KRISTEL CODAS

Age: 21
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Measurements: 34 inches - 27 inches - 37 inches
Occupation/Education: Biology Student

Describe your childhood/growing up years (8-13 years old):
The transition from my childhood to teenage years was a bit of a slope. It was, must I say, an unexpected road of steepness. It was far more challenging rather than facile.

My childhood was full of adventure. Whenever me, my father, my mother, and my sisters get the chance to travel, we never wasted such opportunities. And so, we have always travelled from Luzon to Mindanao, but mostly in Mindanao. I was privileged enough to experience the road and witness the beauty of nature and the abundance we have always had. I could make an album drawn from my childhood. I was genuinely happy; a privilege, one might say.

It was all a bliss until I approached my teenage years (around twelve years old). Entering high school was a difficult path for me especially that I had to stay in a school dormitory. But it was not because of the “independence” that made it difficult, but it was due to the financial situation of our family during those times that made it rough. I have always wished to bring myself back to the days where the only problem I have always faced is how dreadful a 6-hour drive was. But despite the current difficulties, I tried to find ease through the company of my friends and the environment of the school. It made the transition a little less draining. The academics was especially tough given that I was studying in a premier science high school, but the environment was shaping me into a well-rounded individual. It prepped me for my teenage years.

Despite such challenges, instead of free-falling, I tried to slow myself down with the steepness of the road. It helped me to carefully navigate such difficult path; how to handle life’s sudden twists and turns.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
Appreciate what you have despite the situation you are in. It has been said that those that were kept in the darkness appreciate the faintest of light that comes in. During the times that I felt like I was in the dark, I always tried to find a ray of light for that ray gives me hope---a thought that there is a world full of light outside this enclosed box. But before I get to feel that much light, I must learn to appreciate what’s given no matter how small it is.

Accept things and situations as it is. As much as we are the captains of our ships and the masters of our souls (as said in Invictus), there are situations that fall outside of our control. These things might affect us, but it is how we handle our emotions that we get to control ourselves despite the situation itself being outside our control. We need to accept the situation as it is, but we also need to know how we should handle such acceptance, thus the self navigation as we have so much to wander and much more to discover.

Most memorable moment:
My most memorable moment would probably be during the time I volunteered for our barangay’s community pantry. I was one out of the three people who helped establish a community pantry in our barangay during the pandemic, and it felt so amazing and fulfilling whenever I saw people being happy with our service.

The most memorable one during those times was our mother’s day operation. I vividly remembered how many mothers were lining up for the goods, and seeing their smiles and hearing their thank yous were heartwarming. I found it in myself that service and volunteerism for the people is my calling in life---a true purpose.

Why do you want to be Miss Philippines Earth?
In the midst of trying to recover what the environment has lost, we need a machinery of people who are passionate with informing the world of what more that we can do as global movers. I want to become one of those people. As a biology student, we are well-aware of the dire effects of man-made activities towards the environment. And so, having this imbued and incorporated within me, I would love to create an impact or give a contribution to the community that I would engage in. Through this platform, one more voice is amplified; a voice that I would love to impart. Through Miss Philippines Earth, I might touch the hearts of many, and those numbers would already create a magnitude that shall continue the chain of awareness for our environment, because we only have one home: our planet.

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose this?
My advocacy is all about "Environment Awareness through Education" My environmental advocacy is “BasuReduce: Promoting Waste Reduction through Income-generating Projects”. This project aims on reducing waste consumption by promoting sustainable means such as reusing and upcycling, and generate an income out of it. This would not only utilize what we have, but it would also aid people financially. The advocacy would also create information drives that gain environmental consciousness within the people, still keeping them in touch with the reason as to why there is a need to reuse and upcycle or utilize the wastes we humans have continually produced.

I have chosen this advocacy as it would hit various aspects such as environmental consciousness, social issues, legislation, economy, livelihood, and so much more potential. With these in mind, I could start a step where other people would follow with fervor. It might be simple, but it is simplicity that people tend to resonate with. And in the long run, it will become habitual and these simple projects shall have a positive impact on our environment; our home.

What tip can you share to promote eco-tourism in your City or Municipality?
Iligan City is home of natural resources and magnificent sceneries. With those attributes, ecotourism forefronts the economy of the city as it is dubbed as the “City of Waterfalls”. One tip that I can share to promote the ecotourism in our city is to connect with the city tourism office or community allies first, and propose projects that shall be injected onto the heritage/tourist destinations. These projects would include income-generating activities that promote not only the place, but also entertain tourists and establish an environmental consciousness within them. Further, it would help create livelihoods for the people situated in the locality. For instance, a certain tourist spot has a deep connection with the environment. And for the place to be utilized through green means, crafting activities can be done which would be income-generating and would entertain the people and encourage them to be appreciative of our resources---all done without leaving a footprint. This would go a long way, so it is important to start the first step.