Miss Philippines Earth 2014 joins the Earth Hour event at SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM North Edsa and SM Megamall.

Tears of joy flowed down the cheeks of Olongapo City's Angelee Delos Reyes as she was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2013 at the coronation night held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on May 19, 2013.

The other winners were:
Miss Philippines-Air: Miss Nagcarlan, Laguna - Kimverlyn Suiza
Miss Philippines-Water: Miss Zamboanga City - Nancy Leonard
Miss Philippines-Fire: Miss Fil. USA West Coast - Alma Cabasal
Miss Philippines-Eco-Tourism: Miss Santa Maria, Bulacan - Bernadette Mae Aguirre

The top three candidates with the highest accummulated facebook "likes" and website votes were awarded as the Most Photogenic at Seventh High. Miss San Pablo City with 13,834 votes won the gold medal, the silver medal went to Miss Zamboanga City with 8,935 votes and Miss San Pascual with 8,749 votes bagged for the bronze medal.

Chosen as the Best in Evening Gown for Miss Philippines-Earth 2013 and awarded with the gold medal for the said category was Miss Mabalacat City. Misses Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Taguig City received silver and bronze medals, respectively.

The GREEN Initiative aims to eliminate poverty, protect our natural resources and promote the beauty of the Philippines. Miss Earth Foundation and Miss Philippines Earth are proud to partner with ABS CBN Foundation, Bantay Kalikasan, DENR, DOE, DOT, Ateneo de Manila University in this worth while project. Yes to AGRICULTURE and ECO-TOURISM!

Committed to the cause of the environment and the socio-economic upliftment of communities through eco-tourism and agriculture, The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Tourism (DOT), Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and ABS-CBN Foundation’s (AFI) Bantay Kalikasan launched the GREEN INITIATIVE.

The GREEN INITIATIVE is a collaboration between the National Government, media and the academe with the goal of protecting Philippine biodiversity and eradicating poverty.

Under the partnership, AFI, DENR, DA, DOT and ADMU will carry individual key strategic capabilities, that, when joined together in a chosen area, will result in a significant improvement in the quality of life in the community. The selected areas this year and next are Romblon and Bicol which have very beautiful but poor communities.

DENR, through Secretary Ramon Paje, commits to the necessary infrastructure needed to protect the project sites. . “The GREEN INITIATIVE is more than just an initiative. Eco-tourism is the only activity that can generate income for the country without exploiting the natural resources,” says Secretary Paje. He also announced during the launch that DENR will release Php 10M for Mt. Mantalingahan in Southern Palawan and another Php 10M for Mt. Guiting-guiting in Sibuyan Island, Romblon. The funds will be used for maintaining the forest guards that will protect the forest. Educational Forest trails will be put up which will provide the sustainability of the project.

DOT, through Secretary Ramon Jimenez, commits to facilitate the investment of tourism infrastructure and complementary facilities through the Department of Public Works and Highways. “Our role is to create positive awareness for these eco-tourism sites. We make positive awareness to local and international tourists and most importantly, we create awareness within the government itself. Sec. Paje and I are putting just enough pressure so that infrastructure is built to make travel to these very precious areas seamless,” shares DOT Secretary Jimenez. “Poverty alleviation is giving people livelihood and tourism is the fastest way to do that”.

DA, through Secretary Proceso Alcala, commits to provide the agricultural infrastructure needed to uplift the projects’ agricultural production; while ADMU, through Fr. Jett Villarin will handle the academic community which will get baseline data and monitor and evaluate the projects.

Another supporter of GREEN INITIATIVE present at the event was the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). Through its president, Dr. Leo Olarte, PMA committed to conduct medical and dental missions for the indigenous people at the chosen ecotourism sites. They will provide health assessment and give seminars to the community.

Miss Earth Foundation will support the public relations and marketing aspects of the GREEN INITIATIVE while ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation will manage and facilitate the media exposure of the projects.

“It is project such as this that makes us feel that the Philippines is definitely going somewhere within the next few years, “ says Dr. Evangeline Bautista, ADMU’s Dean of School of Science and Engineering and Acting Vice-President of Loyola schools.

As Gina Lopez, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation rightfully said, “there is no single person or institution that can bring this country forward but if there are many key institutions and people that believe in their heart that this is the way to go and commit to it -- in truth, in service and the common good -- I have no doubt in my mind that our country is going to see a brilliant future ahead.”

Buy these products from select SM Food Group stores to get great lower box seats to the Miss Philippines Earth 2013 Grand Coronation Night at the Mall of Asia Rena on May 19! See photo below for more details.

Catwalk and Styling Challenge winners for Group 1: Legazpi City (Gold), Iriga City (Silver) and Mabalacat City (Bronze)

Catwalk and Styling Challenge winners for Group 1: Olongapo City (Gold), Fil-USA West (Silver) and Municipality of Cabugao (Bronze)

Our most knowledgable ladies from last night's event! Congratulations to our Trivia Challenge winners - Bronze: Miss R.T. Lim, Silver - Miss Muntinlupa City, Gold: Miss Mabalacat City.

What could be a most fitting way to celebrate EARTH DAY than presenting 48 young beauty queen aspirants from all over the nation who are set to further the noble environmental cause in the country’s most relevant beauty search.

Miss Philippines-Earth 2013 continues the legacy of beauty and responsibility by gathering the lovely gems from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Charming and captivating in their own ways, these ladies are just as eager to win the coveted crown and do their share in heeding the call of Mother Earth.

Under the stewardship of the Miss Earth Foundation, this year’s delegates embark on several activities that promote the global movement to protect and conserve water resources. Taking cue from UN’s declaration of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, the 13th edition of the pageant will see the candidates campaigning for proper water distribution and management. The movement was taken globally by Miss Earth Foundation Executive Director, Cathy Untalan together with MISS EARTH 2012, Tereza Fajksova in collaboration with MISS EARTH organizers of different countries which included Indonesia, Finland, Reunion Island and Mauritius.

For EARTH DAY, the candidates involved themselves in several environmental undertakings such as “Tigil Buga” along Ayala Avenue, Makati City; Coastal Cleanup at Freedom Island, Paranaque City; Critical Mass Ride along Quezon City; Urban Gardening and Composting seminar in Makati; and Walk with M.E. at the SM Mall of Asia in partnership with the SM Food Group, DENR Firefly Brigade and Heirs of the World.

The country’s eco beauties also encouraged the members of the press to share their advocacy for a cleaner and sustainable Earth in their media endeavors.

Miss Philippines-Earth is definitely one enriching experience. More than just crowning beauty queens, the pageant also gives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the candidates and eventual winners to be involved in a noteworthy cause. For the past 12 years, Miss Philippines-Earth has championed the promotion of a better and cleaner environment, something that no other beauty pageants in the country have accomplished. With the 13th queen waiting to be crowned in just a few weeks, the pageant’s mission is sure to soar to greater heights and touch the lives of Filipinos in more ways than one.

The much-awaited grand coronation night will take place on May 19, Sunday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and will be telecast live on ABS-CBN at 10:30 PM. A spectacular visual treat that has never been done before in beauty pageant staging awaits the Miss Philippines-Earth’s avid followers.

The newest batch of Eco-Beauties competing in this year’s MISS PHILIPPINES-EARTH officially introduced themselves at the press conference held at F1 HOTEL MANILA, the official residence of MPE 2013. These “Beauties for a Cause” proudly presented the media their advocacies for cleaner environment and wise voting at the elections. Apart from the exciting new challenges which the candidates will engage in, the pageant will be staging an original, revolutionary experience in pageant history which will be the most awaited highlight of the coronation night happening on May 19 at the MOA Arena, telecast on ABS CBN’s Sunday’s Best.

The three Miss Philippines-Earth 2013 favorites were voted by the media as their "Darling of the Press" awarding Miss Nagcarlan the Bronze, Miss Muntinlupa with Silver and Miss Olangapo with the Gold medal. More photos here.

The Miss Philippines-Earth 2013 candidates became "Big Sisters for a Day" for the Gawad Kalinga Kids at Storyland and at The Croods. The "Big Sister" winners voted by kids were Miss Caloocan City (Gold), Sogod,Cebu (Silver) and Dipolog City (Bronze). More photos here.