EARTH EXCLUSIVE SECOND OFFICIAL HOTPICK

           It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves!

        Sometimes the stars may align on our favor but we have to bear in mind that only those who worked hard on achieving their dreams become victors of their own destiny. We must have to put our vision into action to make a positive impact, empower ourselves and our community in general especially our environment. As Miss Earth Philippines 2018 is already halfway with its pre-pageant activities and major pre-judging events, we already had seen the girls who stepped up their game and had given their best like its their biggest battle in life.

        Some early favorites had faded, some are just a product of hype and had no clear platforms and substance, and to some surprise, some outshone the heavy favorites of this year's batch of delegates. Earth Exclusive takes a closer look on our official top 16 hotpicks and why they deserve their spot and what are their strengths and weaknesses that needs to be enhanced or maintained. This is a pageant where you need to peak at the right time, a pageant where you walk the talk, a pageant where you serve as an ambassador of environmental goodwill and a pageant who needs a holistic winner that will become a role model that nurtures our nature.

        Placing first is Silvia Celeste Cortesi of Fil-Rome, Italy. Previously ranked second during our first hotpick, now she ranks first after her decent performance during the pre-pageant activities and the recently concluded Pre-Judging for Beauty and Poise. Take note that on our second hotpick, we puts emphasis on the official pre-judging events and put a minor emphasis on the other pre-pageant activities. Celeste, even without make up looks like a Goddess who had descended from heaven. Her very strong stage presence makes her win almost all of the pre-pageant activities to date either bronze, silver or gold. And right now, on this stage of competition, she is the biggest threat and she needs to maintain it especially that the very crucial Pre-Judging on Intelligence will takes place on the 13th and it could either cement her status as front runner or break her.

   
        Coming second is Berjayneth Chee of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental who is starting to peak at the right time. She ranked seventh on our previous hotpick and leaps five places high with our current rankings. She has a very striking presence and she needs to capitalize on her youthful aura and bubbly personality. She delivers her best when she needs it the most and one of the delegates with the best facial features. Honestly, even without make-up she is stage ready.

        Gabrielle Camille Basiano of Tacloban City needs not so much effort in beauty department. She maintains her position and still ranked third on our second hotpick. She is still young but with her towering figure and western features, you will surely take her seriously. Even if she will don a simple look and style, she will still look pretty and will stand out. 

        Notching our fourth spot is Marra Cristy Dianne Silvosa of Cateel, Davao Oriental by leaping six places high from our previous hotpick. She came from a very strong batch of Mindanao delegates and she is fighting her chances to be the next Miss Earth Philippines 2018. Without a doubt, after watching her live, she will fare better especially on the swimsuit competition as she has this strong appeal that will capture you. She never fails her big online following with her many awards during the pre-pageant activities that had already concluded. She is a girl who works hard on her dream and we felt it too.

        A pretty face occupies our fifth spot, she is Lea Macapagal of Dinalupihan, Bataan. One of the standouts during the Pre-judging of Beauty and Poise. Even without make-up, she is naturally beautiful. Being one of the delegates with best facial features work on her advantage and right now she needs to work out on another aspect that will make her a holistic individual.

        Our sentimental favorite is fastly climbing up the ranks of our hotpick, Halimatu Yushawu of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay is ranked seventh on our second hotpick moving seven places high and she is proving it why she should be there. After our first impression that she is fading, she surely works out her weakness and is now slaying the runways of Miss Earth Philippines bragging medals from different pre-pageant activities. She is an audience favorite, knows how to play with the audience and it is her biggest strength that she should utilize. She has a very good command on stage and if she maintains it, surely, an elemental crown is up for her sans intelligence round. 

        Seventh is a surprise. who would have thought that this girl from Laak, Compostela Valley will rank this high on her first time being on our hotpick. Princess Faye Fernandez is fighting for the biggest thing that had happened on her life and she is giving her best like there's no tomorrow. She is giving other strong delegates right now a strong competition and if she maintains her energy, she is probably one of the girls who will be part of our foreseen Mindanao domination at the finals, the first on any national pageant in the Philippines that often took for granted Mindanao lass.

        Notching one place high from our previous hotpick is Cindy Lynn Clapano of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte. This 4P's scholar from MSU-IIT who already passed her Psychometrician board exam at the age of 20 is one of the strongest delegate this year without fanfare and hype. She just give her best despite all the struggles she had been through and she is one of the few girls we liked during the no make-up round as her filipina features really stood out without make up. Honestly, she is one of the girls with best facial features and oftentimes throughout the competition her make up look doesn't fit with her so she needs to work out on how she enhance herself with a better make up. And we look forward on how she will perform during the Pre-Judging on Intelligence this 13th of May.

        Jean de Jesus of San Rafael, Bulacan is one of the strong girls from Luzon and she ranked ninth on our current hotpick, two notches down from her previous rank. She is a very determined girl and we can see how she wanted badly to win  the Miss Earth Philippines 2018 crown. She's almost there on realizing her dreams so she needs to equip herself a better game plan that could propel her to the top. The one thing we find about her is that sometimes, her makeup often looks strong, she needs to soften it a bit and everything is perfect. Strong stage presence, good communication skills, what else does she need for, we think everything is under her bag and she just need to keep moving forward.

        Ten is a lucky number and currently Zahra Bianca Saldua of Las Pinas City occupies our tenth spot, one notch high from her previous rank. She is pretty, no doubt about that but on stage she often overdo things, just keep it simple and you will surely win the coveted Miss Earth Philippines 2018 title. A complete package waiting for the right timing and she will surely soar to the top once the Pre-Judging of Intelligence will conclude on May 13. She will always be on our radar as she is one of our sentimental favorites to win and we only wants the best for her. We know that when she needs to step up her game, she will go all out and will become victor of her own destiny.

        Our heart was broken after Marla Alforque of Cebu City was ranked eleventh on our current rankings. She is the early frontrunner of this batch but midway through the competition she was clearly fading and was upstaged by others who is slowly peaking at the right time. Right now, she needs to utilize her environmental advocacy and focus on her platforms why she should be the next Miss Earth Philippines. After all, Miss Earth Philippines is a meritocratic pageant who value delegates that walks the talk and delegates who is always ready in action when environmental protection is at stake. She needs to use her strength, get wisdom from people who can empower her and get her back on the right track. Its a long way to go and we know she will came back with a bang.

        At first, we thought Visayas is the strongest of this batch but as week progresses, Mindanaoan delegates are giving other region a hard time. All the girls from Mindanao is giving all their best and one of them is Joanna Krystel Cabrezos of Zamboanga City. She ranked twelfth on our rankings, maintaining the same spot from our previous ranking. She needs to step up knowing that Mindanao is a very strong region and the slots might be limited unless they are judged regarding of their performance and no regional slots is at stake. 

        Maintaining the same spot for thirteenth place is Nathalie Louise Roxas of Dumaguete City. She is beautiful but looks raw on stage and she needs to work this out. She must double up her effort in order for her to win the next Miss Earth Philippines 2018 crown. 

        Fourteenth spot goes to the sweet Leandrea Gabrielle Batingan of San Jose Del Monte City. She is one of the girl who stood out from the weak Luzon batch and she needs to utilize it on her favor. She needs to upstage them so that she will become memorable and everything will be alright. Despite being young, her determination and passion to do better doesn't deter her to compete with the veterans and it is one of her edge. We look forward regarding the change of her game plan and setting her goals on being the next Miss Earth Philippines 2018.

        Pageant veteran Brazzirie Yanson of Fil-Vienna, Austria was tenth places below from her previous ranking and it breaks our heart again because we know how dedicated and passionate she is to become the next Miss Earth Philippines 2018. She currently ranked fifteenth and she needs to give her alas especially that this edition of Miss Earth Philippines will come to close in coming weeks. She needs to find her core, the main reason why she join this pageant and needs to overhaul her game plan. If she succeed then she will surely give others a good fight and we are hoping she will.

        Completing our top sixteen is Ma. Divine Angela Verangga of Paranaque City. She is beautiful but still needs a lot of improvement, she just need to work out her stage presence. We like her during the no make-up round and despite not doing good at other pre-pageant activities, her strong showing at the pre-judging leads her to our hotpick and we hope she will work on the other dimensions that will make her stronger and better because she has a huge potential.

      

        Few more days to go and this year's pre-pageant activities will wrap up as the girls will focus next on their rehearsals for the biggest environmental beauty event in the country happening at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 19th. And as of now, they need to perform better on this crucial stage of competition especially during the upcoming Pre-Judging of Intelligence that could either make or break them. We knew that all the girls are giving their best and this is a competition where there are winners, so keep the competition healthy and focus on your goals and no matter what happened, what matters most is that you give your best and you enjoy it. In the end, the winners is not us but our next generation who had a role model  that is serious with her environmental advocacy and is ready to take the challenge of protecting our Mother Earth. Being a Miss Earth Philippines is not a one day job or a  one year ambassadorial work, it is a lifetime commitment on greening our planet.