TRANSCRIPT: Miss Philippines Earth 2021 Top 20 Q and A

The Top 20 candidates of Miss Earth Philippines put their public speaking skills to the test as they competed in a Q&A round at the pageant’s coronation on Sunday, August 8.

Joining in from their own towns and cities, each candidate chose between 3 colors corresponding to a question. They then had 30 seconds to give a spontaneous answer to the question they selected. 

Here’s how they responded:

Gail Ventic, Angeles City

What gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment?

Whenever I wake up, I actually was able to do something, not only for my country, but also for the environment. And as an eco-preneur myself, that is what I’m doing today. I try my very best to change our current economy to become a greener economy little by little, step by step by contacting all of the microbusinesses to be able to change their ways. In my own little way, I could be a change.

Ameera Almamari, Atimonan, Quezon

What makes you feel most seen and understood?

I feel most seen and understood simply when others listen to me. I feel like when someone lends me a helping ear or a helping hand or even a shoulder to cry on, I feel like they see my story, they see my experience, and they see that I am not what I’ve been through, but rather the product of the lesson I’ve learned of what I’ve been through. And I feel like I am seen if they just listen to me and know that I am who I am because I’ve learned from all of my experiences.

Verna Abby Catusalem, Baler, Aurora

What makes you feel most seen and understood?

What makes me feel most seen and understood is the opportunity that I was given to become part of the local government unit of Baler. Because of this, I am given the great platform to encourage people to become part of the KKB advocacy, or the Kanya Kanyang Bag advocacy. With the platform that I have, I am given the opportunity to be seen by people, not only in my hometown but now that I am part of Miss Philippines Earth, I know that I will be able to make a change.

Louise Theunis, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur

What gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment?

What gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment is being able to pursue my passion in life. And that passion right now is to help save the  environment. On this Miss Philippines Earth platform, I am doing my best to do my advocacy which is to reduce plastic pollution. And I hope to be the voice to lead and inspire the people in transforming the Philippines to become a cleaner and greener and bluer community. I know together we can work wonders for a brighter future. 

Zeneth Khan, Cordon, Isabela

What makes you feel most seen and understood?

For me what makes me feel seen and understood is when people listen to me and my whims as well as my ideals in life. That is where I feel most seen and understood because I believe that when people listen to me and of course listen to me speak with what’s on my mind, then I feel like I am given importance. And that importance is something that makes a difference in me because that is where my self-confidence and my belief in myself roots from.

Alexandra Salazar, Cotabato City

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

I am most grateful for 3 qualities: I am family-oriented, God-fearing, and passionate. Family-oriented because I’ve always loved my family, they’ve always got my back in whatever I do, whatever achievements or downfalls that I have, I know I’ve got my family. God-fearing, despite being judged in this pageant, I know that God knows what’s in my heart, and to me that’s  what matters most. 

Amira Alisha Qamhawe, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

I am a phenomenal woman and as a phenomenal woman, the qualities that I am most grateful for is me being passionate, me being committed, and me being able to inspire others. Being passionate means that I am motivated to the causes that I advocate for, and being committed means that I am able to pursue the things that I want, to be able to work hard for it no matter the obstacles or challenges that come along my way.

Rocel Angelah Songano, Iloilo City

What gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment?

What gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment is inspiring, empowering, and educating the youth. I can do this through environmental education, through the arts and through this I gain a sense of fulfillment because I know that through this we can save humanity and bring balance back to our ecosystems.

Fatima Kate Bisan, Malungon, Sarangani

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

I am grateful because I have these 3 qualities with me that I will always bring with me: the head, heart, and hands. A head who has visions in protecting the mother earth, a heart who have compassion to give care to the mother earth, and a hands who will not only speak for her advocacy but who will also do it and do it to an action. I have the head, heart, and hand protecting the environment, thank you.

Roni Meneses, Mandaluyong City

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

Out of all the qualities that I have, I truly give much importance and value to my core values. I am a very compassionate person and to me living life with compassion entails me to have a great amount of respect, love, and kindness to myself, to other people, and to the environment, and I truly believe that these are the core values that we need for us to have a very healthy and happy life. 

Charissa Rama, Moalboal, Cebu

What makes you feel most seen and understood?

My character as a woman. Not just my beautiful face or my physical appearance, but my character. And people can understand me through my attitude, for what I have acted towards them. I believe that character is everything.

Xyra Ballesteros, Nagtipunan, Quirino

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

I personally believe that what makes me grateful about myself is my imperfections. I too believe that everyone is not aware of their imperfections, but as for me, my imperfections is what makes me more beautiful. And I embrace it even more. With my imperfection, it is room for me for improvement. With my imperfection, I am willing to adopt more experiences for me to able to use it as inspiration to other people.

Naelah Alshorbaji, Paranaque City

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

I’m most grateful about the fact that I can keep my head straight no matter what. I’m there for myself when I’m feeling the worst, and that’s what’s most important – when you are dealing with problems in life. I know I can get through it, because I’ve been wearing shoes that are way too big for my feet. I’ve been handling life as good as I can, and that’s the greatest quality I have.

Riah De Ocampo, Silay City

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

The qualities that I am most grateful for are compassion, empathy, a big heart, a serviceable heart, and humble spirit that has the passion to take care of our environment. I would like to take these qualities to Miss Philippines Earth, in order for me to share love and spread awareness about the importance of protecting our Mother Earth. Because we only have one planet and only one life, so let us not waste it.

Yllana Marie Aduana, Siniloan, Laguna

What make you feel most seen and understood? 

When I get to educate people and reach out to them, as well as to use my voice, because right now, I have realized the value of my words, and that is to speak the kindest words there are. And I am utilizing my voice because I know that my words are my greatest weapons, and that is how I feel the most seen and understood. Right now I’m here today standing, trying to protect, promote, and preserve our one and only home: our Earth.

Aubrey Asuncion, Sto. Domingo, Albay

What make you feel most seen and understood? 

I feel most seen and understood when people start to stop and genuinely listen to my message. Afterwards, if I see the effects of my message, which is their actions, and of course, its effect, not only for them, not only for me, but of course, for everyone in the community and everyone in the environment and anything in the envirinment. Thank you.

Katheryn Guipetacio, Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

What qualities about yourself are you most grateful for?

In this time of a pandemic, I am also grateful that I learned to be contemplative. It is very important that in this time, we realize that this pandemic is actually a gift to humans, for us to become renewed and change our personal values and lifestyles, so as we move forward in the future, we will always include the environment in the equation when we make decisions and actions. Thank you very much.

Mia Jane Salisbury, Talisay City

What gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment?

For me, what gives me the biggest sense of fulfillment is being who I am. It’s staying true to my character and knowing that at the end of the day, no matter what is at the exterior, that I am staying true to my purpose. That I am continuing to lead by the example I want to see in the world. I am being an eco-angel and continuing a beauty with a cause.

Sofia Lopez Galve, Tanay, Rizal

What gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment?

It is being able to provide help to the indigenous people of Rizal, the Dumagats. Through my advocacy of eco-preneurship, I am able to give them a dignified livelihood because of our eco-tourism. And that really gives me a big sense of fulfillment, and hopefully I can bring this sense of fulfillment into my duty as your next Miss Philippines Earth.

Myrizza Borja, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay

When I’m feeling down, when I’m feeling anxious, I get all support from my family and loved ones. They understand me the most and they give me all  the support I need, especially with this pageant I’m joining right now. I’m so grateful and thankful that they’ve been giving me all the support and love that I need since day one of the pageant.

– Rappler.com