Visayan Daily Star
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Andy Alvarez photo
Miss Philippines Earth Sandra Seifert, right, and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Grizelda Adelantar feed Eva*
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Andy Alvarez photo
Miss Philippines Earth Sandra Seifert, right, and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Grizelda Adelantar feed Eva*
Miss Philippines Earth Sandra Seifert of Negros Occidental and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Grizelda Adelantar of Victorias City yesterday pledged to promote the preservation of endangered wildlife, many of which are found on Negros Island.
The two beauties visited the Biodiversity Conservation Center of the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation Inc. in Bacolod City and fed Eva, a Visayan spotted deer (Cervus alfredi), endemic to the Visayan islands.
The spotted deer was formerly reported to be only in the islands of Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, Negros, Panay and Samar, but is now thought to remain only on the islands of Negros and Panay. NFEFI is home to 12 of them.
“Feeding Eva was one of my most favorite experiences,” Seifert said.
Seifert, 25, said she is really very happy and proud that Negros and Panay remain the home of some of these very rare animals, and hopes that efforts of NFEFI at saving endangered species is replicated elsewhere.
“The Philippines is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and we should promote that, and raise awareness,” she said.
The NFEFI Biodiversity Conservation Center is home to about 100 rescued endangered birds and animals that include rare warty pigs, leopard cats, and bleeding heart pigeons.
In 1984 a group of concerned citizens started a “Save our Forest” movement, which grew into the NFEFI.
Since then, NFEFI and teams of volunteers have worked to reforest hundreds of hectares in Negros, and have established a breeding program of endangered species plus numerous biodiversity conservation, education and research projects.
Adelantar, 21, who studied at the Victorias National High School, said they were visiting NFEFI to help promote its campaign to preserve endangered animals.
“We are also going to visit a lot of elementary schools to make children aware of the need to save the environment,” she added.
Adelantar also said she will promote the attractions of Victorias City, which she represents.
Seifert, a nurse and a model who speaks five languages, said being Miss Earth gives her the opportunity to campaign for the preservation of the environment, including waste segregation.
“I wholeheartedly believe in what I am doing,” she said.
Seifert, 25, studied at Montessori and St. Scholastica’s Academy in Bacolod City, and obtained her nursing degree from the Borough of Manhattan College of the City University of New York. She passed the New York nursing board examination in 2008.
She is the daughter of Zenaida Suravilla of Bacolod and Harald Seifert of Germany, who are now based in Manila.
She was accompanied yesterday by her mother, who is a graduate of the Bacolod City National High School and the University of Negros Occidental, and her brother Mark, 16.
Her other brothers are Stefan, 23, a team leader for IBM Philippines, and Michael Alexander, 21, who models for Calvin Klein in Hong Kong and Singapore.
The two beauties paid a courtesy call on Gov. Isidro Zayco at the Capitol yesterday morning, and met with mayors and board members of the province.*CPG
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Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc.
South Capitol Road, Bacolod City, Philippines 6100. Tel/Fax: +63 34 433 9234.
negrosforests@gmail.com http://www.negrosforests.org/index.php
Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc.
South Capitol Road, Bacolod City, Philippines 6100. Tel/Fax: +63 34 433 9234.
negrosforests@gmail.com http://www.negrosforests.org/index.php
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