Picture: Three beauty queens after the coronation (the girl to the left is Katherine, Miss Philippine Earth)
A word of advice first: Guys, if you feel like watching some real Asian hotties, just go to the Beauty Pageant picture section, for all the rest read on. Now that the end of my travels are near you might think I would take it easy, relax and slack a bit. Far from it, I do not shy away from going as close to daily life in Asia as possible. So when my friend Darwin asked me to join him at the annual Miss Earth Philippines Coronation in Manila on the 14th of May, I did not hesitate to get as close to Philippinos, girls that are, as possible (actually hugging-close). The Miss Earth Beauty Pageant is one of three major beauty pageants and popular in the Philippines. The difference to the Miss World and Miss International Pageant at the Miss Earth Pageant is the focus on the environment and socially responsible activities. For example is the Swiss cement company Holcim sponsoring the pageant in order to boost its environmental-friendly image (the plant trees and drive around in motorcade for the environment sic.). Darwin and I arrived at the event hall at 6pm and the TV-broadcasted event started at 7.30pm. Through pure canning we managed to get seats in the third rows and a good view of the stage, a very good view. As at all beauty pageants the show consisted of a bikini and evening-gown part with Q&A moderated by three young and handsome Philippinos singers and actors. Well, it is beyond my writing-skills to describe the beauty of the 24 girls from as far as Canada on the stage and yes, we got a little bit excited. What was truly amazing to see the very energetic and enthusiastic crowd that shouted loudly, hitting drums and brandished banners supporting their contestants. Shortly before the coronation the current Miss Earth, a charming and towering girl from Brazil, gave an interview in the row in front of me and I was in full view of the cameras, as I learned as my friend Darwin’s cousin watched the event on TV and exasperatingly called in saying that he sees us on TV. So after I was on Cambodian TV (in a commercial) five years ago, I made it this time into Philippine TV. The pageant culminated in the coronation of Katherine as the new Miss Earth and the gathering of the girls for the motley crew of photographers. It was also then when Darwin presented a rose to his friend, Iris, drawing the envy of all the other contestants not getting such attention.
We happily left the event hall at 11pm for a midnight meal and then drove on to the house cum office cum quarters of the beauty contestants for the VIP-party. We arrived after midnight to see the happy and relieved girls mingling and singing Karaoke songs. After preparing for three weeks for the contest, sleeping four hours on average each night, the girls had only two things on their mind: eat and sleep. And eat they did with lots of chicken, beef, rice, noodles and alcohol littered across tables. A met a few girls sitting in front of a pile of take-away food containers shoveling food into themselves. Later I had the honor to talk to Katherine, the new Miss Earth Philippines 2006, who was with 6 feet or 180cm clearly the tallest contestant. She confessed that she even gained 2.5kg during the preparation due to the lack of exercise. She had just graduated in psychology and looked happily into a future full of excitement and responsibility. The whole event surprised me with its genuine enthusiasm and the friendship around the contestants. And never before in my life had I been surrounded by so many beautiful and charming women. Watch the pictures here.
Picture: The soooo revealing Bikini Round.
Picture: Beauty Queens pigging-out after three weeks of little sleep and food
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