Miss Earth bets in Tacloban urge action to protect environment

TACLOBAN CITY—This city, tagged as ground zero of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” became the perfect rostrum for a group of candidates in a beauty pageant that seeks to raise awareness about the impact of environmental destruction around the world.

Five Miss Earth candidates issued a collective message that is apt for Tacloban—the world should take seriously calls to reverse the impact of climate change, which this city saw firsthand when Yolanda struck on Nov. 8, 2013.

“Disasters happen frequently now because of climate change,” said Miss Sweden Cloie Skarne. “We can change it together. There are so many things we can do to prevent disasters and we know what are those,” said Skarne, daughter of Filipino actor Gabby Concepcion.

Four other Miss Earth candidates who came here to deliver their message of concern for the environment were Miss Nigeria Chiona Precious Obiadi, Miss Russia Cherepanova Alksandra, Miss Japan Amy Hachiya and Miss Colombia Michelle Gomez. “I think disasters are becoming worse and bigger and it affects more people,” said Colombia’s Gomez.

“We don’t understand that if we do not take care of our environment (more disaters will occur),” she said. Nigeria’s Obiadi said protecting the environment should be taught in schools.

The beauty queens joined a symbolic tree-planting activity on city hall grounds with Mayor Cristina Romualdez. “This will remind again the world about the impact of Yolanda and that we should take care of our environment,” Romualdez said./rga