NAGBITIW na si Imelda Schweighart noong Lunes ng hapon mula sa kanyang tungkulin bilang Miss Philippines-Earth makaraang lumabas ang video mula sa fan na nagpapakitang bina-bash niya ang bagong hirang na si Miss Earth Katherine Espin ng Ecuador.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagbitiw ang kasalukuyang Miss Philippines-Earth mula sa kanyang tungkulin sa buong 16-taong kasaysayan ng patimpalak.
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Inihayag ng mga source na tinanggap ng Carousel Production, organizer ng taunang pageant, ang resignation ng Filipino-German beauty queen na kasama ang kanyang ina na si Annabeth Bautista at trainer na si Rodgil Flores ng Kagandahang Flores beauty camp sa isang pakikipagpulong kay Lorraine Schuck, executive vice president ng Carousel Productions.
Sinabi ni Bautista na nais lamang niyang protektahan ang kanyang anak mula sa bashing na natatangap nito sa social media.
“It was a voluntary resignation,” ani Schuck, na tinanggap ang voluntary resignation dakong 5:52 ng hapon noong Lunes.
Si Kiara Giel Gregorio, na nakatira sa United Kingdom at nanalo ng Miss Philippines Air 2016 noong Hunyo, ang inaasahang papalit bilang Miss Philippines-Earth 2016.
Humingi na ng paumanhin si Schweighart, 21-anyos, kay Espin hinggil sa kanyang negatibong komento, sa isang interbyu sa CNN Philippines.
“If it’s a crime to tell the truth, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend Miss Ecuador… I don’t know her enough but she was my roommate,” pahayag ng beauty queen mula Palawan.
Ibinunyag ni Schweighart na si Espin mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya na nagparetoke ito.
“You put a side of a person’s integrity out there. What is that? Hindi makabayan ‘yon,” dagdag niya.
“Honestly, I’m not bitter. I’m just offended. Why? Because the gown that I was supposed to wear was given to Ecuador.
I was fitted the gown. I was just so offended. That time, I’m still in the heat of the moment, the gown that was placed in Miss Philippines’ cubicle was taken. That box, my gown named after me… I wasn’t able to wear it. Even Miss Guam made me borrow her gown… because I have nothing to wear,” paliwanag ng Filipino-German beauty queen.
Sa video na nag-viral pagkatapos ng coronation night noong Oktubre 29, nagwika si Schweighart na, “’Yung nanalo peke ilong, peke baba, peke boobs! Miss Earth, dapat natural.”
“I was talking to my supporters, thinking I would be comfortable with them… They went there to support me, they know what I have been through, the hurt I have been through in this pageant,” ani Schweighart, na nabigong makapasok sa Top 16 ng pageant.
“Akala ko lang they would understand, but someone took a video from afar and posted (it) online, a side of me that everyone has,” aniya. “It was supposed to be private, but they put it out in public.”
MISS EARTH ESPIN, NAGSALITA
Samantala, sinabi ni Espin na inirerespeto niya ang desisyon ni Schweighart na i-give up ang korona bilang Miss Earth-Philippines 2016.
“I believe that each one of us has her own decision towards life, whether you want to do something or not. She is a woman; she has dreams. If she decided this, it’s her decision. She’s a grown up already and she knows what best for her,” ani Espin sa isang interbyu ng ABS-CBN.
“I’ve heard some rumors, some things that aren’t going on. I don’t know why it’s happening but I respect her as a woman and I will eventually clarify all the rumors, we will clarify so there will be no misunderstanding,” dagdag niya.
Ibinahagi rin ni Espin na excited na siya magsimula sa kanyang mga tungkulin bilang Miss Earth 2016.
“I am very committed to work as Miss Earth. I have so many projects in mind,” aniya. “I really want to dedicate the whole year on working for the environment. I will leave everything else in my life and just focus on my reign as Miss Earth.” (ROBERT R. REQUINTINA)
