Newly crowned Miss Earth 2025 Natalie Puškinová has urged solidarity and environmental responsibility as the Philippines faces the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan.
“I just want to share my prayers with all of you who are facing the typhoon. We are all in this together, as I am currently based in Manila. Please, protektahan natin ang kalikasan (let’s protect nature),” Puškinová said in a message.
The 21-year-old Czech beauty, a farmer’s daughter from the village of Brnky near Prague, is the second Ceska (Czech woman) to win the Miss Earth crown after Tereza Fajksová in 2012. She bested more than seventy delegates worldwide to succeed Miss Earth 2024 Jessica Lane.
Puškinová’s environmental platform centers on ocean protection, inspired by her experience as a certified scuba diver. She actively supports youth-led sustainability efforts through the European Solidarity Corps, a program of the European Commission that empowers young people to promote sustainable living through awareness, empathy, and action.
Now based in Manila, Puškinová and her elemental court—Miss Earth–Fire 2025 Waree Ngamkham, Miss Earth–Air 2025 Soldis Vala Ivarsdottir, and Miss Earth–Water 2025 Trinh My Anh—were named honorary ambassadors of social enterprises during the 2025 Philippine SE Roadmap Conference in Quezon City.
During the event, the Miss Earth queens shared their advocacies on river rehabilitation, climate change, and upcycling, emphasizing how small, consistent actions can lead to a cleaner, more sustainable planet.
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Araneta City’s giant Christmas tree uplifts Filipinos’ spirit
The spirit of the yuletide season brings hope to the country reeling from the impact of successive natural calamities. The lighting of Araneta City’s giant Christmas tree comes at the most opportune time to uplift the spirit of Filipinos and remind them that hope always shines through amid challenges.
Araneta City’s giant Christmas tree, first set up and lit at the Big Dome entrance in 1981 and now a cherished symbol of the holiday season, celebrates this year’s theme, “Christmas glows in the city: Built by memories, lit by hope.” The tree dazzles in festive red and gold, adorned with 3,000 pine garlands, 8,000 bright lights, and unique Christmas ornaments.
Gracing the event were Bb. Pilipinas International 2024 Myrna Esguerra, Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2025 Annabelle Mae McDonnell, Bb. Pilipinas 2025 first runner-up Dalia Varde Khattab, and Bb. Pilipinas 2025 second runner-up Kathleen Enid Espenidol.
Vice Ganda led the celebrities who performed during the program, including Joshua Garcia, PBB Collab winner Mika Salamanca and Brent Manalo, Bianca de Vera, Klarisse de Guzman, and P-pop group BGYO.
