Cebu’s Nathaniel Tiu crowned Mr. Earth Int’l 2024 in Colombia

CEBU, Philippines —  It was his late mother that was still foremost on Cebuano educator Nathaniel Tiu’s mind as he represented the country at the Mister Earth International 2024 finals, held August 18 (Philippine time) in Santa Marta, Colombia.

During the Q&A, the 29-year-old said, “The greatest advice I received from my mother was to always have faith, and having faith means loving and respecting all of God’s creation, including the environment. I am a man of faith, and a man of faith is a man of God, and a man of God is a man of the Earth.”

Tiu had shared to The FREEMAN in interviews last year that his mother was his main motivation for resurfacing in the pageant scene after years of focusing on his career.

“I felt a huge satisfaction in being able to fulfill my mama’s dream. It felt like a massive relief,” he told The FREEMAN last year after winning a title at Mister International Philippines. “I didn’t plan to join pageants again after 10 years, but my mom was the driving force behind why I rejoined.”

The Cebu City native bested 20 other candidates to win the main title of Mister Earth International 2024, concluding more than a year’s wait to compete abroad after he was crowned Mister International Philippines-Earth in June 2023.

Tiu was also awarded with the Best Ecological Project for his advocacy that is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

As a mining engineer, he has “witnessed firsthand the effects of mining and the efforts to mitigate its negative impact on the environment.”

“From our phones to the electricity we use, they all come from mining. But that doesn’t mean I support irresponsible and illegal mining. Responsible mining involves activities that protect and conserve the environment. An example would be planting seedlings in mined areas.”

Tiu’s advocacy was also embodied in his national costume designed by Patrick Isorena and inspired by the Northern Luzon legend Berberoka – typically portrayed as an ogre-like creature that camouflages with its environment.

“Often concealing itself in dry riverbeds, it patiently awaits the arrival of unsuspecting humans who try to damage the aquatic and terrestrial environment,” Isorena explained in a Facebook post following Tiu’s win

“In the tropical regions where Berberokas are most common, locals know to avoid empty ponds, despite the enticing fish flopping about. Hungry travelers, however, might see such bounty as a blessing from the gods, only to be swept up in the Berberoka’s deadly deluge.”

The Mister International Philippines-Visayas organization, led by its regional director Lemuel Rosos, hailed Tiu in a post on its Facebook page. “Your hard work, dedication, and passion have truly paid off, and you’ve made the entire Philippines proud. This victory is not just yours, but a win for all who believe in making a positive impact on our planet. Here’s to the start of a new journey as Mister Earth!”

Mister Earth International 2024’s winning circle also included Ecuador’s Ivan Andres Carrera as Mister Earth-Air 2024, Costa Rica’s Diego Gonzalez Argueda as Mister Earth Water 2024, and Puerto Rico’s Kidanny Flores Guzmán as Mister Earth Fire 2024.

Tiu was notably the only Asian candidate in this year’s competition, which was dominated by participants from Spain, North America, and South America.