Text by Drew Francisco; Photos by Bong Tan
Janelle Lazo Tee was crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2019 during the finals held July 10 at Cove Manila in Okada Manila in Parañaque City.
The 27-year-old TV and events host from Pasig City bested 39 other candidates for the title and the right to represent the Philippines in Miss Earth 2019. She succeeded last year’s winner Celeste Cortesi who did not attend the coronation due to sickness.
Asked during the final question and answer round which between giving incentives for good environmental practices and penalizing bad eco habits is a better strategy to encourage more people to become environmentally conscious, she said:
“I would choose to give incentives because as a productive country we know that we have a lot of communities that truly [need] help in terms of livelihood projects and that’s what I’ve been doing with ABS-CBN Foundation, and that’s why I want to choose incentives because we have to teach them how to fish rather tha just give them a fish for a day because if you teach them how to fish then it would be there for a living and it would be there sustainably in them.”
Her elemental court included Miss Philippines Air Ana Tan of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; Miss Philippines Water Chelsea Fernandez of Tacloban City; Miss Philippines Fire Alexandra Dayrit of Marikina City; and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Karen Piccio of Maasin, Iloilo.
Hosting the coronation night were former Miss Earth winners from the Philippines Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017).
Tee previously joined Miss Philippines Earth in 2014 where she represented Davao City and placed in the Top 15. She was also a Top 13 semifinalist of Miss World Philippines 2015. She will be gunning for the Philippines fifth Miss Earth title. Missosology.Org
