October 22, 2024 –  This year’s Miss Earth Water group delegates have graced the school grounds of Rizal Technological University and shared a fun-filled engagement with the RTU students as part of the Miss Earth 2024 Schools Tour and Environmental Protection Campaign Activity.

RTU welcomed the 23 Miss Earth delegates as they arrived in the university quadrangle in the Boni Campus, where they were set to promote the Environmental Protection Advocacy Campaign of the esteemed environmental-focused “beauties for a cause” pageant to the students. The singing of the national anthem, doxology, Bagong Pilipinas hymn, and RTU hymn were led by the RTU’s very own Himig Rizalia and accompanied by Tunog Rondalla at the SNAGAH Bldg. Penthouse where the event proper was held. A welcome message was delivered by Instr. Ralph Imperial as the representative from the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration (OVPFA), followed by a message of support from Dr. Mark Santos, Director of the Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK).

The beauties from Miss Earth individually shared their environmental advocacies with the students, which included a wide range of environmental and humanitarian efforts and advocacy. From Miss Earth USA’s advocacy for the intersection between climate change, human displacement, and the need to adapt the international refugee laws to the ongoing climate crisis, Miss Earth Philippines’ home gardening advocacy, Miss Earth Wales’ advocacy for pollinator preservation such as bees and butterflies, to Miss Earth Argentina’s advocacy for environmental education and call for collective action for a sustainable future, this year’s candidates are indeed committed in various efforts towards a sustainable environmental future.

The participative RTU laboratory high school students also challenged the wit of our guests with various environmental advocacy-related questions that almost made the delegates feel as if the Miss Earth pageant is already happening right there and then.

Kultura Rizalia also showcased performances that highlighted the Filipino heritage, showing off not only the talent of the RTUians but also the colorful culture shared by Filipinos. The performers also gave the delegates an unexpected opportunity to experience the traditional Filipino folk dance, tinikling.

The event ended with Himig Rizalia singing Miss Earth’s official theme song, Woman of the Earth after the delegates taught the students about the 5Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, and Respect.