Samantha Viktoria Acosta is MPE 2017 Darling of the Press

An 18-year-old entrepreneur from Pulilan, Bulacan was named Darling of the Press during a special presentation held at Diamond Hotel in Manila last July 5.

Samantha Viktoria Acosta won a gold medal after members of the press voted as their favorite among the 40 candidates in the 16th edition of the pageant.

Kim de Guzman of Olongapo City won silver medal while Anne Krishia Antonio of Porac, Pampanga; and Catherine Tabaniag, of Panglao, Bohol tied for bronze medal for the same special award.

At the press presentation, the candidates of the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 beauty pageant vowed to help save Mother Earth during their advocacy.

Acosta said that she was promoting "Green Time" for the youth. "Green Time is an environmental awareness campaign aimed at the youth. The program encourages them to allot at least 5 minutes of their time every day to do something meaningful for the environment."

"I intend to do this by creating environmental awareness, building a connection between the youth, the community and the environment and changing their perception about the environment through experiential environmental activities,"Acosta added.

Guzman said that her advocacy focuses on eco-tourism.

"The Philippines is one of the best countries in the world that is known for its naturally beautiful tourist destinations. Now it’s time to influence people to be an Eco tourist. A responsible traveller who will help conserve the environment and the well being of the present and future generation," said de Guzman, who won silver medal for the same special award.

Antonio said: "My advocacy is educating the business community on proper waste management and plastic reduction through the human resources department."

On the other hand, 18-year-old Tabaniag said: "My advocacy is youth empowerment through education which has a slogan of 'My Earth, my responsibility'. I already started this cause in my own Municipality of Panglao by conducting a 'Bukas-Aklat Project' to the out-of-school children to give them the mindset that they are the hope of the future to integrate the values of a Filipino as a nature lover."

Organizers of the environment-driven contest said that pageant fans will get to witness for the first time the never-before-seen process of pre-judging event.

For the first time in pageantry, Miss Philippines Earth will deviate from the standard pre-judging practices, they said.

"In this age of social media, netizens can now follow the pageant every step of the way as we take them with us to the most controversial part of the pageant to reveal what goes on during the usual closed-door selection process which determines the finalized names we announce on coronation night," said Ramon Monzon, chairman and CEO.

The 40 candidates will be chosen based on three categories - Beauty of Figure and Form, Beauty of Face and Poise, and Intelligence and Dedication.

"I was always asked why or how a delegate made it to the finals. Now they can fr themselves," said EVP Lorraine E. Schuck.

The grand coronation of the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 pageant night will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in July 15 at 7 p.m. The next day, July 16, it will be broadcast on ABS CBN at 10 a.m. - ROBERT REQUINTINA