THE INAUGURAL MISS ECONEST 2018 BEAUTY PAGEANT
Noli A. Berioso for OPMBworldwide
Eighteen gorgeous women were presented to the members of the media as official candidates of the inaugural year of Miss Econest 2018 held at the Bagumbayan Function Hall of Quezon City Sports Club along E. Rodriguez, QC. Miss Econest 2018 is a nationwide search for the most beautiful and intelligent women who will serve as the ambassador for promoting environmental awareness, particularly in the area of proper solid waste management. This event is organized and promoted by Econest Waste Management Corporation in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bataan. Econest is the private partner of the Local Government Unit of Hermosa, Bataan, for the rehabilitation, operation and expansion of the Hermosa Sanitary Landfill Facility. Part of its advocacy is to promote awareness on proper solid waste management as an entry point for Sustainable Development. The event, which will be directed by Mutya ng Pilipinas Pageant Director Concon Siñel, will focus on “Sustainable Fashion” as a tool to elevate the use of recycled or upcycled materials as the new status symbol for the elite. The pageant is thus slated to be the first in the world to be using only recycled and upcycled materials in every segment thereof. The Pageant’s Design and Fashion Director, renowned avant garde fashion designer and environmental activist, Estien Quijano, leads the country’s top fashion and accessory designers, as well as the Institute of Creative Entrepreneurship students in making the evening gowns and the cover up for the swimwear from sanitized fabric, leather trimmings, and accoutrements recovered from the Hermosa Sanitary Landfill Facility. On the other hand, the candidates’ swimwear will be made by Bb. Pilipinas’ official swimsuit provider, Mr. Domz Ramos, while the crown and scepter will be created by Dr. Jerome Navarro, a physician by profession who is also a jeweler and officer of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines. Accessories will be created by top accessories designer and stylist, Christopher Munar. Part of the proceeds of this event will go to the proposed Ecoguardians Foundation, which will be a non-stock non-profit organization of volunteers from different sectors including, but not limited to: senior citizens, youths, solo parents, persons with disabilities, barangay health workers, farmers, fisherfolk, and the like, who have been effective partners of the local government units implement proper solid waste management practices within their respective territories. Through this Foundation, Econest also plans to set up a Shelter for Abused Women and Children within the premises of the Hermosa Sanitary Landfill Facility, with skills training on recycling and upcycling waste materials as one of the tools for the rehabilitation and therapy of victims of domestic abuse, bullying and human trafficking. Econest’s objective for the Pageant is not only to find beauty and brains among the millions of Filipinas who are eligible for any beauty contest, but someone with a big heart for environmental protection and humanity as a whole. Econest seeks to inspire its stakeholders with the Pageant winner as the face for promoting proper solid waste management; to speak to the audience for and on behalf of humanity about sustainable development through proper solid waste management. Coronation Night is on October 27 at Subic in Olongapo City.