France
Question: If you win this pageant, what will you do to be remeber(ed)
Answer: Educate the youth, especially the children. When they are educated, in the next generation they will still have the knowledge. Education replaces empty minds with an open one.

Miss Bulacan - picked Miss Dipolog
Question: What are the specific steps for you to encourage people to help you achieve your goal regarding your advocacy?
Answer: Advocacy is youth and children. Educating baranggay first, specially those in public schools.

Miss Candaba - Fil USA West Coast
Question: In this pageant, what have
Answer: Saving the earth and being aware of whats happening nowadays. Alarming, more of awareness of people

Miss Fil USA East Coast - Miss Cebu
Question: If Mother Nature came up to you and asked you for dinner with her
Answer: Hillary Clinton, she’s a strong role model, strong first lady, persuade her to care more for the environment

Miss Zamboanga - Miss Obando
Question: How can you promote the eco-tourism in the country and the place you come from
Answer: Obando is fertility dance festival, promote it some more since it is already famous in the world. will promote not only Obando but the whole country as well.

Style and Elegance in the EVening gown competition after the break

Commercial Gap 7: 11:58 PM

Back from break 11:59 PM

Evening Gown parade

Michael Young on Sax

Cebu City - Avel Bacudio
Fil-USA West Coast - Boying Eustaquio
Zamboanga City - Avel Bacudio
Fil-France - Randy Ortiz
Dipolog - Larry Espinoza
Legazpi City - Larry Espinoza
Bulacan - JC Buendia
Candaba - Maxi Cinco
Fil-USA East Coast - Julius Tarug
Obando - Boying Eustaquio

Commercial Gap 8: 12:09 AM

back from break: 12:13 AM

6 Finalists:

Cebu City - Karla Paula Henry
Dipolog - Marie Razel Equia
Fil-USA East Coast - Melani Felix
Obando - Marian Michelle Oblea
Legazpi City - Ma. Venus Raj
Candaba - Marie Kristelle Lazaro

Commercial Gap 9: 12:18 AM

back from break: 12:22 AM

Final Question and Answer Portion. One question for all finalists. 5 others wearing headsets.

Final Question: (This part to follow, will transcribe after the contest)

(Rafael Rosell only said the question correctly on the 6th try, the last contestant. Degradation! Not degration!)

Miss Earth 2007 Jessica Trisko calling from Canada. Chika Chika. PLDT airtime
Message to the winners: Representing their country is the most important honor that they can have. She hopes Miss Philippines Earth 2008 will represent her country beautifully in Miss Earth 2008.

Commercial Gap 10: 12:34 AM

back from break: 12:36 AM

WINNERS: