Twenty candidates from different countries will be presented during the evening gown competition of the Ms. Earth 2022 on Monday night at the Old Presidencia (city hall) grounds here.

The candidates arrived over the weekend, toured the city, and joined some activities in line with the city’s 74th Charter Day anniversary on Thursday while promoting their advocacies.

They are part of the total of 90 delegates from various countries who are now in the Philippines for the beauty pageant which was held virtually last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The candidates who are in town are Liliya Levaya (Belarus), Fabiane Valdivia (Bolivia), Daniela Riquelme (Chile), Abuana Nkumu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Paul Anne Estima (Haiti), Vanshika Parmar (India), Jehan Majeed (Iraq), Vonesa Alijaj (Kosovo), Nandin Sergelen (Mongolia), Diana Andimba (Namibia), Camilla Diagne (Senegal), Chawanphat Kongnim (Thailand), Indira Meneses (Mexico), Andela Draskovic (Montenegro), Esther Ajayi (Nigeria), Angjela Jakimovska (North Macedonia), Maria Rosado (Portugal), Marcie Reid (Scotland), Aura Dosoftei (Romania) and Caroline Ngabire (Uganda).

City Tourism Officer Jacqueline Veloso Antonio told the Philippine News Agency that the evening gown competition will be hosted by Destiny Wagner, Miss Earth 2021, and Michelle Gomez-Bustos, Miss Earth Air 2016.

The competition will start at 7 p.m. and admission is free, she said.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo hosted dinner for the candidates at his residence on Sunday night.

The mayor said it is an honor for the city to be a partner in this year’s search for Miss Earth 2022 considering that some of the contestants’ environmental advocacies are aligned with the city’s efforts to protect the environment. (PNA)