CATHLEEN SANTIAGO
Age: 23
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Measurements: 32 inches - 26 inches – 35 inches
Occupation/Education: Psychology Student
Describe your childhood/growing up years (8-13 years old):
I can say that I'm fortunate and grateful reminiscing my childhood, wherein we used to spend our afternoons outside to play and have fun without being overly exposed to technology, I had the chance to fall down while climbing on a tree to get some indian mangoes way back then, from having wounds and scars that will embark on a timeless journey to becoming what I'am today. And by these, I hope every child/ youth had the chance to spend their childhood as fun-loving as it should be.
What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
My childhood seems fruitful and bearable; from the little stumbles and shallow mistakes I made, it somehow reflects that it takes time to process our learnings. It is somehow depicts a staircase, showing that every time we took a step ,there is a wisdom that we may use to be wiser in life.
Most memorable moment:
The first time I went hiking, I was totally mesmerized by the beauty of nature, that was also the time I began explore more of myself, to realize that there is more to life, and from then on, I always found myself believing that nature will always be my safe space and a breather whenever life gets tough, because it somehow offers peace that no one can interfere with.
Why do you want to be Miss Philippines Earth?
Miss Earth Philippines is the only pageant I'am really into because their organization is bound to take purposeful action towards preserving environment and well being, and I believe all the wisdom I earned from being in different valleys of Luzon and further exploring more by hiking will be my weapon to reach out to those impoverished communities. Learning from the cultures of different province made me realize that they still manage to protect and preserve their environment despite being underserved. And with my advocacy for "environmental conservation" this will furthermore ensure consistency in discipline and look after our culture that will uphold gratification and respect that must be instilled in coming generations.
What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose this?
My L.E.A.F advocacy stands for Live, Engage, and Act for our Future. Words cannot express how important environment and culture are. We must start to LIVE on purpose not only for ourselves, but also to ENGAGE and encourage people to participate in different environmental seminars about SDGs or livelihood programs, such as recycling waste, that will not just help them to be productive but will further elevate their understanding in conservation. To ACT as one united in diverse culture in preserving the heritage, this is to ensure that our values will remain as innovation and transformative learning take place.
What tip can you share to promote eco-tourism in your City or Municipality?
Living in an urbanized and advanced municipality is both challenging and overwhelming. As a Pasigueno who is also into arts, I'd love to start commemorating and honor our local artist through uplifting exhibits and tradeshow, as they are the roots of our culture and identity. By means of our spots and destination in our city, I'd like to create a content through social media platforms that will make them fascinated and wonder of what heritage we have in our community. I can also be an ambassador who is willing to visit nearby schools to educate our learners about the history of our hometown and have a collaborative engagement with the Tourism Department.
