MANILA, Philippines—Her reply to a Mother’s Day question helped a Santo Niño devotee clinch the Miss Philippines-Earth title during Sunday night’s coronation at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Cebu City’s Jamie Herrell bested 48 other aspirants, earning the right to represent the Philippines in the global Miss Earth pageant later this year.

During the final round of the competition, judge Risa Hontiveros asked the 19-year-old student if human beings had been good children to “Mother Earth.”

Herrell’s reply: “Honestly, in my opinion, we haven’t been good children. In fact, I believe that we are the No. 1 reason why [Mother Earth] is having problems. We are the reason why we have climate change. We are the reason why we’re having floods.”

Herrell added that if people could only take action to save the planet, then Mother Earth would return the favor.

She got a big round of applause.

Herrell also topped five prepageant contests: two swimsuit competitions, the resort wear competition, the cultural costume contest and the “Darling of the Press” poll.

She placed second in the makeup and hair challenge, catwalk challenge and dance category, and ranked third in the “Trash to Class” and beachwear styling challenges.

A tearful Herrell received her crown from last year’s winner, Angelee Claudett de los Reyes, who finished in the Top 8 of the 2013 Miss Earth pageant.

“All of this is a surprise for me,” Herrell told the media. “I never really considered all of my previous awards as an assurance that I would win. I know the finals night is a different competition.”

The reigning “Sinulog Queen” is a scholar at the International Academy of Film and Television who took time off from the Cebu-based film school to join the competition. A Santo Niño devotee, she revealed she brought an image of the Holy Child backstage to keep her motivated.

Named Miss Philippines-Air was returning candidate Dianne Querrer of Tanauan City. Dumaguete’s Kimberly Covert won the Miss Philippines-Water title, while Bianca Paz, who placed fourth twice in the Miss World Philippines pageant, is Miss Philippines-Fire.

Another returnee, Monique Teruelle Manuel from Dinalupihan, Bataan, was named Miss Philippines-Ecotourism.

Runners-up were Santa Rita’s Angelie Ocampo, Liloan’s Crystal Star Aberasturi, Dueñas’ Bencelle Bianzon, Cainta’s Jenny Gonzalez and Melanie Balagtas from Sydney, Australia.