Olga Alava from Ecuador  Starts Her Reign as Miss Earth

“The new Miss Earth will come from this batch,” my psychic editor was telling me as we, along with some other media colleagues, watched a swimwear fashion show at the poolside of the plush Pontefino Hotel in Batangas City. Parading this cool evening – caused by a heavy drizzle earlier in the afternoon –  were 29 (out of 80) Miss Earth delegates, a batch representing as many countries from all four continents.

Watching the TV coverage of the Miss Earth final pageant a day or two after that Batangas outing, I was glad to see that fashion model Olga Alava from Ecuador was herself incredibly surprised that she won the title and the crown from last year’s Nicole Faria from India. My editor’s gut feel was right; he was not surprised – in Pontefino, her femininely rounded figure in a white and aquamarine bikini was a complete tease.

“Get acquainted with the mangroves near your area and know their importance. Be vigilant toward activities happening in your surrounding areas and keep an open eye to note destruction in mangrove areas,” Alava, now the fairest of the so-called “Earth warriors” in the environment-themed beauty pageant, said after the contest held in the UP Diliman theater.

Alava’s 2011 Court of Honor includes: Miss Earth Air (or first runner-up) – Driely Bennetone of Brazil; Miss Earth Water (or second runner-up) Athena Imperial of the Philippines; and Miss Earth Fire (or third runner-up) – Caroline Medina of Venezuela.

Other candidates who made Miss Earth’s top 16 were Aleksandra Kovacevic, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Nina Astrakhantseva, Crimea; Casandra Becerra, Mexico; Thandi Muringa, Zimbabwe; Cherry Liu, Chinese Taipei; Tomoko Maeda, Japan; Nicole Huber, Paraguay; Rebecca Kim Lekse, Slovenia; Renate Cerljen, Sweden; Niratcha Tungtisanont; and Kristina Oparina, Ukraine.

Winners of special awards were Sanober Hussain, Pakistan, Miss Friendship; Liu, Chinese Taipei, Miss Photogenic-Ever Bilena; Maeda, Japan, Best in National Costume; Sarka Cojocarova, Czech Republic; Becerra, Mexico, Best in Long Gown; Dominique Mann, South Africa, Best in Talent; and Medina, Venezuela, Miss New Placenta (Psalmstre).

This year’s judges were Zubin Gandevia, COO-Asia Pacific & Middle East, Fox International Channels; Jean-Pierre Grivory, President Director General at Cofinluxe S.A., creator of the world-famous Salvador Dali perfumes; Philippe Charriol, founder and CEO of the Charriol Group, makers of Philippe Charriol watches; Nguyen Cong Khe, chairman, Thanh Nien Media Corporation, Director of the Nguyen Thai Binh Scholarship, chairman and founder of the Vietnam talent fund; businessman Jacinto Ng, Jr.; Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson; Daniele Ponzi, lead environment specialist, Asian Development Bank; Vivien Tan, singer and entrepreneur from Singapore, host of StarAsia Travel, an Asia wide travel program for StarTV; Vivienne Tan, educator, entrepreneur, and environment advocate and social worker; Patrick Durst, senior forestry officer for Asia and the Pacific of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; and twins Dave and Anthony Semerad, top Ateneo basketball players.

About Olga Alava

Q & A (From the Files of Miss Earth Foundation)

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?

My principal project is to preserve the Mother Earth; to help in taking care of the forests which give us the air to live, and the habitats for biodiversity. Campaigns dedicated to children and teenagers –  teaching them the importance of preserving and planting. The project for my country will be to help preserve the Yasuni national park reserve by promoting its importance abroad.

What makes you proud of the country you are representing, and what can you promote about your country?

Ecuador is a very rich country in cultural and biodiversity (with its animals and plants, it is in the list of the most diverse countries in the world).  The majority area is jungle and the most high mangroves in the world are located at the north of my country – no other country can take travelers from a beautiful perfect beach to the highlands and then to the jungle of the Amazon in the same day. It is small in kilometers but big in biodiversity. I will promote my country as a complement to the world and complete for a sustainable development that have to be preserved.

Another super important part is that Ecuador got the Galapagos Islands which have a variety of species which were studied by Charles Darwin. The islands are famous for its fauna specially for its turtles.

On the other hand, Ecuador has the National Park Yasuni – it means ‘sacred land’ – which have 10000 kms of mostly jungle, denomitades the Unesco Biosphere Reserve, that is why I promote the preservation of Yasuni because is a lung for the world.

Describe your childhood/growing years.

When I was 8 my little sister was born – a very happy year as we were a complete family and a new member of the family arrived. We visited a lot the grandmother’s farm where we played in the river and practiced fishing, also, along with my cousins, we climbed trees for the fruits. I remember my parents who bought a big refrigerator in which cartons my little sister, my brother and I played a lot simulating it was a big house – because we were almost the same age so we were able to have the same fun.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?

That the family is the most important thing in the world. That we have to work hard to maintain it united with much love; to share moments and supporting each one’s  decisions. Strong families make it a priority to spend time together, and are committed to each other and this is an example of my family. Also I learned that is important to establish something the whole family enjoys doing together, like a hobby, or a form of exercise, cycling or hiking so can be enjoyable time spent. On the other hand, we have to take care of the earth because it nourishes us and the people we love.
What is your most memorable moment?

I have a memorable moment just few months ago – when I did a party in Mother’s Day for mothers infected with HIV and then in Children’s Day for children with HIV. After the celebration – which was all full of food, people, gifts –it showed that people really want to spent time and give some love; the mothers and children felt and encouraged and they were so grateful – that made me feel a better person just watching them smiling, feeling love and enjoying the party that was made with all the possible love and dedication.

And some sad memorable moment I had also just weeks ago. As I always took out of the hospital a boy who is about  8 years old to the cinema or to eat or buy stuff and he knew I was going to travel abroad to China, he started crying when I arrived in the hospital. Telling me that he loves me, he was afraid I would never go back to see him again – that really makes me feel sad in that moment and make conscious of how happy you can make a child just by giving a little of your time.

What is your environmental advocacy?

Preserving the forests and making campaigns and people conscious to plant and preserve what already exist as the forests are the lungs of the world.

Also not to throw trash on the floor. And every time there is the opportunity to separate the biodegradable and non-biodegradable, I will do it because it is important to recycle and that everything can be reused. Also I try to be aware that people don’t throw garbage and if I see it I will try to teach or take the trash away and put it in the place where it has to be. Also for me is very interesting to promote my country for its environment as we are rich in biodiversity and own a lot kind of animals and plants that other countries don’t. Finally, some time ago I start to feel interested in the Yasuni project which is to preserve it. It is now my principal project.