YLLANA Marie Aduana relinquished her Miss Philippines Earth crown to Irha Mel Alfeche of Matanao, Davao del Sur in ceremonies held in Bukidnon on Saturday, May 11.
Also joining Aduana to mark the end of her reign as national queen were her 2023 Miss Earth “sisters,” Miss Earth Drita Ziri from Albania, Miss Earth-Water Do Thi Lan Ahn from Vietnam, and Miss Earth-Fire Cora Bliault from Thailand. The Filipino beauty was crowned Miss Earth-Air in the international competition.
The new queen bested 28 other aspirants in the final competition held in the town of Talakag, following a series of auxiliary events held in in the town of Malitbog and in Iligan City, also in Mindanao. Two events were held in the Visayas, the Beach Wear Competition in Borongan, Eastern Samar, and the Long Gown Competition took place in Toledo City, Cebu.
Aside from the main winner, four new “elemental” queens were also crowned — Miss Philippines-Air Feliz Recentes of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte; Miss Philippines-Water Samantha Bug-os from Baco, Oriental Mindoro; Miss Philippines-Fire Kia Labiano from Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay; and, Miss Philippines Ecotourism Ira Patricia Malaluan from Batangas City.
Alfeche will represent the Philippines in the 24th Miss Earth pageant to be held in Vietnam later this year, and try to become the fifth Filipino woman to win the international title.
The Philippines is the best-performing country in the Miss Earth pageant with four winners — Karla Henry in 2008, Jamie Herrell in 2014, Angelia Ong in 2015, and Karen Ibasco in 2017. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
