Getting up close with newly crowned Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, one could not help but be captivated by her bubbly, funny, frank and engaging down-to-earth personality. With admirable sense of humility, the outspoken Ong is the perfect spokesperson of Miss Earth pageant’s environmental awareness programs.
In place of the traditional ticker-tape homecoming parade, a fitting victory party was given in honor of Ong upon her return from Austria where she won the Miss Earth title for the Philippines for the second straight year.
The Miss Earth Organization said that Ong’s winning would take the backseat amidst the euphoria of the controversial Miss Universe crowning of Pia Wurtzbach.
Ong, like Wurtzbach, has met criticisms from on-line bashers, especially, from Latinas and their supporters, alleging that there was fraud or that her win was rigged, which Ong, while admitting she was hurt, just took in stride.
Ong said that she worked real hard to win since Miss Earth Organization’s Carousel Productions left her on her own during the competition in Austria to assure all the delegates of equal chances.
Ong attributed her hard-earned victory to her strong drive and determination focusing on her goal to win the title even if many were not expecting a back-to-back win this year. Ong mused that she could never imagine the Miss Earth crown being placed on the head of another contestant.
Ong obliged for an interview during her victory party at the Carousel Garden:
Why did you aspire to be Miss Earth?
To be honest, I really did not know if I wanted to be a beauty queen until I tried. When I learned that there were a lot of people who believed that I could do it, my family, my friends and mentor Rodgil Flores, then that was the time that I decided to join Miss Earth Philippines.
What do you think is the best way to make the youth take care of the environment?
First and foremost, they have to be informed, to be aware of what’s happening, so they can understand on how they can help. It is important to respect and support Mother Earth because it is also a way of taking care of their future.
What do you think of the US making their military presence in the country?
Oh, that’s the Miss Universe question. I really don’t know the specifics, the whole agenda on the matter, but I don’t think that it is really needed. It’s better to have more dialogue. There’s no need to rush as this involves the ordinary citizen and the whole nation.
How do you want to be remembered as Miss Earth?
Aside from being the one who brought home a back to back win as Christmas gift to our countrymen, I wish to be remembered as someone who did not just reign for a year. I want to be in there in their minds in the 30th, 40th, or 50th Miss Earth.
What do you wish for the country?
My wish and prayers for my countrymen is that I truly hope that one day, may be not in my lifetime, but to future generations, that we could all wake up seeing a sustainable country, that we could take real care of our resources.