Your blogger with Cloie Syquia Skarne during ME2016
It’s already a given that Filipinos are the best exports the country has. Be it in contracted work or immigration, our kababayans almost always excel in anything that they set their hearts into, pageantry included.
In the Scandinavian region and Western Europe, four (4) Filipinas have scored wins in the national pageants of their respective home countries. These ladies went on to compete for three of the biggest crowns in international beauty contests – Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth. And the Pinoy connection cannot be denied. Apart from looks and names, they themselves have proudly stated their roots.
1) Froken Norge or Miss Universe Norway 2007 Kirby Ann Basken (who also represented the Philippines during Miss Intercontinental 2006)
2) Miss World Denmark 2011 Maya Celeste Padillo Olsen (Conceived in Nepal, born in the Philippines and raised in Denmark, Maya’s second name originated from her grandfather Celestino)
3) Miss Earth Sweden 2016 Cloie Syquia Skarne (we all know that she is the daughter of actor Gabby Concepcion and Jenny Syquia)
4) Miss Belgium 2018 Angeline Flor Pua (she is 100% Pinoy in heritage)
Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin as judge during last night’s Binibining Cebu finals
On the way to the Cebu International Airport late this morning, I rode the airport van that brought yours truly along with Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin and Armin Adina of the Philippine Daily Inquirer straight to Departures. All three of us attended last night’s Binibining Cebu Finals.
Katherine was quite busy on the phone the whole time. But the minute she hanged up, I jumped at the opportunity to ask her a couple of questions about the nearing end of her reign. She is a bit sad that everything will be over soon, but is accepting of the fact she cannot be the reigning Miss Earth longer than she would have wanted to. I asked her pointblank – who do you want to be your successor?
“I have my bet for Miss Earth 2017! And she is ********” (I had to hide the answer in asterisks to be fair to the other candidates reading this blog), Katherine quickly responded.
“Being Miss Earth is a difficult job so the next girl should be a good spokesperson for the organization. She needs to speak well everywhere she goes.” added Katherine
I’m just happy that we are on the same page regarding the subject matter. And by now, you should have a pretty good idea who she wants to take over on November 4. 🙂
Below is a teaser of the Miss Earth 2017 finals to be aired on FoxLife.
The search for Miss Philippines Earth 2017 has also started
We’re not even into the start of screenings for Bb. Pilipinas 2017, and another national beauty pageant has already began its annual search. Miss Philippines Earth 2017 is now open for interested participants in this year’s edition which promises to be more exciting with the presence of Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin in most of the events leading to the finals (tentatively set around late May).
And with the resignation of Imelda Schweighart, the winners and elemental court are now complete, led by new Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Mar Artajos. Miss Philippines Air is still Kiara Giel Gregorio, while promoted to new ranks are Shannon Bridgman as Miss Philippines Water, Melanie Mader as Miss Philippines Fire and previous semifinalist Tim Alsowyed as the new Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism.
For those interested to sign up for Miss Philippines Earth 2017, you know the drill. Check out the qualifications in the image below and visit Carousel Productions at Carousel Mansion in Mandaluyong for screening, together with good photos to attach to your application form and birth certificate.
Qualifications for Miss Philippines Earth 2017 are detailed above
More on Miss Philippines Earth 2017 soon! 🙂
Along with Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin, Miss Philippines Earth 2016 and her court are now complete
Three of the four Miss Earth 2016 winners on Mornings@ANC
Photo credit: Joy Arguil
Long after the finals of Miss Earth 2016, the reality of having an All-Latina (or All-South American) Top 4 still makes some people question the results. Not that it matters to pageants fans from that part of the continent, but it is still a wonder nonetheless. I knew that Katherine Espin of Ecuador had it in the bag the minute she started to register all-around positive impressions from the organizers down to her fellow candidates. Of course, the fiercer competitors would beg to differ, but such is the case in an international beauty competition where it is an absolute must to have a winner (who will reign for one full year) to possess consistently good attitude and the desire to further the cause of the organization (environmental matter in this case).
Watch the interview of Katherine, Michelle and Bruna on Mornings@ANC now. Throw in your thoughts after, dear readers.
Miss Earth 2016 and the controversial yellow Almodal gown (Photo credit: Joy Arguil)
I will get straight to the point here regarding the highly controversial yellow gown that was originally meant to be worn by Imelda Schweighart during the Miss Earth 2016 finals. There are a few nagging questions that still leave me hanging till now. I know that the smart-alecks have ready replies to counter the same. But I just need to let them out because I know of extra sensitive details that cannot be blogged about. Yet.
Screenshot of part of Leo Almodal’s response
Photo credit: Joel Maniquis
Based on the above screenshot of Leo Almodal’s reply to the issue, here’s Question #1.
If – as the Designer clearly specified – a period of three months is required to completely finish a lavish gown, then why accept the extremely risky challenge of coming up with a new one for Katherine Espin in just a matter of days? Leo’s reputation is at stake, and in any business, calculated moves are crucial in accepting orders. He said that he tried to do the impossible. Why go to the extent? Was he already compromised because of the downpayment he received (the alleged cost of the gown is PhP175,000.00 so do the math on the d/p)?
More of Leo Almodal’s reply
Now in the reply above, it was clear that he made a sponsorship commitment to dress up Imelda Schweighart. No need to talk about not receiving a single centavo as payment or who owns the gown in the first place. A commitment is a commitment no matter what. And if we put a price tag on the media and publicity mileage that the Almodal brand got from the KF beauty queens for several years now, the figure will definitely be up there by now. My question is this: What will Katherine Espin wear if the scenario is that Imelda Schweighart made it up until the Evening Gown competition and wore the yellow number? I’m really curious because the Ecuadorian lass already gave earnest money for a brand new creation.
Part of the reply of KF’s Georgette Garrido
Georgette Garrido of KF also posted his version of what happened backstage. It was apparent that Katherine Espin was supposed to wear a new red one and not yellow. But since the partially-paid red number was not finished on time, she was made to slip into the yellow gown instead after Miss Philippines was no longer called to the Top 16. Information has now reached me that Katherine is very disappointed with everything that has happened about the gown she already shelled out money for. Good thing she eventually won the title. Here’s my question: Could this be why she is allegedly considering filing a complaint? And why Leo is (according to several screenshots of a chat posted by Imelda’s brother) so mad at Imelda after the latter uploaded a video of her fitting the yellow gown?
I feel iffy uploading this particular post. But I believe that these are angles to the whole issue that need to be discussed, even at the expense of making me look naive to some of you, dear readers.
P.S. Now this one is starting to get spooky. I was told that Imelda Schweighart and family are now receiving death threats (see screenshot below as posted by Imelda’s brother). Why on earth should it reach this point?
Imelda Bautista Schweighart will go down memory lane as the most controversial national beauty queen in modern Philippine Pageant history. After all the wild social media frenzy that has happened the past number of days, the only way out of the mess is – quite clearly – to resign as Miss Philippines Earth 2016. And this she did after a closed door meeting with the executives of Carousel Productions together with Imelda’s mother.
Let me fill you in first on something that has nagged me after I posted the blog article yesterday on my personal assessment of our subject. Contrary to what others would say that her beauty camp – Kagandahang Flores – was amiss in instilling discipline amd giving reprimands on Imelda’s behavior, the group actually took care of her like a real daughter as far back as early 2013 when she was fielded for Bb. Pilipinas 2013. At times, she was spoiled but not to the point of letting her get away with a good number of mistakes and shortcomings. Corrective measures were always thrown her way, what with the eagle-eyed guidance of the likes of Rodgil Flores, Gio Flores and Georgette Garrido constantly watching over her decisions and actuations. But then again, there’s only so much three or more concerned people can do to straighten out the wrinkles and prevent the behavioral lapses in between. There is no such thing as 24/7 guarding in this case because it just doesn’t make sense to an independent-minded person like her.
Imelda still has a life of her own. And this she took seriously regardless of the big and small missteps in the process of coming out of her shell. And when she finally took the spotlight this year, she still could not hide her true colors. From the infamous Facebook Live video to the rambutan seed in Palawan to the equally infamous recording of her comments against Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin to the TV interview about the controversial Leo Almodal gown she was supposed to wear during Saturday night’s finals that landed on Miss Ecuador’s back – she did not hide her real sentiments or opinions. And that is why she got her comeuppance from virtually everyone. The girl is left to apologize for everything, pick up the pieces of a shattered image and try to make sense of how she can move on from all of these.
Soon, Imelda will be flying to New Zealand with her mother to make a fresh start. That is the ideal plan for now. I know that it will do her good, without a doubt. But between November 1 and that fateful day of departure, she will need the deepest and sincerest support system that only her beauty camp can provide. The pillars of KF have long served the role of surrogate parents in addition to the only big sister she has looked up to all these years – Parul Shah. She will need positive reinforcements that will firm up her self-esteem and weed out the undesirable feelings of neglect and alienation. To say that she is emotionally weak at this point would not be completely applicable. She is more like the picture of a beautiful white swan who gradually turned black in the eyes of many. She needs to propel herself back. If she has to do a million pirouettes to regain the respect of most, the girl still has the might to do it.
Imelda Schweighart by Jerkerly So Tang
Goodbye for now to the former Miss Philippines Earth 2016
Imelda Bautista Schweighart. You either question or hate her flawed guts. In my case, I never use the word hate for an individual whose only biggest mistake is to speak her mind void of any self-moderation. The lack of tact and diplomacy will never be enough reason to throw her under the bus and left to be trampled upon. But curiously, she will not be the Darling that a Gold medal during the Miss Earth 2016 Press Presentation symbolized. Call her the worst candid person. It’s just unfortunate that she had to wear the Philippine sash throughout the most controversy-laden period of her young life ever.
Imelda Schweighart during Miss Earth 2016 National Costume Competition (Photo by Joy Arguil)
During the ME Press Presentation when both Imelda and Katherine were named Gold medalists as Darlings of the Press
During the meet-and-greet when Imelda (photo with your blogger) was recorded uttering that “Hitler” question with Miss Austria beside her
If were a spin doctor, Miss Philippines Earth 2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart would be a very challenging client to defend and do damage control for in the eyes of the online social media and even colleagues who covered the events of Miss Earth 2016. She can be the sweetest lady one minute who can turn into a loose cannonball the next. And she does not offer excuses for her actions, at least not to those who are mere acquaintances or randomly-encountered supporters.
I am not in the habit of writing a lot of negative thoughts about pageant personalities. And you, dear readers, should know that by now. In the case of Imelda, let me just point out that she immersed herself into Miss Philippines Earth and got a lot more than what she bargained for. And the “excesses” in her opinion are the demands, instructions and expectations that she must have really under-estimated right from the start. She loves her privacy more than anything else. So when she won the right to represent the country in Miss Earth 2016, it was a responsibility that she somehow jumped into half-blindly. After all, she really wanted to become a national beauty queen and wear the Philippine sash in an international beauty competition.
This I reckon – the thing that did not work out well for Imelda primarily is the added pressure of being the host delegate. That must have weighed her down even more, along with the near-impossible mission of going for a back-to-back-to-back victory. Her personality is not entirely anti-social (as some would put it) but simply the type who would build a small circle of close friends and stick to them like glue to a cardboard box. I remember asking who among the foreign candidates she is particularly attached to. She mentioned only Miss Haiti Valierie Alcide. And it was then that I got a clearer view of her character. The latter did not have a profile that matches hers, but possesses an eclectic streak that can blend smoothly with any profile. And then I asked her who should win Miss Earth 2016. She could only think of Tamara Jebuovic (who defended her in the video below), seeing that the Canadian lass is so good at explaining things and reasoning out on matters that could not be easily fathomed by most, aside from being environment-savvy.
Imelda will always root for the most underrated or stay in the company of only one or two who can understand her peculiarities without throwing a judgmental eye right away.
Below is the latest video of MPE2016 Imelda Bautista Schweighart telling people of the Miss Earth 2016 winner having a lot of “fake” transformations done on her face.
courtesy of ChikAmazingOfficial
Below is a video of Miss Earth Canada Tamara Jemuovic coming to the defense of Imelda Schweighart
courtesy of Pageanthology 101
I do not want to be tagged as the defender of Imelda Schweighart because I never condone public behavior that leaves much to be desired. I only happen to be a (Clinically- and Industrially-trained) Psychologist by original profession so the range of understanding I give to unique personalities is relatively wider than most. I do not claim to be interpersonally close to her either. It’s just that beauty queens find it a breeze to feel at ease in my presence, regardless of individuality.
I must have been perceived by Imelda as an emotional ally of sorts. And I am glad because she needs to find whatever dashes of comfort can be provided by people who can offer more than just small talk/superficial pleasantries.
Here is where it gets tricky. If asked, will I approve of her continued reign as Miss Philippines Earth 2016? For the sake of Carousel Productions and the MPE/Miss Earth brands, no. I can feel deep in my heart that Imelda is feeling like an exotic forest-raised bird who will find it difficult to survive in a cage, or a man-made zoo-like wilderness with opening hours and feeding schedules to strictly follow. She is not comfortable having strange spectators feast on her beauty like the main attraction in a touring carnival group. And most definitely, she is not in her best elements when asked to smile when she feels down, sing when she is not in the mood to perform, act on cue when the director shouts “action!” or do a regal pose when all she wants is to run barefoot on the sands of a sanctuary beach in Palawan.
One more look at Imelda Schweighart (Photo credit: Joy Arguil)
That is Imelda Bautista Schweighart for you. Lock, stock and barrel.
Just as I predicted to take the Miss Earth 2016 all the way, Katherine Espin of Ecuador held on to the crown as it was already hers to lose in my opinion. This is her country’s second international pageant victory for 2016 after Miss Global 2016 also here in Manila last month.
It was an all-Latina elemental court. Michelle Gomez of Colombia was named Miss Air with Stephanie de Zorzi of Venezuela. Bruna Zanardo of Brazil completed the court as Miss Fire.
The four other girls in the Top 8 are Cloie Syquia Skarne of Sweden, Corrin Stellakis of USA, Aleksandra Cherepanova of Russiq and Nguyen Thi Le Nam Em of Vietnam.
When the Miss Earth 2016 delegates arrived in the country, I thought I would have the chance to know all eighty-three (83) of them on a more personal level. But such was not the case because they were grouped into three and scattered all throughout the Philippines in various pre-pageant activities that brought them to Davao, Tacloban, Iligan and more.
However, I did get to be just a little close to the members of Group 1 because they were made available most often to members of the media here in Metro Manila. Hence, I made the extra effort to reach out to the rest. And I finally made a list of my Top 16 in alphabetical order:
1) Australia – Lyndl Kean
2) Bolivia – Elianna Gonzales
3) Brazil – Bruna Zanardo
4) Colombia – Michelle Gomez
5) Denmark – Klaudia Parsberg
6) Ecuador – Katherine Espin
7) England – Luissa Burton
8) India – Rashi Yadav
9) Kenya – Grace Wanene
10) Mexico – Itzel Astudillo
11) Nigeria – Obiadi Chioma
12) Philippines – Imelda Schweighart
13) Russia – Aleksandra Cherepanova
14) Sweden – Cloie Syquia Skarne
15) USA – Corrin Stellakis
16) Venezuela – Stephanie de Zorzi
My picks for the Top 16
With only 16 of the 83 to further trim down, the tough part would be deciding on the last two spots to fill in the Top 8. My upper tier is secure at this point (Ecuador, Russia, Sweden and Australia). Venezuela and Nigeria are not significantly lagging behind so I’m still keeping them safe. So it was a relatively tall order to remove USA and Denmark and favor Mexico and Brazil instead. Personally, I feel that the latter pair may have already made positive impressions in the whole competition thus far. So the cast for my next troopers is now complete.
Environmental interviews will follow this cut, as well as the Evening Gown segment. While I think that Nigeria will do very well during the Q&A, I still see her being edged out by Australia for the last place in the elemental quartet. By now, it has become clear in my eyes that Ecuador, Russia and Sweden are already safely tucked in the Final 4.
My Top 8 ladies
The chances of Ecuador making a 2nd win on Philippine soil this year is bright. Compatriot Angela Bonilla already took Miss Global 2016 last month. And Katherine Espin is looking quite steady on top of her game. Her closest pursuers are the drop-dead gorgeous Aleksandra Cherepanova of Russia and the popular Cloie Syquia Skarne of Sweden. But I’m not counting out Lyndl Kean of Australia when the ultimate question can make or break the ranking. And that is something difficult to anticipate – which girl will shine more or fade fast at this juncture.
My Top 4 Elemental Queens
I still have Katherine Espin of Ecuador as my pick for Miss Earth 2016. She checks all the boxes required by the organizers for a worthy successor to Angelia Ong. I am ranking Russia, Sweden and Australia as Air, Water and Fire, respectively. But if one wrong move breaks down the Earth Warrior on top, then expect one of the other three to lay claim to the Ramona Haar crown.
Happy viewing at the MOA Arena or the Live Streaming by Rappler! 😉
Hi! Norman here. When I'm not working, I spend most of my free time planning on daily blogs. If you will notice, I always make sure that a fresh topic comes out everyday - not an easy thing to do but it's all good. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the visit!
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On the way to the Cebu International Airport late this morning, I rode the airport van that brought yours truly along with Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin and Armin Adina of the Philippine Daily Inquirer straight to Departures. All three of us attended last night’s Binibining Cebu Finals.
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