Chrisitine Glory Hikilan Balboa the lone Palawan’s bet from San Vicente will represent Palawan on the upcoming Ms. Philippines Earth 2022.
Balboa, 27 years old, graduate of Petroleum Engineering in Palawan State University, former Mutya ng Palawan 2013 and co-founded Palawan Real-Estate Ph.
In a press conference, Balboa shared that with her knowledge in Petroleum Engineering and found her passion in real estate her advocacy was made “Green Engineering towards eco-sustainable development” which aims on protecting timberlands and forestlands, where she pushed herself and join the pageantry.
“Since I’am a graduate of Petroleum Engineering ‘yun lang po hindi ako nag push through sa carrer na ‘yun [Petroleum Engineering] nakita ko po ‘yung passion ko in a real state, but not because I’m in real state nakalimutan ko na ang nature ko as an engineer,” Balboa said.
“The reason why I Ms. Philippines Earth kasi by the nature hindi ito arte arte lang, I grew up na having a heart that is close to the environment so kaya po nag real-state nandoon ako sa ‘protection of timberlands and forest land’ and then inapply ko ang engineering skills ko so nilagyan ko po ng tag line ‘yung advocacy na ‘Green Engineering towards eco-sustainable development’,” she added.
Balboa is optimistic on her personal standing on the pageant.
“So far maganda po standing natin sa Ms. Philippines Earth ‘yung pinaka mababang rank prediction ko po is rank 5 to the crown, minimake sure ko po na hindi maalis dun every prediction every challenge po [online challenges] sa Ms. Philippines Earth page I’m making sure nag preprepare ako,” Balboa said.
Through the journey of Ms. Earth Philippines, Balboa also shared how she handled being emotionally challenged and how the 9 years out of the pageant help her go through the journey with a limited budget.
“Emotionally challenging pero nakatulong po siguro ‘yung experience ko 9 years outside pageantry, like in real life experience, meron po akong kasabihan na ‘if you cannot handle stress, you cannot handle success’,” she stressed.
“Minsan po na heaheart broken po ako pag ka halimbawa ‘yung co-candidate ko ang ganda ng production niya kasi nga po well budgeted siya minsan naapectuhan ako na ito lang kinaya ng team ko, minsan nasasaktan ako hindi ko napapakain ng maayos ang team ko pero lumalaban kame,”
In her remarks, Balboa asks for support of the Government and public officials on her journey.
“Doon po sa mga officials natin gusto ko lang po sabihin na kelangan ko po ng supporta ‘yun lang po and then hindi naman po kayo mapapahiya sa akin ‘I’am a woman with a real advocacy and tingin ko pa kayang-kaya ko po itong laban na to, kelangan ko lang po ng supporta sa ibang bagay,” she said.
The tentative date for the coronation of Ms. Earth Philippines is on August 6, 2022 to be held in Coron, Palawan.