MANILA, Philippines — A favorite right from the start, Yllana Marie Aduana bested 27 other delegates to win this year's Miss Philippines Earth title.
The beauteous and curvy representative of Siniloan, Laguna breezed through all the stages of competition, and even won the hotly-contested Swimsuit Round. She was also named Miss Hana at the coronation night held on Saturday, April 29, at the Toledo City Sports Center in Cebu.
Pageant fans and supporters believe that Aduana will bring her winning streak to the international finals. She has, by winning the national title, redeemed herself from her loss from the Binibining Pilipinas pageant last year, where she placed in the Top 12.
Enviromental warrior
Her advocacy on Earth Education, where she conducts periodic symposia on environmental issues, has been gaining ground among the youth in her community in Laguna.
The pageant's theme this year is "ME Love 20 Tree," and Yllana chose the coconut, also known as the tree of life.
During the final question and answer last night, the Laguna beauty nailed the question: "What do you think people in the future would say about your generation?"
"I would definitely say that our generation, although misconstrued as very ardent, I would have to say that we use our voice for a reason, and that is to always speak up for the things that we know are right, and for the things that we know we deserve, that is why we are very ardent about it," Aduana answered.
"And that is why I am also conducting colloquiums on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their interconnectedness to the nature in the hopes to precipitate people's eco-consciousness because our future [are] the linebackers and pioneers of environmental amelioration, and we should always take advantage of it at all costs," the licensed medical laboratory scientist added.
The Centro Escolar University alumna wore her advocacy that night by donning a stunning piece of art for her evening gown — a halterneck with side cutouts embellished with 5,000 safety pins designed by Ken Batino.
"Like a safety pin, we hold critical things together. And as women, we hold the earth together," the newly crowned queen wrote on Instagram.