BORONGAN CITY: The visit of Miss Philippines Earth 2024 participants in this city is a big boost not only to the local tourism industry but to increasing awareness of environmental protection, the local government here said.

Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda thanked Carousel Production for bringing the national pageant to the capital city of Eastern Samar to showcase their destination and drumbeat environmental protection.

‘I hope holding the Miss Earth Beachwear competition in our city will increase awareness of how to protect our environment and natural resources,” he said Friday.

Agda also emphasized the need for youths to participate in all city programs, especially on climate adaptation.

The 29 pageant candidates arrived here on April 22 before the beachwear competition, one of the major parts of the Miss Philippines Earth, held at Baybay Beach Thursday evening.

Makati City’s Sam Samara, wearing the creation of Cathy-Mora Capistrano, bagged the gold medal, besting 28 other candidates.

Samara is one of the
crowd favorites and among the hot picks of pageant enthusiasts as the frontrunner for the 2024 edition of Miss Philippines Earth.

Miss Philippines Earth Iligan Kristel Codas bagged the silver medal, and Miss Philippine Earth Matanao, Davao Del Sur Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche won the bronze medal.

Agda thanked the Eastern Samar provincial government for assisting the city in hosting the competition.

Before the beach wear competition, the candidates engaged in various recreation and community work activities.

They visited Ando and Divinubo Island, where they interacted with the residents and engaged in diving and other water activities.

They also toured the Hebacong Sea of Clouds. The local government named the destination “sea of clouds” due to the perfect view of cloud formation from the mountaintop. Mountains seemed to float like islands, resembling a sea of clouds.

Candidates visited San Mateo village and rode a “kangga,’ a sled built out of bamboo drawn by a carabao (water buffalo).

They met students of
San Mateo Elementary School, where they had a reading and storytelling session. They learned bamboo potting from personnel from the city environment and natural resources office while in the village.

They also met with coco coir makers in San Gabriel village and learned the craft while engaging with the residents.

Source: Philippines News Agency