BATANGAS CITY, Philippines — In keeping with its campaign of protecting the environment, the Miss Earth Beauty Pageant immersed this year’s candidates in a tree-planting activity here Monday.
Twenty-four of the 84 candidates, along with Mayor Vilma Dimacuha and local officials, planted fire trees at the Pontefino Hotel where they have been staying since the weekend.
The Philippines’ representative, Athena Imperial, and Miss India’s Nicole Feria, Miss Earth 2010, were not part of the group.
“We all help each other and we just got to do our best to help out our Earth. Because this is our home, I think we should help each other to make the Earth the best place [it can be] for everyone.” Miss Thailand said in an interview.
Most parts of Thailand have been hit by floods, believed to have been caused by environmental problems.
The 2011 beauty contest was supposed to have been held in Thailand, but had to be moved to the Philippines because of the floods.
The grand coronation night will be held at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City on December 3.