MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES—This year’s Miss Philippines Earth pageant, the 20th edition of the national beauty contest, is adapting with the pandemic by holding online events, and kicked off its series of pre-pageant competitions with the Dance Talent contest on May 28.
The competition was conducted via the Zoom meeting platform, where eight delegates performed their dance routines from their own respective locations.
Jamie Herrell, the second Filipino woman to win the Miss Earth crown, hosted the online program shown live on the pageant’s official Facebook page.
June Cyra Pineda from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, topped the competition with her modern dance routine. Diana Rose Hidalgo from Allacapan, Cagayan, took home the silver medal with her performance of the “Tinikling.”
Iloilo City’s Tsina Jade Chu rounded off the winners’ circle with a hula dance presentation.
The Miss Philippines Earth had earlier embraced an online-centric competition with a series of “Beat COVID” Facebook live sessions with its former winners and current delegates discussing its advocacy on environmental awareness.
The next online event will be the “Best COVID Craze Outfit” competition on May 30, at 2 p.m.
On June 1, ladies in the Creative Category of the series of talent competitions will battle it out, while the singers will belt it out in the Singing Category on June 3.
Even the crucial segments of the pageant will be conducted via Zoom, with the 33 ladies competing from their own hometowns.
The judging for “Figure, Form, and Poise” will be on June 6, while the judging for “Beauty of Face” will take place on June 13.
On June 20, the ladies will be judged for their “Intelligence and Environmental Awareness.”
Even the fashion competitions will be held online—long gown on June 9, beachwear on June 11, the sportswear on June 16, and casual wear on June 18.
Pageant partner Hana Shampoo, meanwhile, will announce its 10 Miss Hana delegates on June 15.
All preliminary competitions will be shown live on the pageant’s official Facebook page.
The coronation ceremony is scheduled on either July 1 or 2, and will still be held online, with all the delegates parading from their own hometowns via Zoom.
Reigning Miss Philippines Earth Janelle Tee will also deliver her farewell message online.
No telecast details have been finalized as of this writing, but pageant organizer Carousel Productions confirmed that the 2020 Miss Philippines Earth final ceremonies will have a free TV telecast.