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MP U.S.A
* Welcome to the US based Mabuhay Pageants ~ SUPPORT & MESSAGE BOARD { Initially established in June of 1996 by our friend, Ione. *

{ SHOW YOUR SUPPORT and the Filipino MABUHAY spirit by sharing your few words of support, best wishes and good luck greetings to ALL our BEAUTY QUEENS for the year 2009. Your words of support, greetings, best wishes and even your unsolicited advice will go a long way in wishing nothing but the best for all the ladies as they embark on their journey to represent our Filipino KABABAYANS around the world. So please take the time to write encouraging words of support. }
* To all the upcoming and newly-crowned Queens, from the entire Mabuhay Pageants Team U.S.A. our message of support, prayers and best wishes. MABUHAY! *
2009 Binibining Pilipinas INTERNATIONAL {Melody Adelheid Manuel Gersbach, 23, 170} for Miss International '09, 2009 Binibining Pilipinas UNIVERSE {Paula Bianca Ramos Manalo, 22, 178} for Miss Universe '09, & 2009 Binibining Pilipinas WORLD {Marie-Ann Bonquin Umali, 22, 173} for Miss World '09

(03.07.09)
Lt to Rt: Regina Brosas Hahn 26 174~2nd r-up bb, Melody Adelheid Manuel Gersbach 23 170~INTERNATIONAL, Pamela Bianca Ramos Manalo 22 178~UNIVERSE, Marie-Ann Bonquin Umali 22 173~WORLD, Richell Pacaldo Angalot 20 168~1st r-up/Vice Miss bb
Melody, PHL-INTERNATIONAL '09Bianca, PHL-UNIVERSE '09Marie-Ann, PHL-WORLD '09

Worthmentioning Titleholder:
2008-2009 Vice Miss/1st runner-up/Miss Philippines Air/Miss TOURISM QUEEN INT'L Philippines {Marie Razel Triff Eguia, 21, 170} for Miss TQI '09
Razel, Vice Miss/TQI-PHL '08-'09

2009-2010 Vice Miss/Miss Eco-Tourism/Miss PAGCOR/Miss TOURISM QUEEN INT'L Philippines {Grezilda Ennis Simondo Adelantar, 21, 173} for Miss TQI '10 & 2009 Miss EARTH Philippines {Sandra Inez Suravilla Seifert, 25, 175} for Miss Earth '09
(05.10.09)
Lt to Rt: Michelle Martha Braun 18 170~air/3rd r-up mpearth, Grezilda Ennis Simondo Adelantar 21 173~ecotourism/PAGCOR/Vice Miss/TQI, Sandra Inez Suravilla Seifert 25 175~EARTH, Patricia Marie G. Tumulak 21 170~fire/science&tech/2nd r-up mpearth, Catherine Loyola 23 170~water/4th r-up mpearth
Grezilda Ennis, Vice Miss/TQI-PHL '09-'10Sandra Inez, EARTH-PHL '09

2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas TOURISM {Jacqueline Durano Schubert, 18, 168} for Miss Intercontinental '09 & 2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas INTERNATIONAL {Jane Riel Bańares, 20, 170} for Top Model of the World & Miss Tourism Int'l '09
(08.09.09)
Lt to Rt: Samantha East 1st r-up mutya, Jacqueline Durano Schubert 18 168~TOURISM, Jane Riel Bańares 20 170~INTERNATIONAL, Jennielyn Natividad 2nd r-up mutya
Jacqueline, PHL-INTERCONTINENTAL '09Jane, PHL-TOP MODEL of the WORLD/TOURISM INT'L '09
{thanks to Missosology.org, Jhensie, Bruce Casanova, RougeStudio, Boris, Boyet Blas, Jay Directo, OPMB}
***GRANDSLAM PHILIPPINE TITLEHOLDERS***

1.) MISS INTERNATIONAL 1964 : GEMMA TERESA GUERRERO CRUZ
2.) MISS UNIVERSE 1969 : GLORIA MARIA ASPILLERA DIAZ
3.) MISS INTERNATIONAL 1970 : AURORA MCKENNY PIJUAN
4.) MISS UNIVERSE 1973 : MARIA MARGARITA ROXAS MORAN
5.) MISS INTERNATIONAL 1979 : MIMILANIE LAUREL MARQUEZ
6.) MISS INTERNATIONAL 2005 : PRECIOUS LARA SAN AGUSTIN QUIGAMAN
7.) MISS TOURISM QUEEN INT'L 2006 : JUSTINE VINLUAN GABIONZA
8.) MISS EARTH 2008 : KARLA PAULA GINTEROY HENRY
Karla Paula Henry, Miss EARTH '08
Karla Paula Henry, Miss Earth '08
April Love Jordan
April Love Jordan, Beauty of the World '09 & Miss Int'l Beauty & Model Winner '09 (Top 10 Bb. Pilipinas '09)

Links
International Pageants for 2008-2009:

MISS UNIVERSE 2009 in the BAHAMAS: 23.08.09 { Stefania Fernandez : VENEZUELA }
*PHL delegate: PAMELA BIANCA RAMOS MANALO*

MISS TOURISM QUEEN INT'L 2009 in CHINA: 29.08.09 { Ekaterina Grushanina : RUSSIA }
*PHL delegate: MARIE RAZEL TRIFF EGUIA*

MISS INTERCONTINENTAL 2009 in BELARUS: 27.09.09 { TBD : TBD }
*PHL delegate: JACQUELINE DURANO SCHUBERT*

MISS EARTH 2009 in ?: 22.11.09 { TBD : TBD }
*PHL delegate: SANDRA INEZ SURAVILLA SEIFERT*

MISS INTERNATIONAL 2009 in MACAU: 28.11.09 { TBD : TBD }
*PHL delegate: MELODY ADELHEID MANUEL GERSBACH*

TOP MODEL of the WORLD 2009 in GERMANY: ?.?.09 { TBD : TBD }
*PHL delegate: JANE RIEL BAŃARES*

MISS WORLD 2009 in SOUTH AFRICA: 12.12.09 { TBD : TBD }
*PHL delegate: MARIE-ANN BONQUIN UMALI*


MISS TOURISM QUEEN INT'L 2008 in CHINA: 12.04.08 { Silvia Vanessa Cornejo : PERU }
*PHL delegate: Krystle Ann Gonzalez Dizon*

MISS UNIVERSE 2008 in VIETNAM: 14.07.08 { Dayana Mendoza : VENEZUELA }
*PHL delegate: Jennifer Tarol Barrientos*

MISS INTERNATIONAL 2008 in MACAU: 08.11.08 { Alejandra Andreu : SPAIN }
*PHL delegate: Patricia Isabel Medina Fernandez {Top 12 SF}*

MISS EARTH 2008 in the PHILIPPINES: 09.11.08 { Karla Paula Henry : PHILIPPINES }
*PHL delegate: Karla Paula Ginteroy Henry {WINNER}*

MISS WORLD 2008 in SOUTH AFRICA: 13.12.08 { Kseniya Sukhinova : RUSSIA }
*PHL delegate: Danielle Kirsten Muriel Castańo (replacement)* Janina Miller San Miguel (resigned)*


Supermodel of the World 2009 in MONTENEGRO: 24.01.09 { Tayane Leăo : BRAZIL }
*PHL delegate: Giselle Paqueo (Top 12 SF)*

BEAUTY OF THE WORLD & MISS INT'L BEAUTY & MODEL WINNER 2009 in CHINA: 03.05.09 { April Love Jordan : PHILIPPINES }
*PHL delegate: April Love Antolo Jordan {WINNER}*


Visit our friends at the Manila-based
BOYETBLAS.COM or MABUHAYBEAUTIES.COM*
hosted by BOYET BLAS & ARNOLD OROSA


http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/7723

Subject: MR. VITUG'S HOMESTRETCH


Author:
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[Edit]

Date Posted: 23:43:13 11/20/09 Fri
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)

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MAS PHOTOS ~

http://www.criticalbeauty.com/Miss_Earth_2009_Gallery_Talent_Dinner_Show_11-20-2009.html

http://www.criticalbeauty.com/Miss_Earth_2009_Gallery_Candid_Shots_Alta_Vista_Boracay_11-20-2009.html

http://www.criticalbeauty.com/Miss_Earth_2009_Gallery_Boracay_Ecovillage_Presscon_Cocktails_11-19-2009.html

http://www.tcweeklynews.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=85&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1732&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2404&hn=tcweeklynews&he=.com


AT THE HOMESTRETCH (GROUP 1)
by Joseph Vitug

Hate to admit that attrition has occurred again in this year’s Miss Earth pageant, as the number of delegates declined from 85 last year to 80. Despite earlier confirmations, perennial participants Bolivia and Bosnia & Herzegovina failed to show up along with Croatia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Malawi, and Romania. Botswana was disqualified for being too short at 1.51m. Nicaragua had to back out because its candidate encountered visa issues. Vietnam’s representative encountered an injury before competition was about to begin. Other perennials like Finland and Germany didn’t even bother to field a representative. However, as the weeks progressed it turns out that the quality of this year’s delegates prove to be of a highly competitive caliber—there are a whole slew of worthy contenders vying for the 18 slots in the finals, so a satisfying mix of finalists is going to be extremely likely this year, even as some might lament on a few possible shut-outs. I am optimistic that the attrition will likely be stemmed next year.
This time I will organize my homestretch review instead of a straightforward alphabetical manner into alphabetically according to their groupings during the various pre-pageant activities. So without further ado, let us begin with…
GROUP ONE

This group was loaded with major powerhouse contenders. Though the five chosen for the shortlist in the Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown competitions were worthy choices, I felt there were several others who deserved to be shortlisted also—too bad they had to limit to five in each competition, and three of those slots were filled by the same favorites. Three of the Cocoa Babes and two of the Crčme Confections were among those that were overshadowed by the favorites. Anyway, without further ado, here are the ladies in Group 1:

ALBANIA – Suada Saliu. Her gawky pre-arrival photos and then that fright of wildly shocking curls early in her stay may have made fans, wags, and pundits shudder at her being, but as the days wore on, those curls were tamed and she started looking more attractive—more akin to, say, “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow. She turned out to be surprisingly a worthwhile delegate.

AUSTRALIA – Melinda Heffernan. Normally, if you are searching for the best delegate from Oceania, typically fingers would be pointing toward this country. Well, in the real world she would qualify as attractive, but in a stratified milieu like this pageant, she was easily overshadowed by the embarrassment of riches out there.

BAHAMAS – Krystal Brown. She may not be one of the Cocoa Babes, but she was among those who placed the Caribbean region at a stratified level in this year’s pageant. She was a complete package of intelligence, fitness, and attractiveness.


CHINA – Yan Xu. There might be a few who might find her cute, but to my eyes, she was probably one of the weakest fielded by this rising pageant powerhouse in any Grand Slam pageant. Her winning a sponsor’s prize (because of the heritage of the owners of the resort) should be consolation enough.

COLOMBIA – Alejandra Castillo. Prior to her arrival, pageant pundits barely paid attention to her as some felt that maybe her studio photos were heavily photoshopped as she may not be as impressive as portrayed. But when she finally arrived, it turned out she was a driven, polished, and competitive contender who clearly knew how to make the right impression and was a complete package at a stratified level. She is on line to sustain her country’s finalist showing in this pageant.

CUBA – Jamilette Gaxiola. Her pre-arrival photos may seem that she’s a classic beauty. But in person, her features were actually a tad more exotic, but she was still undeniably drop-dead gorgeous and beautiful—I saw minor traces of Miss Earth 2003 Dania Prince in her features. Another key standout quality she possessed were her ample bosom, which she often showcased with great aplomb in swimsuit and national costume—she is my BB Sweepstakes winner for this year’s pageant. Her voluptuousness eventually won me over, and her features grew on me that I do foresee she could conceivably land in the Top 8.

CZECH REPUBLIC – Tereza Budkova. Because this group was laden with top-tier contenders and the Filipinos were fixated with the Latinas, this drop-dead-gorgeous lass had some difficulty generating much needed buzz within this country—she was not short-listed in the swimsuit and gown rounds. But her beauty couldn’t be denied, and she does have some passionate support that resulted in her earning the much-deserved Miss Photogenic award. If justice would prevail, she should also sustain the four-years-and-counting semifinals streak this country enjoyed in this pageant.

DENMARK – Patricia Tjřrnelund. Her appearance vis-ŕ-vis her name made me recall about some preconceived notions one might have when one hears a very Scandinavian name. For instance, I could recall regarding famous Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson, chef and co-owner of the New York restaurant Aquavit—one might think he would be tall, Caucasian and blonde, not short, black, and African (he’s Ethiopian adopted by Swedish parents). The same notion may apply to this lady, as instead of blonde and Caucasian, she turned out to be dusky and biracial. She has a gorgeous face, and photos may seem to show she has a trim torso. Unfortunately, she has one glaring flaw—her legs were wide and stumpily short in proportion to her upper body.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Mariel Garcia. Here is the first member of the Cocoa Babes. Some pundits and fans may have thought that she sometimes projected like a drag queen, but I thought her features still remained undeniably feminine and pretty, and her lean and trim supermodel’s figure deserved to be reckoned with. I had compared her to Miss Universe 2002 contestant Ruth Ocumarez, and I meant it as a compliment, though it may have also raised concerns that even if she was more gorgeous than 2007 semifinalist Themys Febriel, she might end up missing the final cut similar to the highly regarded Ruth. Still keeping my fingers crossed, though.

GABON – Marlyne Lea Ayenne. She is an attractive contender from Africa, but this year the Africans were clearly overshadowed by the Caribbean Cocoa Babes. Her memorably moment was her African booty shaking dance during her costume presentation.

GEORGIA – Nona Diakonidze. Though there were some pageant pundits who initially found her features a bit too vampish (Cruella de Vil was the usual term employed), I always thought she was gorgeous from the get-go. Besides, those very features tend to be highly favored during pre-judging—this was how Bosnia & Herzegovina made the cut in 2004 and 2006—I had been describing the look as “Bosnian Vamp” for the past few years now. Because of those features alone, it is highly conceivable that she’ll earn herself a slot in the Top 18.

GUADELOUPE – Mary-Ange Seymour. She’s trim and attractive and also another one who made the Caribbean region the region to reckon with in this year’s pageant.

HONG KONG – Wang Shan Shan. Well, this lady was better-looking than Miss China, though she seemed to be in the same boat as Miss China in terms of level of sponsor support and preparedness—but they did seem to be sporting more-than-decent gowns during the Evening Gown Finals event at Casino Filipino.

HUNGARY- Korinna Kocsis. I could see how she was able to edge out the two Crčme Confections and the three Cocoa Babes in her group to be shortlisted in the Swimsuit Competition—she exuded a laid-back beach beauty vibe (sorry, Miss World) with her mass of wavy brunette tresses, trim physique, and tanned complexion. If we based it on looks alone she has the inside track into the Top 18. But I have a major issue with her communication skills—during the Press Presentation and National Costume Competition, she spoke as if there was a muffler in her mouth—I don’t know if Hungarians who attempt to speak English really sounded like that. If her sash said Bosnia & Herzegovina she would’ve probably gotten away with it, though she doesn’t have the “Bosnian Vamp” look the way Miss Georgia has. But let’s give her credit that she’s the best delegate ever fielded by this country to this pageant.

INDONESIA – Nadine Zamira Syarief. Onstage and whenever she opened her mouth, I thought she was a possible upset choice who could conceivably land in the Top 18. She was a polished presence onstage, with an elegantly dignified bearing that was exhibited during the National Costume Competition. But her main asset was her superb communication skills—her English was not 100% impeccable as I observed a few minor grammatical lapses in her speeches, but it was way stronger than what you would have expected from a typical Indonesian, and she could communicate her commitment to the cause very clearly and effectively. However, in a more casual setting, her looks turned out to be rather ordinary. Could she parlay her stage skills, intelligence, and gab to overcome her disadvantages and make the final cut?

ISRAEL – Noy Michaelov. Her facial features were not my cup of tea, but I have to concede she was a polished, worthwhile contender who deserved some credit.

JAMAICA – Jenaae Jackson. She actually has all the qualities to make the final cut, as she was the best delegate fielded by this country so far, but amongst the Cocoa Babes, she was the one who didn’t seem to know how to capitalize on her bountiful assets (not necessarily physical like Miss Cuba) to its fullest as she tended to be not as assertive as she could’ve been.

JAPAN – Tomomi Takada. It’s coincidental that two ladies who resembled standout non-finalist contenders at the legendary 2002 Miss Universe pageant were pitted in the same group. I had mentioned about Miss Dominican Republic’s resemblance to her countrywoman, Ruth Ocumarez. Now, meet Karen Loren Agustin, but wearing the sash of Japan. Her looks may not be for conventional tastes, but she does strike a fierce presence onstage. For her stage skills, competitive drive, and her lean-and-trim figure, she is arguably the strongest fielded by this country in this pageant.

LATVIA – Diana Kubasova. I had mentioned in my “Cocoa Babes and Crčme Confections” article how I thought she was the blonde who could break the long “Blonde-less Drought” in the finals. She has the gorgeousness and the figure to pull it off. Unfortunately, that mantle seemed to have been taken away from her as Miss France just blossomed during the later stages of the competition; no-showing during the Evening Gown Competition finals also doesn’t seem to be a good sign. I’m still keeping the faith as she was simply that beautiful.

MARTINIQUE – Pascale Nelide. No special awards nor sponsor prizes that I know of. I’m baffled why she wasn’t getting a lion’s share of attention that she deserved, because she oozed so much charm when she appeared, and her features were simply so stunning in my eyes. Just because she couldn’t speak English that well? Well, that didn’t stop Murielle Celimene from becoming first runner-up five years ago, right? Of all the underrated gems I have cited in my previous article, this lady would be the one I would be rooting fervently for to succeed.

PAKISTAN – Ayesha Gilani. She was the most polished Pakistani representative ever sent to this pageant—I simply adored her splendidly shimmering national costume. And she’s also great-looking and trim enough to hold her own amidst this formidable field.

POLAND – Izabella Wilczek. Most pundits underrated this lady prior to her arrival, but things changed when she landed on our shores as she exuded charisma. She also turned out to be a polished complete package with fierce stage chops that she is turning into one of the Europeans-most-likely in such a cutthroat group. Her dramatic gown presentation at Casino Filipino was one that I’ll remember for a long time.

SOUTH AFRICA – Chanel Grantham. She’s a tad plainer that what we typically expect from a South African representative, but she does have the gab and personality that was the usual trademark of a South African beauty queen.

SPAIN – Alejandra Echevarria. There were pundits who are not into her features, but examining them up closely, she reminded me of a legendary Filipina beauty queen—Miss World 1973 1st runner-up (and shoulda-been winner especially since the winner was dethroned) Evangeline Pascual. She was likewise a stratified complete package of beauty, brains, figure, stage presence, and even environmental commitment. So it’s not surprising how she was shortlisted in both swimsuit and evening gown. I also observed how she (or her handlers) integrated the environmental message in a subtly symbolic way, with the green color of her national costume and evening gown. She is poised to garner an element in this pageant.

TONGA – Mary Greatz. First, a welcome debut for this country in this pageant. And considering that the little that I know of this country made me think that they would probably send someone overweight or out-of-shape, here came this trim and attractive lady whose unique feature was that one of her teeth was capped in gold. She’s a surprisingly worthwhile contender who clearly was no cellar-dweller.

UKRAINE – Karina Golovata. Her facial features may be a tad subtle, but they were undeniably pretty. It was like a refreshing, down-to-earth face. I wouldn’t be that surprised if she would bring forth the long-awaited Ukrainian breakthrough in this pageant, though I would wonder on whose expense amongst the Europeans would she garner that slot.

VENEZUELA – Jessica Barboza. From her Sambil pictures I sensed that she would be someone to reckon with, and despite the objection of some pundits, I firmly believed she delivered on the expectations in spades. She physically resembled Miss World 2002 finalist and Miss International 2003 winner Goizeder Azua, and despite the lack of an Osmel Souza training background, she managed to be as polished as we expected from representatives from her country.

Now, let me trot out my leaderboard and show you how I thought the Group 1 delegates stood.

TOP CONTENDERS: SPAIN, VENEZUELA

LIKELIEST: COLOMBIA, CUBA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GEORGIA, HUNGARY, JAMAICA, LATVIA, MARTINIQUE, POLAND, UKRAINE

EXCELLENT: BAHAMAS, PAKISTAN

INTELLIGENCE FACTOR: INDONESIA

VERY STRONG: GABON, GUADELOUPE, JAPAN

STRONG: ALBANIA, AUSTRALIA, DENMARK, ISRAEL, SOUTH AFRICA, TONGA

VERY GOOD: HONG KONG

GOOD: CHINA


AT THE HOMESTRETCH (GROUP 2)
by Joseph Vitug

GROUP TWO

The ladies in Group 2 featured among others one mocha-colored Cocoa Babe, a slew of Asian contenders including one prohibitive front-runner for the crown, a sleeper Mediterranean favorite, the entire Benelux contingent, a super-statuesque African, and two fierce lovelies from North America. The three ladies who arrived too late to make it to the November 4 Press Presentation (and National Costume Competition) likewise were placed in this group. So, let us examine them all, shall we?

ARGENTINA – Gisela Menossi. She was a surprisingly stronger-than-expected contender from this country, as her modeling experience helped her make the right impression onstage, and she’s attractive and trim enough to deservingly keep up with the best. Still a far cry from Miss Earth-Fire 2001 Daniela Stucan eight years ago, though.

BELGIUM – Isabel Van Hoof. Well, she’s attractive, though a bit raw. Considering she kept on sporting wardrobe with low necklines and no cleavage to show for it, I think I should award her the “Flapper Award” (this is like the opposite of the “BB Sweepstakes Award”).

CANADA – Lateesha Ector. She’s the first dark-complexioned representative from her country to this pageant. In my opinion, she is arguably even better than Miss Earth 2007 Jessica Trisko, as she’s great looking, she’s buffed (she’s shortlisted in the Swimsuit Competition from her group, remember), she’s polished, and yes, she’s an excellent communicator. Efforts on her part to speak our native language even as there was nothing Filipino flowing in her veins would only help her earn extra brownie points.

COSTA RICA – Malena Orozco. Besides being one of the late arrivals, one prominent feature about this attractive fair-complexioned lady was her statuesque 6’0” height. Too bad, she couldn’t seem to capitalize on her strengths to the max as she could have.

ECUADOR – Diana Delgado. She was also another late arrival. She was an attractive dusky Latina who sported a red gown with a humongous train during the Group 2 Evening Gown Competition at Greenbelt 5 in Makati. But she does pale in comparison with the bevy of Latina stunners out there.

ENGLAND – Kirsty Nichol. It was a good thing when she arrived that she grew out her bangs and combed it out, as she was more attractive than expected. Still, I found her other colleagues from the British Isles stronger in the face department. Anyway, let’s just hand it to her for being a worthwhile contender.

GHANA – Mariam Abdul Rauf. Her figure was not as trim and toned as the majority of the contenders out there, though maybe we should attribute it to African tastes that we may not readily appreciate. Still, she’s attractive and worthwhile.

INDIA – Shriya Kishore. As long as she’s allowed to strut onstage, she would exude a charismatically glamorous presence. Of course she also has the superb communication skills we expect from representatives of her country, and her figure was trim enough to keep up with the best of them. I did find her very attractive, but admittedly there were prettier faces out there—Miss Pakistan was prettier. She is still on track of making the final cut but with the quality of this year’s batch, nothing is for certain though we do need to salute her for being a top-notch contender.

ITALY – Luna Isabella Voce. She may not be as slickly polished as other ladies, and her evening gown catwalk was just a tad too simple amidst the luminous standouts out there, but she turned out on the road to becoming one of the possible usurpers to Sandra Seifert’s assumed path to victory. She has a passing resemblance to the official Miss Universe 2002 from Panama, Justine Pasek, crossed with movie star Eva Mendes, and her communication skills were way stronger than most representatives sent by her country to this pageant—and she was savvy enough to convey relevant points in her speeches, as she referred to the calamities of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng (internationally known as Ketsana and Parma respectively) in her environmental messages. An Italian breakthrough seems to be almost assured this time.

KENYA – Catherine Muturi. What I remembered most about her was her white costume with feathered headdress as it was memorably un-Kenyan-looking and more Native American—in fact I thought it resembled a Walmart/Target/K-Mart version of Cher’s famous “Half-Breed” costume. She was an attractive contender, but I don’t really foresee her making serious inroads into the finals.

KOREA – Yeju Park. I’ve seen prettier Korean contestants, but she possessed several standout edges that she would probably end up being more successful than those Korean beauty queens who were renowned for simply being pretty. First, of course, was her chic bob. Then, there was her savvy and sophisticated catwalk style, and the willingness to be daring unlike your typical conservative Korean girl—just as exhibited in the Evening Gown Competition finals. Finally, she was also a stronger communicator with a stronger command of English than your typical Korean contestant.

LEBANON – Nicole Lichaa Khoury. Let’s just diplomatically say she made me flashback to five years ago, of a girl representing a country that won a special award this year and had fielded much improved and way more successful delegates since then. Her best strategy was clearly to simply enjoy her stay to the fullest.

LUXEMBOURG – Theodora Banica. At first glance her pale features in contrast to her dark tresses were viewed as a jarring combination by several pageant fans and pundits. But she turned out to actually be more attractive than expected, though not in serious contention for the finals.

MALAYSIA – Madeline Nandu. She was definitely the strongest representative ever fielded by this country to this pageant, as she has a nice pretty face, a trim figure, a polished stage presence, and strong communication skills. She was worthily shortlisted into the Swimsuit Competition finals in her group. I have a feeling that she would need to battle out a Top 18 slot with Mz. India and Korea, and it would not be totally surprising if she ended up edging them out.

NETHERLANDS – Sabrina Anijs. During her speeches during the Press Presentation and National Costume Competition, she expressed passion for the cause as her speeches were like urgent calls to take action. Her exotic Dutch/Asian features were likewise very striking, she possessed a lovely trim figure that she showcased with aplomb in her risqué national costume, and she had solid stage skills. It’s not surprising if she would end up bringing forth a long-awaited Dutch breakthrough, but then again, she has so many other Europeans to contend with.

NEW ZEALAND – Catherine Irving. She’s simply too plain and raw to be in serious contention for the finals. We have seen much better contenders fielded by this country before.

PANAMA – Geraldine Higuera. I found her features a tad too angular and exotic, though I do need to give her credit for having a trim figure, polished presence, and solid stage chops—she was grandiosely impressive in her Incan beaded costume during the National Costume Competition.

PHILIPPINES – Sandra Inez Seifert. Ever since the back-to-back Venezuelan victory at Miss Universe this year, pageant pundits have been buzzing there might be a similar scenario at this year’s pageant, with Karla Henry crowning her own countrywoman as her successor. But unlike the polarizing-to-negative reaction several pundits had towards Stefania Fernandez, they would actually welcome this lady’s victory. She did deliver the goods, and was competing at an expectedly stratified level; so far her performances would indicate that the forecast would be fulfilled, as she ended winning two very important looks-oriented special awards, Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown. Then, the hubbub over the release of unflattering photos of the crucial pre-judging round (where all delegates were mandated to appear sans makeup) made me recall Stefania’s recent visit to Indonesia, where there was a similar flap about one of her appearances sans makeup (she belatedly taped a video addressing that issue recently). And of course, this year’s pageant would be held in an island resort in Boracay, like the way Miss Universe held it this year at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Now, I personally wouldn’t mind that scenario, but I have a hunch that victory would not be that assured. I would probably guarantee that Sandra would be assured of an element—it’s just a matter of which one. But to win it all? There were so many awesome ones out there who could conceivably pull off an upset. And there were precedents that just simply because one currently had the edge over the rest, that she could win it all. I could recall 2006 when it was perceived (including myself) that Marianne Puglia got what it took to win it all and make it back-to-back for Venezuela—she ended up as Miss Earth-Fire, instead. Then, a year later, her countrywoman, Silvana Santaella won both the swimsuit and evening gown special awards, but she was Miss Earth-Water, not the overall winner. In other words, it is indeed very conceivable Sandra would deservingly win it all, but prospects of that scenario are not as certain as perceived.

One final note about the sans-makeup hoopla: remember that she was also subjected to the same process during the local search for Miss Philippines-Earth, and of course she ended up winning it all (and there were some lovely exotic lookers in her batch). So I wouldn’t think the prejudging panel would dock her significant points (if any) for her sans-makeup appearance.

RUSSIA – Ksenia Podsevatkina. This third latecomer exuded an Eastern European supermodel vibe, like Melania Knauss before she met the Donald and became the 3rd Mrs. Trump. I’m not certain if the prejudging panel would appreciate such features, though her making the final cut is indeed a conceivable possibility.

SERBIA – Dijana Milojkovic. She was a solid and polished contender but I found her facial features a tad too angular for my tastes—but then again, typical Slavs (including Serbs) shared such features. Would’ve probably made more serious inroads in a less competitive batch.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC – Lea Sindlerova. Facewise, she was among the prettiest, and I originally believed she could conceivably join her Czech colleague into the finals. But then I examined her figure a little more closely and her stage presentations, and I thought her belly was a tad too concave for comfort, though she remained on the trim side (unlike, say, this year’s Miss Lebanon). Still, I should give her credit for being among the stronger Slovaks fielded in this pageant.

SOUTH SUDAN – Mary Aheu Deng Kudum. Of course what everyone noticed about her was her height of 6’5”. Pre-arrival photos made her seem that she resembled supermodel Iman, though it turned out she didn’t really possess that supermodel’s bearing and sophistication. Still, she’s the second strongest African in this year’s batch, so if they decided to implement a continental representation for this year’s Top 18, she could conceivably take the 2nd African slot.

SWEDEN – Giulia Simone Olsson. Some fans might appreciate her unvarnished girl-next-door features, but to my eyes, she was simply plain and unpolished and definitely not in serious contention for the finals.

TURKEY – Gözde Zay. She did have a slender frame of a supermodel, and she was well known for her bangs, but she unfortunately was guilty of being unable to capitalize on her strengths to best effect. For instance, during the Group 2 Evening Gown competition, she sported a simple peach gown that was impeccably designed—unfortunately she walked like an anorexic hunchback in it, and hence could not make any kind of great impression.

TURKS & CAICOS – Alison Capron. Let me repeat my sentiments from my Cocoa Babes and Crčme Confetions article: this lady was simply the best representative from this country since Miss Universe 1987 semifinalist, Carmelita Ariza. She is a complete package of beauty, brains, and gab. She may not have the sleek wardrobe of her rivals, but she knew how to make the most of what she had.

U S A – Amy Diaz. She is arguably the best representative from this country since Miss Earth 2005 finalist (and eventual legendary Survivor contestant) Amanda Kimmel. And Amy has some crucial edges over Amanda, like polished communication skills and competitive drive. She was such a stratified complete package that my Miss Venezuela-loving friend made a bold prediction—he actually foresaw her winning Miss Earth in lieu of Sandra. He had made several pronouncements that actually came true. Do we have another possible usurper in our midst? I’m inclined to agree with him on this one

WALES – Dominique Dyer. Well, she’s a pretty and a worthwhile contestant with an inconsistent sparkle that I don’t really foresee her landing in the finals.

Now that Group 2 is all accounted for, let us see how my leaderboard adds up including Group 1 and 2:

TOP CONTENDERS: PHILIPPINES, SPAIN, VENEZUELA

POSSIBLE USURPERS: ITALY, U S A

LIKELIEST: CANADA, COLOMBIA, CUBA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GEORGIA, HUNGARY, INDIA, ITALY, JAMAICA, KOREA, LATVIA, MALAYSIA, MARTINIQUE, NETHERLANDS, POLAND, RUSSIA, SOUTH SUDAN, TURKS & CAICOS, UKRAINE

EXCELLENT: BAHAMAS, PAKISTAN, SERBIA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, WALES

INTELLIGENCE FACTOR: INDONESIA

VERY STRONG: ARGENTINA, COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, GABON, GUADELOUPE, JAPAN, KENYA, PANAMA

STRONG: ALBANIA, AUSTRALIA, DENMARK, ENGLAND, GHANA, ISRAEL, SOUTH AFRICA, TONGA

VERY GOOD: BELGIUM, HONG KONG, LUXEMBOURG, NEW ZEALAND, SWEDEN, TURKEY

GOOD: CHINA

FAIR: LEBANON

Check out GLOBALBEAUTIES for Group 3 and Mr. Vitug's forecast ~ http://www.globalbeauties.com/earth/2009/

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Subject: 3 MORE DAYS TO THE BIGGEST EVENT ON EARTH!


Author:
`
[Edit]

Date Posted: 21:04:52 11/19/09 Thu
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)

Breath-taking Boracay
November 19, 2009 ·

We’re in paradise!

We arrived last night when the sun was setting and its magnificent rays painted the sky with streaks of pink, orange and red. It was hard not to gawk at such a sight.

Whisked away to the Shangri-La Resort for some drinks, we were then stunned by the beauty of the pristine white sand and calm blue sea. Definitely a perfect location for a romantic getaway with that someone special. The architecture and layout of the Shangri-La is spectacular. Newly opened in March, I wanna go back there again soon for a proper holiday!

Dinner at Kasbah was one of the best we’ve had. Not only did we savour fantastic mutton stew, pita bread with hummus and loads of other goodies, we for once, dined in peace without so much bugging us. The soft sand beneath our feet coupled with the gentle crashing of waves barely 10m away from our dining area made for a romantic and relaxed place for us girls to hang out after a long day of travelling. Naturally with such a serene scene, we took pictures both in and out of the water.

This morning, breakfast overlooked a sea so blue it was as though someone had poured paint into it. Soon we headed out to the amazing greens in our resort Fairways and Bluewater for a photoshoot. Zooming by in our golf buggy, flashes of brilliant red from the hibiscus flower peppered the sidewalks. In the blazing yellow sunlight, we posed for pictures and had a blast getting an uneven tan.

Now sitting in the lounge with the wind gently caressing my cheek and playfully messing my hair up, I listen to the soothing sound of the waves while staring out into a black canvas. I am truly awe struck by having experienced the spectrum of colours of our world in a day. But it would be such a pity if we did not take care of our planet Earth now. The beauty that we’ve come to know and love so well will not be around for future generations to appreciate and love like we do if we dont start right this moment.

http://dweam.com/


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http://www.criticalbeauty.com/Miss_Earth_2009_Gallery_Boracay_Ecovillage_Presscon_Cocktails_11-19-2009.html

Special Awards

Best in National Costume Tanzania

Best in Swimsuit Philippines

Best in Long Gown Philippines

Miss Talent Tahiti

Miss Photogenic Czech Republic

Miss Friendship Switzerland

Best in Eco-Bag Design Wear Czech Republic

Best in Eco-Design Wear Jamaica

Best in Use of Indigenous Products Wear Albania

Miss Asei Korea

Miss AVSCOR Dominican Republic

Miss Discovery Suites Award Spain

Miss Eagle Express Korea

Miss Fontana Resort China

Miss Gandang Ricky Reyes Award Spain

Miss Golden Sunset Resort & Spa Cuba

Miss HDR Management Poland

Miss Jubilee Presidents’ Foundation Philippines

Miss Perwoll Venezuela

Pasigandahan Award Guam

Placenta Award Puerto Rico


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Earth_2009

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Subject: I LOVE YOU ALL


Author:
KELVIN A (GLAD)
[Edit]

Date Posted: 10:08:40 11/19/09 Thu
(NoHost/82.128.69.205)

Please let the world know you people more thanks

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Subject: BORACAY Finally!


Author:
b
[Edit]

Date Posted: 20:17:58 11/18/09 Wed
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The moment the girls arrived, they all rushed to the beach hahaha.

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Subject: VIETNAMESE SUPERMODEL TO JUDGE MISS EARTH 2009


Author:
b
[Edit]

Date Posted: 10:01:45 11/18/09 Wed
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)

Former supermodel to be Miss Earth jury member
18:21' 18/11/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Elite Vietnam’s manager and former supermodel Thuy Hanh has agreed to join the jury for the Miss Earth 2009 pageant in the Philippines.


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Thuy Hanh

She went to Philippines on November 18 to meet the organizing board and contestants.

Hanh said she gained some experience as a jury member of the Miss Intercontinental pageant in the past but she was still nervous because Miss Earth is among the largest beauty contests in the world.

The Vietnamese former supermodel and other jury members will have to choose the top contestants of the pageant.

The final night of Miss Earth 2009 will take place on November 22 on Boracay Island in the Philippines. Thuy Hanh will be there in a night gown designed by Hoang Hai. On November 11, the Vietnamese jurywoman will be interviewed and shot in a video clip to broadcast on the final night.

This is the second time Vietnam has been represented in the jury of the Miss Earth pageant. The first is Nguyen Cong Khe, former chief editor of the Thanh Nien daily in 2007.

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Truong Thi May

Meanwhile, model Truong Thi May, who missed the pageant due to an accident, was invited to be a guest at the final night.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/lifestyle/200911/Former-supermodel-to-be-Miss-Earth-jury-member-879525/

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THE HUNT FOR "EARTH WOMAN" BEGINS ~
by Giovanni Paolo J. Yazon
Contributor

AN inclement weather usually affects the attendance of people to an event. But it was a different story during the Miss Earth 2009 press presentation of candidates, held at Mader’s Garden in Valle Verde last Nov. 4.

The heavy rain showers wet-dirtied the constructed runway, stage as well as the lavishly set up audience seats at the garden area. It also delayed the show for an hour. But the tremendous downpour did not stop members of media and fervent Miss Earth followers from trooping the residence of style guru Ricky Reyes in Pasig City.

The number of candidates who will vie for the crown currently worn by our very own Karla Paula Henry has skyrocketed to 80 this year! But one thing has not changed: Miss Earth continues to remind us that beauty is neither just about wearing two-piece swimsuits and shimmering evening gowns, nor what’s inside the contestants’ makeup bags. It has more to do with what are in their hearts, and how can they preserve and protect the environment.

With the racks and ruins brought about by tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng recently, this “search for a cause,” established in 2001 by Carousel Productions Inc., seeks to amplify the message that, “Mother Earth is telling us something.” Ramon Monzon, the organization’s president, said: “There were warnings in the past which most of us ignored and were complacent about. The recurring abnormal weather pattern around us is a reminder that we can never afford to wait until the worst-case scenario happens. We must act with urgency.” Executive vice president Lorraine Schuck added: “We can all contribute by simply changing our lifestyle and seriously implement the 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and [above all] RESPECT.”

Notable changes

The organization also welcomed its new vice president for external affairs, image consultant and former model Ping Valencia. She replaced the “grand dame of beauty,” Joji Felix Velarde, who died of cardiac arrest last May. A new crown will also be unveiled on pageant night. Jeweller Ramona Haar crafted the Miss Earth tiara for this year, and designed necklaces and earrings that symbolize the earth, air, water and fire—all of which will be worn by the top four winners during official functions.

Instead of the top 16-8-4 selection process being done since 2005, 18 ladies will be picked to go on in the semis this year. From among them, 12 will be chosen for the evening gown, and then eight will move to the final round—the interview segment—to determine the three runners-up and the winner. The coronation night will be held outside of Luzon for the first time. It will conclude in the island of Boracay, Western Visayas.

18 roses

The grand staircase in Reyes’ magnificent home became the backdrop of this year’s press presentation. The event proved to be so intense for the candidates who seemed to have already battled it out for the semi-final slots. Here are 18 Earth women who are deemed capable of doing Karla Henry’s tough job:

Belgium’s Isabel van Hoof, 18, is a dead-ringer for pop princess Britney Spears. She pursues a degree in elementary education at the Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen in the province of Antwerpen; Larissa Ramos of Brazil, 19, is a biology student at the Universidad Federal de Amazonas.

Canada’s Lateesha Khamila Ector, 25, is a customer service agent who graduated with a degree in psychology at the Concordia University in Montreal. She describes herself as a big melting pot: “My father is a Venezuelan while my mother has Chinese and Scottish parentage. My parents were both born in Trinidad and Tobago and their respective families migrated to Canada in the ’70s.”

Alejandra Castillo de Munera of Colombia, 22, a political science major at the Universidad Libre de Colombia, wants to become a lawyer someday, “to strengthen the environmental laws in my country, and if possible, in the whole world to ensure a better place for the future generations”; Czech Republic’s Tereza Budkova, 18, is a stunning high school student who grew up in Greece.

Jamillette Gaxiola of Cuba, 19, is a top bet by most Miss Earth aficionados. She is a communications major at the Community College of Southern Nevada; France’s Magalie Thierry, 22, has Spanish and German roots. She is completing a master’s degree in biology and ecology. She wants to become an educator someday.

Shriya Kishore of India, a 23-year-old hotelier, has a way with words ala Sushmita Sen. She obtained her hotel management degree at the Manipal University in Karnataka state; 22-year-old fashion design student Yeju Park of Korea, a taller and leaner version of actress Ara Mina, believes that “it is possible for progress and nature to go hand in hand.”

Diana Kubasova, 20, comes from a wealthy family. She became popular in Latvia after starring in a local TV show. Often likened to Paris Hilton, she owns “Lilly Pet,” a pet boutique and spa; Theodora Banica of Luxembourg, 21, is a psychology major at the University of Luxembourg. She is a cross between TV host Donita Rose and Hollywood actress-cum-humanitarian Audrey Hepburn.

Our very own Sandra Inez Suravilla Seifert, 25, is a registered nurse who earned her degree at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York. If Venezuela had a back-to-back victory in Miss Universe, why couldn’t we have it in Miss Earth? After all, the best Miss Universe we never had is so prepared—evidently witty, voluptuous, speaks from the heart, and proves that Asians can have impressive runway skills.

Spain’s Alejandra Echevarria Pedrajas, 20, is a business administration student and a professional singer. The organizers of Miss Spain pageant was supposed to send her in Miss International, but Pedrajas preferred to participate in Miss Earth, “because it fits my personality, not to mention my enthusiasm with nature and great interest in the preservation of the environment.”

At 6 feet and 5 inches, Aheu Deng Kudum, 18, of South Sudan now holds the record being the tallest woman ever to participate in an international beauty pageant. The feat of this high school student has been submitted to the Guinness World Records for inclusion and certification as the “World’s Tallest Beauty Queen”; To outdo the performance of Miriam Odemba who finished second overall last year, Tanzania sent Evelyne Almasi here in Manila, a 24-year-old model. Her tree-inspired ensemble won Best in National Costume.

Thailand’s Rujinan Phanseethum, 20, is a junior communication arts student at the Bangkok University. She looks like a porcelain doll and has an understated class, and loveliness; and after wins in Miss Universe and Miss Intercontinental, Venezuela might experience another rich harvest season in Miss Earth, with Jessica Cristina Barboza Schmidt, a 22-year-old lawyer.

United States’ Amy Diaz, 25, is a strong contender for the Best in Swimsuit award, what with her well-toned body. A semi-finalist in the Miss USA 2008 tilt, she earned her diploma in broadcast communication with a minor in psychology as well as post-graduate degrees in business administration and sports management at the Barry University.

Miss Earth’s grand coronation night will be held on Nov. 22, Sunday, 7 p.m., at the 3,000-seater Main Hall of Boracay Ecovillage and Convention Center. It will have a delayed telecast on ABS-CBN-2 and The Filipino Channel at 9:30 p.m.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideEntertainment.htm?f=2009/november/17/entertainment1.isx&d=/2009/november/17

============================================

Mas Videos:


THAILAND, SINGAPORE, MEXICO, CHINA, HONGKONG, BAHAMAS, SLOVENIA, ALBANIA, MACAU, HONDURAS


TOP 15 EVENING GOWNS, 15 lovely ladies participated in the Long Gown Competition of Miss Earth 2009. The 15 delegates were chosen from different Long Gown Preliminaries held in various locations. The girls who competed were Miss Colombia, Miss Paraguay, Miss India, Miss Philippines, Miss Guam, Miss Mexico, Miss Ukraine, Miss Spain, Miss Poland, Miss Venezuela, Miss USA, Miss Thailand, Miss Brazil, Miss Italy, Miss Korea (From OPMB Videos)


Beautiful BORACAY ISLAND, The girls final destination

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Subject: MISS EARTH '09 - The Loveliest Faces in the Competition


Author:
MABUHAY (Fidelio Blas)
[Edit]

Date Posted: 22:54:53 11/17/09 Tue
(112.200.60.101.pldt.net/112.200.60.101)

IMO, these two possess what could be billed as THE LOVELIEST FACE(S) in Miss Earth 2009:

HI-DEFINITION AT VIMEO.COM (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED):

MISS EARTH '09 - The Loveliest Faces in the competition from Fidelio Blas on Vimeo.



YOUTUBE VERSION (Degraded quality for easier downloading):


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Subject: LATEST NEWS


Author:
b
[Edit]

Date Posted: 22:01:06 11/17/09 Tue
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)


I LOVE THE CROWN NOW THAT I'VE SEEN IT UP CLOSE. Materials, stones and gems came from more than 80 countries and cost $150,000.00

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CZECH REPUBLIC - MISS PHOTOGENIC WINNER

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MISS KOREA - SPECIAL AWARD WINNER

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MISS POLAND - SPECIAL AWARD WINNER

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MISS PHILIPPINES and MISS MALAYSIA

EVENING GOWN REVIEW by Mr. Vitug ~

A GLAMOROUSLY SEXY NEW TWIST!
MISS EARTH 2009 EVENING GOWN COMPETITION AND NEW CROWN UNVEILING: A GLAMOROUSLY SEXY NEW TWIST
by Joseph Vitug
The PAGCOR Casino near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque again played host to the Miss Earth Evening Gown Competition. But this year, there was a new twist: this was the first time ever that all the delegates were not on hand to be judged as they paraded in their evening gowns. Instead, there were preliminary rounds held as the three groups of delegates toured around the Philippines, and the best five of each group would then be competing against each other for this final round for the special award.

But before the competition went underway, they decided to allow this event to coincide with the launching/unveiling of the new Miss Earth crown designed by Ramona Haar. There was a little attempt at pomp and ceremony to launch the new crown, and the proceedings were hosted by famous Filipino-British football player and model Phil Younghusband. It began with a still video conveying messages about ecology and environment, and how the crown was created from recycled silver and gold and embedded with jewels mined or farmed from various countries in the world (80 countries, as it was declared). This was then followed with a song number from Faith Cuneta, who sang an adequate rendition of Des’ree’s inspirational 1994 smash “You Gotta Be.” This was then followed by a parade of local male models in black suits parading some gemstones. Then, another song number, this time from renowned belter Dessa, who performed her own reverent take of the 1988 Olympic theme song from Whitney Houston, “One Moment In Time”. Finally the crown was unveiled, with the reigning Miss Earth Karla Henry holding the crown aloft on the red pillow, and a turnover ceremony was held with designer Ramona Haar present to hand over the crown to Carousel Productions’ Executive Vice-President Lorraine Schuck. Have to admire the effort to integrate all those jewels into a single crown, and it actually worked.

Then, the usual concession to the sponsors enfolded as the sponsors (the Jubilee Presidents’ Foundation of the Rotary Club of Makati and PAGCOR) delivered speeches about their environmental projects and held their own evening gown fashion show. Finally, the main event unfolded as Miss Earth-Water 2006 and now director of the Miss Earth Foundation Cathy Untalan stepped in looking resplendent in a black lace gown to get the evening gown proceedings underway. Similar to the final swimsuit competition, they first presented the ladies who did not make the Top 15. However, instead of the ladies introducing themselves with a microphone, the host made the introductions and the ladies paraded their evening gowns briefly as Cathy introduced them by name and country. Take note after looking at the photos of the preliminary evening gown events of Groups 1 and 3 and witnessing the preliminary contest of Group 2 at posh mall Greenbelt 5 in Makati, the majority of the delegates did not wear their competition gowns. Also conspicuously absent onstage were media favorites Mz. Latvia (Diana Kuvasova) and South Sudan (Mary Deng Kudum).

Before I proceed with the 15 evening gown finalists, I would like to give my notes on the non-finalists who made a major impression with their brief presentations: Miss Cuba (Jamilette Gaxiola) shimmered brightly in her brightly sequined white evening gown—it was mildly surprising that reports were wrong that she made the cut in her group as it turned out it was Miss Ukraine instead; Miss Dominican Republic (Mariel Garcia) showed that blue can compliment her dark complexion looking chic in a form-fitting gown; Miss El Salvador (Mayra Aldana) was provocatively sexy in a low-cut V-necked flouncy gown; Miss France (Magalie Thierry) may have sported a poufy white monstrosity, but she strutted with aplomb in it and showcased that she knew more catwalk tricks beside the patented Riyo Mori Flash and Taliana Twirl; Miss Honduras (Alejandra Mendoza) was surprisingly impeccably elegant in her clean white number; Miss Kosovo (Elza Marku) channeled a little bit of Miss Universe 2009 2nd runner-up Gona Dragusha with her updo, but her pink gown with bare sides was probably a tad more risque than what Audrey Hepburn would’ve worn, but nevertheless it was a gorgeously sexy number; Miss Martinique (Pascale Nelide) was simply vibrant in her sequined red number; and Miss Puerto Rico (Dignelis Jimenez) was elegant yet provocative in a sheer pink number with strategically placed sequins.

An additional note that I would leave as a blind item: one cellar-dwelling delegate forgot to step forward when she was initially introduced by Cathy Untalan, apparently oblivious to what was going on around her–the delegate after her then did her stuff before she last-minutely then stepped forward to do her turn at the front of the stage. Hint: she alphabetically came after a delegate who was a conspicuous no-show that evening.

The 15 evening gown finalists were presented alphabetically, and they descended down a center stairstep with eight gentlemen associated with the Rotary Club escorting them while they navigated the steps. All 15 finalists proved deserving of belonging to the hallowed club, and fortunately none of them copied the so-called “patented gown moves”–they gave their own unique stamps instead. Let’s start with…

BRAZIL – Larissa Ramos. She sported a gorgeously sexy aqua sequined number showcasing revealing cleavage. She stirred up a major rise in collective temperatures with her presence.

COLOMBIA – Alejandra Castillo. Some keen observers noted that her gown was patterned similarly to Karen Agustin’s red Barraza number back in Miss Universe 2002, but it was still distinctive enough for her to make a smolderingly elegant impact.

GUAM – Maria Luisa Santos. From the black gown she wore in Subic, she changed into a one-shouldered white sequined number (think Michelle Obama’s inaugural dinner gown and Miss Universe 2009 1st runner-up Ada de la Cruz). With her updo, she looked impeccably elegant.

INDIA – Shriya Kishore. She strutted confidently about in her aqua-blue number like Bollywood royalty—all we needed was a dashingly handsome Bollywood actor miming a serenade to her.

ITALY – Luna Voce. She moved very simply and her light lavender gown was a simple design compared to the rest of the competition, but she did convey a classically elegant presence.

KOREA – Park Ye-Ju. She changed from her pink gown to a provocatively low-cut and revealing green gown. She had to adjust her shoulder sleeves a bit, and there was a potential for a wardrobe malfunction as I thought there was only an inch remaining before we could see nipples.

MEXICO – Natalia Quinones. She changed from her flowy pink gown back in Subic to a one-shouldered yellow satin gown with floral accents—unfortunately this was a bad strategy as this gown was the weakest of the bunch; it was too pageant-patty and dated for my taste.

PARAGUAY – Gabriela Rejala. She switched from her chocolate gown back in Subic to a white beaded number with sheer midriff. The gown was actually better-looking than her previous number, but it was also punishing for her current figure, emphasizing her voluptuousness to the max—maybe she is making a statement that there should be room for larger, curvier ladies out there instead of fashion’s emphasis on size 2 or lower.

PHILIPPINES – Sandra Inez Seifert. As expected she again sported the Michael Cinco rainbow-sequined confection with intricately flouncy, feathery chiffon accents at the skirt area. And she again made an indelible impact with it, and to my eyes, yes, it’s the most unique-looking gown of the group. My take on the eventual verdict? Read on…

POLAND – Izabella Wilczek. She displayed surprisingly strong runway chops showcasing her red evening gown with long chiffon train. She lifted the train up at the back, but it wasn’t the Riyo Mori Flash but a unique move, and she was an awesome diva walking in it. If we talk about dramatic catwalks, she was in a close match with another lady clad in red.

SPAIN – Alejandra Echevarria. She sustained her status as a favorite clad in a low-cut V-necked green gown with fish-scale golden sequined embroidery patterns on her skirt.

THAILAND – Rujinan Phansreetum. Clad in a red sequined number, she spun and twirled about with dramatic flair, but she was neither imitating the Taliana Twirl nor the Dayana Spin. It was more of a more earlier vintage model done by Latin beauty queens about a decade or so ago, but still has astounding impact—in my opinion, she was neck-and-neck with Miss Poland in the catwalk category.

UKRAINE – Karina Golovata. Her one-shouldered black gown was ostensibly simple, but there was drama with the sheer panels at the front and back—for maximum effect, the wearer of this gown was not supposed to wear any underwear, or attempt to create that illusion by wearing a flesh bodystocking; my bet was she did the former.

U. S. A. – Amy Diaz. She smoldered about wonderfully in her rose embroidered white evening gown, though she was overshadowed by the smolderingly provocative sexiness of the gowns sported by Mz. Brazil, Korea, and Ukraine, and the fierce catwalks of Mz. Poland and Thailand.

VENEZUELA – Jessica Barbosa. The skirt portion of her strapless silvery green sequined gown was similar to the intricately leafy fabrics on Miss Philippines’ gown, but the design on the bodice was more of a lovely conventional beaded and sequined pattern than what Sandra Seifert wore. She potentially could’ve pulled forth an upset and outdo Sandra, but a minor wobble of an otherwise flawless presentation as she walked to the front of the stage may have spelled the difference that led to the eventual final verdict.

As usual, sponsors’ prizes were handed out. Miss Philippines won Miss Jubilee Presidents’ Foundation, Miss Dominican Republic won Miss AVSCOR, Miss Poland won Miss HDR Management, and Miss Korea won two sponsors’ prizes—Miss Eagle Express and Miss Asei.

Four special awards were likewise formally awarded. First, the National Costume Award was formally presented to Miss Tanzania (Evelyne Almasi). Miss Photogenic, voted online at the Miss Earth website and on a Miss Earth Facebook account, was deservingly awarded to Miss Czech Republic (Tereza Budkova). Miss Friendship went to Miss Switzerland (Graziela Rogers). We discovered after the show how tight the Group 3 ladies turned out to be as they exuded extreme enthusiasm congratulating the Miss Congeniality winner and posing for group photos.

Finally, the Evening Gown Award went to Miss Philippines, Sandra Seifert. In my personal opinion, Sandra deserved to win this award, even more than the Best in Swimsuit Award that she won a couple of days earlier at Fontana Resort at Clark. Does this secure her status as THE frontrunner for the Miss Earth crown? Possibly, but take note that there are no guarantees in this pageant—two years ago, Miss Venezuela Silvana Santaella won the same two awards (along with a whole host of sponsors’ prizes), but she didn’t end up winning the grand prize at the end. Still her path to securing at least an element remains on track.

Thanks to CB for the pictures.


HONDURAS, BAHAMAS, MARTINIQUE


MISS SINGAPORE BLOG ~

It’s Tough Being Beautiful
November 18, 2009 · No Comments

will tell you honestly now. It takes work to be beautiful. And the saying that there are no ugly women only lazy women holds very very true.

The person who said it must have been a beauty queen of some sort.

The last time we were so sleep deprived was the time we travelled 8 hours on the bus from Subic to Mamburao. If my sleep-deprived-working-in-safe-mode brain still serves me well that is.

We had our final long gown competition last night in Pagcor and Sandra, Miss Philippines, definitely had the most outstanding gown among the top 15 finalists. We were blown away the moment she stepped on stage. Alongside Best in Swimsuit, she thus also bagged Best in evening Gown.

3am and we leave for the airport to Iloilo. A convoy of buses carrying girls in states of unconciousness blazes through the surprisingly still busy streets of Manila. We arrive at the airport and everyone files out. You’d think that a bunch of Hollywood celebrities have arrived since almost 80% sport large sunnies. But really we’re all hiding behind our oversized shades trying to conceal our fatigue.

Iloilo’s CPU was the venue for the talent competition tonight. It was a tough fight but Tahiti danced her way amidst other hiphop, traditional and song performances. She definitely wow-ed the audience and the judges with her nimble hips.

As I was watching the contestants, I did wish I had continued with dance more. Haha. I miss dance so much! Especially my loves jazz and hiphop. I could have been up there with a fighting chance. LOL.

But I’m so proud of Neu!! And so happy for her. She is such a sweetheart. Tonight she was excellent on stage. Not only were her moves fantastic she won the judges over with her beautiful smile. Yayyy!!! Group 3 for the win! So far we’ve got Best in Talent, Best in National Costume and Miss Congeneality to our group’s name. Wo00ot! I hope somebody from our group gets Top 4 spots.

Just a couple more days to Coronation before a new queen is crowned. It’s tiring but hang in there girls. This will probably be the only time in our lives we do something like this.

No one ever said being beautiful was easy.

http://dweam.com/


SOME OF THE GIRLS VISITED A LOCAL UNIVERSITY ~ BIG HITS WITH THE LOCALS ARE BRAZIL, DOM. REPT. PERU, GUATEMALA, PAKISTAN, HUNGARY, SPAIN.

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Subject: CoXMzcgBCY


Author:
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[Edit]

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Subject: Doll faced Cuban beauty - is she "THE ONE"?


Author:
MABUHAY (Fidelio Blas)
[Edit]

Date Posted: 07:22:15 11/17/09 Tue
(112.200.44.191.pldt.net/112.200.44.191)

HIGH DEFINITION VERSION AT VIMEO (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED):

Doll faced Cuban beauty - is she "THE ONE"? from Fidelio Blas on Vimeo.



YOUTUBE VERSION (FOR EASIER DOWNLOADING BUT LOW-QUALITY):


Beauty experts single her out (well among a dozen standouts - there's just too many of them it's hard to predict who'll finally wear the MISS EARTH '09 crown on November 22nd... good luck, Jamillette Gaxiola!!! This hazel-eyed vixen from Havana loves to fly-kiss a lot and no one's complaining. We simply love her!!!

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Subject: LONG GOWN COMPETITION


Author:
FROM VZLA
[Edit]

Date Posted: 05:16:14 11/17/09 Tue
(static-155-201-228-77.ipcom.comunitel.net/77.228.201.155)
































































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Subject: PRE-JUDGING at MISS EARTH HAS STARTED


Author:
B
[Edit]

Date Posted: 21:14:13 11/16/09 Mon
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)

WHAT MAKES MISS EARTH UNIQUE and DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CONVENTIONAL and TRADITIONAL BEAUTY PAGEANTS? Here are some of the reasons:

1.) The girls are judged all throughout the pageant. There are chaperons, staff, "secret judges", and even bus drivers who are tasked by the organizers to select their top 18. No favoritism from the pageant owners or whatever. The interesting part is that the girls are not aware of who they are.

2.) Special competitions for EVENING GOWN, Photogenic, Swimsuit and other special prizes that happened this past weeks HAS NO BEARING to the actual judging and selection of the top 18. This has happened in the past edition of Miss Earths wherein previous Miss Photogenics, special award winners, etc did not even made it to the top 16. So those whiners and bashers, please stop the sour-grape and wait til the actual pageant on Saturday.

3.) The girls are judged during a special and separate preliminary competition in evening gown, swimsuit and interview. The Girls are mandated NOT TO WEAR MAKE UP. I personally think that this is an awesome idea because Miss Earth is looking for the most natural beauties to be crowned Miss Earth.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us


Each contestant from 80 countries around the world was judged during a "closed-door" preliminaries to select 18 semi finalists, who will vie for the coveted title of Miss Earth 2009. The contestants was scored based on their presentation (with no make-up) in Swimsuit, Evening Gown and Interview.

MORE Photos of girls with no make up, here ~ http://bern.usgang.ch/picture.php?n=359191

NATURAL BEAUTIES ENJOYING NATURE:

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us


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Subject: LATEST NEWS


Author:
b
[Edit]

Date Posted: 20:05:12 11/16/09 Mon
(c-24-34-81-76.hsd1.ma.comcast.net/24.34.81.76)

Mas Photos ~ http://bern.usgang.ch/picture.php?n=359191


COLOMBIA and SPAIN


NATIONAL COSTUME


LONG GOWN (less TOP 15) - OPMB Worldwide gives you footage of all the delegates in their Long Gown. Although only 15 ladies competed for the Best in Long Gown for Miss Earth 2009 at the PAGCOR Theater in Philippines. All the rest of the candidates showed to the public their evening wear. Thank you to Carousel Productions Incorporated.


MY FAVORITE GIRL FOR THE MISS INTERNATIONAL CROWN ~ Melody Gersbach, Miss Philippines. Thanks to Boyet Blas and OPMB for the videos.

NEW MISS EARTH CROWN UNVEILED ~ http://opmbworldwide.com/forums-mb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4435

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us


Image Hosted by ImageShack.us


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Preservation of the planet Earth is one of the most important considerations when the new Miss Earth crown was created. The masterpiece was designed by an ecologically minded Jewelry Designer, Ramona Haar, and Official Jeweler of the Miss Earth pageant.

To lessen the environmental impact that mining creates, the crown is made of 100% recycled precious metals comprising of 14K Gold and Argentums Sterling Silver. What sets this crown apart is the fact that the gemstones used both precious and semi-precious were donations from over 80 different participating countries. These are gemstones that each country is known for either as the origin or source. The gemstones were sent in various forms: faceted, cabochons, beads or rough. The designer travelled to Jaipur, India to have these gemstones individually cut and faceted to the required cut and sizes.

The Flower as the central design represents Mother Earth and as Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it "The earth laughs in flowers". The recurring spiral motif has always been associated with Maternal Power and Feminine Prestige which is the Essence of Miss Earth. The gentle curves symbolizes Unity and the Spirit of Cooperation.

link ~ http://www.missearth.info/crown.php

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

The 2009 contestants wearing their official swimsuits in front of the preliminary judges. Photo by Etienne Schawnk

Each contestant from 80 countries around the world was judged during a "closed-door" preliminaries to select 18 semi finalists, who will vie for the coveted title of Miss Earth 2009. The contestants was scored based on their presentation (with no make-up) in Swimsuit, Evening Gown and Interview.

Unveiling of the new Miss Earth crown is tonight during the final of Evening Gown Competition to be held at PAGCOR Grand Theatre.

Mas Photos ~ http://bern.usgang.ch/picture.php?n=359191

OPMB - http://opmbworldwide.com/

GLOBALBEAUTIES - http://www.globalbeauties.com/earth/2009/

OTHER NEWS:

MRS. PHILIPPINES WON SPECIAL AWARD AT MRS. WORLD in Vietnam - http://opmbworldwide.com/forums-mb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4437

WOMAN OF THE EARTH FORUM ~ http://www.voy.com/217922/

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Subject: The two Alejandras in MISS EARTH 2009


Author:
MABUHAY
[Edit]

Date Posted: 18:56:37 11/16/09 Mon
(112.200.105.28.pldt.net/112.200.105.28)



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Subject: piolo and sam again?


Author:
abu tilamzik gorgy rula
[Edit]

Date Posted: 03:27:24 10/16/09 Fri
(122.53.106.178.pldt.net/122.53.106.178)



2 aktor, magka-holding hands sa HK
Abu Tilamzik


NASAKSIHAN mismo ng isang aktres na magka-holding hands ang da­lawang kilalang aktor sa isang sosyal na hotel sa Hong Kong.
Itong dalawang aktor ay hindi na bago sa isyung kabadingan.
Ang unang reaksyon namin nang ikinuwento sa amin na naghu-hol­ding hands ang dalawa ay, “Ha?! Sila na naman?!”
Hindi na bago ang ganung intriga na matagal na nilang itinatanggi.
Ang isang aktor ay mas sikat sa aktor na ka-holding hands niya. Pala­gay ko, hindi niya papa­tulan ang intrigang ito dahil may bahid ng katotohanan.
Ang initials nu’ng aktor ay brand ng isang gamit pambata, na med­yo matagal-tagal nang nanahimik.
Sino naman itong aktres na nakasaksi sa kanila?
Tahimik ang maha­derang aktres dahil med­yo kuwestiyo­nable rin ang pagpunta niya ng Hong Kong kasama ang isang sikat na male celebrity.


si piolo at sam na naman ba ito? at si KRISTA RANILLO at MANNY PAQUIAO ang nagpunta sa hongkong recently na iniintriga right?

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Replies:

Subject: LONG GOWN FINALS


Author:
B
[Edit]

Date Posted: 11:30:42 11/16/09 Mon
(mail3.fenwayhealth.org/64.119.152.82)


USA


UKRAINE


SPAIN


POLAND


PHILIPPINES (In fairness, I love her gown)


PHILIPPINES


PARAGUAY


MEXICO


KOREA


INDIA


GUAM


COLOMBIA


BRAZIL

Thanks to deybid007 of youtube for the videos

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