Wafer Models for Miss Philippines-Earth

CEBU, Philippines - Long-limbed beauties from the Cebu-based modeling agency Wafer Models are enlisted as among the 50 official candidates to this year’s Miss Philippines-Earth search. This was model agent Marlon Wafer’s bit of news to The FREEMAN, when we chanced upon him during the launch of Mandaue City’s 2012 Fiesta schedule of entertainment activities at Parkmall’s West Atrium.

With pageant preliminaries slated to begin by early May and coronation night scheduled on May 27th, his models are in the heat of preparation not only to enhance their physicality, but to also grow knowledgeable on environmental issues and advocacies, an aspect that the Miss Philippines-Earth organization is known to give considerable weight on.

Last year, Cebu City had a bet in the name of Murielle Adrienne Orais, who then went on to bag the Miss Philippines-Water title. This time around and not surprisingly, the province of Cebu will still be ably represented.

Twenty-year-old Maria Genefe Navilon, a 5'7''-tall morena, will be representing Mandaue City. She was last year’s Miss Mandaue second runner-up (third runner-up originally, but moved up one rank when the Miss Mandaue winner resigned around December 2011 to accept an international job offer), Mutya ng Samar 2011 first runner-up, Miss Anyag 2010 and Miss CAS, CIT-U 2007. An aspiring journalist and news anchor, Navilon will begin her final year as a Mass Communication major at the University of San Jose-Recoletos this coming June.

“I was very skinny when I was young so I was always teased. I didn't care about my appearance and rarely fixed my hair or dressed up. I developed a fascination for reading fiction at an early age and had a special interest in journalism. I was a consistent honor student, but I wasn't very popular and I rarely got noticed,” the Cebuana reveals in her profile at the pageant’s official website.

Her environmental advocacy is to promote a green or sustainable lifestyle in all communities. She feels that sustainable living would immensely help in preventing global environmental degradation.

“I believe in the significance of the government's role in promoting this and educating the people that a little alteration in their lifestyles can go a long way in saving our environment. I encourage everyone to use alternative sources of energy,” Navilon said.

Another Miss Philippines-Earth aspirant from the Wafer Models roster is Zeneline Bulalaque, representing the Municipality of Batuan, Bohol. Standing at 5'6'', this 20-year-old Boholana is studying Occupational Therapy at Cebu Doctor's University. Her goal is to become a patriotic occupational therapist. Bulalaque said she would like to serve the country and at the same time, be a beauty queen and model.

What environmental subject matter is she most passionate about? “I want to incorporate into society tree-planting for both land and sea. This is because evidence of deforestation due to illegal logging is transparent in our locality. The mangrove trees, where fish, seaweeds and other sea creatures make their homes are also decreasing. I would also promote the use of wind energy. If the government could implement this, not only do we save the environment from the harsh pollutants fossil fuels emit, we also help our economy as we would no longer depend on the rise and fall of petroleum prices in the world market. Rich or poor, every household in our country would have lights in their homes.”

Then there’s Cristlet Rase Gerona who will wear on her sash Pagadian City of Zamboanga del Sur. She also spent time in Cebu as a nursing student at Cebu Doctor’s University. Gerona, 21, became a registered nurse just this January. The 5'6'.5”-tall Miss Philippines-Earth candidate was named Miss Pagadian in 2011.

This gal is a strong advocate of selling and buying products made from recycled materials. It’s something close to her heart, because it’s a cause her city government fully supports; in fact, they have livelihood projects where trash is converted into cash. According to Gerona, “Not only does it show that Filipinos are creative and resourceful, it also allows us to do our part in saving our beloved Mother Earth.”

Non-Wafer Models who will also be waving the banner of Cebu in this 12th edition of Miss Philippines-Earth are 19-year-old nursing student Janica Burasca for Cebu City (she won the Cebu leg of Ms. Olive-C Model Search 2011), 20-year-old nursing graduate Lucena Rose Magdadaro for the Municipality of Borbon and 25-year-old former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Princess Manzon for the Municipality of San Francisco.

Best of luck ladies!

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Photos by: JAY DALUMPINES

Locale: Cristlet's shoot at IMPERIAL PALACE WATERPARK RESORT AND SPA; Genefe and Zeneline's shoot at SHANGRI-LA'S MACTAN RESORT AND SPA