Alejandra Echevarria

Alejandra Echevarria

Taming Her Techie Habit

To Save the Environment

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Published MOD APRIL2010

AT the recent Miss Earth beauty pageant held at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center, the most applauded, naturally, was the hometown bet, Sandra Seifert. Another candidate who captured the crowd's attention was Miss Spain, Alejandra Echevarria.

Small wonder. With her stunning good looks that remind you of local actress Dina Bonnevie and even international fashion icon Victoria Beckham, Echevarria, standing at 5'11", placed third runner up, bagging the title Miss Earth-Fire as well as the Miss Gandang Ricky Reyes Award.

Alejandra, 20, told MOD that she was supposed to compete at the Miss International pageant, but she chose Miss Earth instead. And no, it’s not because she felt pressured to bring home the Miss International crown because Spain had won it the previous year, according to rumors. “My position as Miss Spain was actually for the Miss International pageant, but I identified more with the Miss Earth pageant. I chose to join Miss Earth because I liked the goals of the pageant and because I wanted to know the Philippines.”

Her modelling career started when she won a beauty contest in her native Jaén, a city in South Central Spain. She then represented her state at the Miss Spain pageant where she won second runner-up. “After I won the crown, I was working all the time-- joining parades, attending photoshoots, and, granting interviews, which for me served as preparation for the international contest.”

Apart from being a beauty queen and model, Alejandra is also a singer. For two years, she was part of a hip-hop group she formed with friends. “I love music. I have thousands of favorite songs--one is in Spanish called Ador, sung by David Bisbal and Naim Tomas; and Hate You by Mariah Carey,” she says.

Recently, she added beauty ambassador as one of her job titles as top makeup brand Ever Bilena signed her on as one of its endorsers.

Of course, she still has advocacies she dutifully attends to. “My modeling agency organizes many charitable and humanitarian parades for children with disabilities, and implements programs to save the environment,” she says.

A graduate of Business Administration and Management, Alejandra still wants to study another course in Madrid. She says, “Really, I believe that if you have an organized agenda, you can do two things simultaneously, like modeling and studying.”

We bet she could.

Tech Talk with Alejandra

What gadgets can you not live without?

My mobile phone is my life, and my music gadgets.

Do you consider yourself a techie?

I like technology and the modern things enough, but I control myself. If I often buy a new mobile phone, it does no favor to the environment. Things should always be of suitable use and then everything will be ok.

Are you eager to own the latest products?

I admire the person who manages to create these new machines and perfect them. Since, as I’ve said, too many things could contaminate the environment, I am content with just one in hand. Makeup is my better ally. I always bring it with me. With makeup, I like to have the latest, and Ever Bilena is the best. I recommend that to the whole world.

If ever you are online, what sites do you usually visit?

Tuenti, Facebook, YouTube to see Victoria’s Secret shows, www.evelyng-models.es

Do you have a Facebook account?

I do, although I'm not in the habit of logging in because there’s a similar website in Spain.

How can the technology help the environment?

Technology can help by creating products that are not harmful to the environment, of course, and developing recycling processes.

Camaya Coast

Finally, Your Own Private Island

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA
Published MOD March 2010

IMAGINE owning your own summer villa with an amazing view of the South China Sea, and next door are not your usual neighbors but the sun, sea, flora and fauna, all easily within reach.

This is now possible via Camaya Coast, an ecotourism development destination complemented by commercial establishments and residential enclaves. It is 173 kilometers north of Manila and less than three hours from Manila by land.

Manuel Ilagan, president of Earth and Shore Leisure Communities Corporation, the developers of Camaya Coast, says, “The merger of the commercialism with nature is distinctly Camaya. We are going to redevelop the properties on the beach. In Camaya, we aim for continuous adaptation of environment.”

What Ilagan is presenting in Camaya Coast are villas and condos in modern tropical look developed by Philippine GeoAnalytics Group of Companies. “We are proposing a Mediterenan look, thin clean lines that are able to mesh well with seaside development, for the lot owners who we will allow to build after they submit their designs,” Ilagan says. The first clusters of the condominium and villa are expected to be delivered by first quarter of 2011.

Apart from the residential units, Earth and Shore is also developing a hotel in the area that it expects to be finished by 2011. Ilagan says the hotel has about 75 to 100 rooms, and Earth and Shore partnered with Club Leisure, operator of Camp John Hay, for the success of the hotel.

Earth and Shore is also putting up a nature park in a 40-hectare space, setting aside about 15 to 20 hectares for the expansion of the nature park that has mountains and springs that lot owners can treat as their own backyard. Ilagan says, “It would be more fun for the buyers if there would be an abundance of mountains. If we develop it this way, the children will have an idea of an environment integrated with community that they are in. So, with that in mind, we’re also protecting the future generations in understanding the environment, not just develop for profit. We have three waterfalls and natural springs that merge with the sea. Actually, they are developable, but we are going to leave them as is.”

With all these, you’d think Camaya Coast is as it is. But no, it offers more, like endless possibilities for leisure activities. Ilagan shares, “The romance of the sea is timeless, so that is definitely something that we will bank on in Camaya. The swimming pools, chill-out bar, and karaoke room are something for people to enjoy in the day.”

Ilagan looks forward to building a sports mall where speedboats, banana boats, kayaking, biking, zip-ling, and various interests groups can bank on. He says, “We’d let various interests groups come in, tying up with the group that already exists. We do not have a limit on what can be done.”

Camaya Coast premium beach resort and residential community highlights the best of coastal living with a variety of water sports, resort clubs, and commercial facilities. Ilagan shares, “Our main focus is to enjoy life now and not later on, at the same time not hurt your budget.”

For more about Camaya Coast, visit its showroom at the ground floor of Prudential Building., Annex No. 31 EDSA Mandaluyong City, or check out www.camayacoast.com

Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry

Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry

‘Everything That We Do Affects the Environment’

By ANA KRISTINE B. VALENZUELA

Mod Decemeber 2009

AS the 2008 Miss Earth, Karla Paula Henry has been occupied with programs and events as an ambassador of the environment. Doing relief operations for the recent typhoon victims and cleaning up beaches are some of projects that she is now involved in—all while looking good.

Bigger Picture. One good thing about Ondoy is that Filipinos have realized calamity change. Sana naman ma-realize nila na everything they do affects the environment. Ondoy made me realize more that there is so much more to be done. The relief goods—those are temporary. The bigger picture and the first thing that needs to be done is how we going to convince the people na unahin natin ang pag-aalaga sa kalikasan.

Go for Zero. The government is somehow doing its share with the Clean Air Act and Republic Act (RA) 9003, which aims for waste management. We really have to segregate our waste. For those biodegradable materials, we can dig through our backyard and use them as fertilizer, while those recyclable materials can be relayed to junk shops. Whatever you can do, aim for zero basura.

Clean Up. As Miss Earth, I participated in a lot of environmental projects, the most recent of which is the Boracay Cleanup which was in preparation for the Miss Earth pageant. Plus, sustainable cleaning din ‘yan. It’s not only for the Miss Earth candidates but also for the residents of Boracay as well as making Boracay a destination focal point here in the Philippines. We want to focus more on Boracay being an environment-friendly place.

Green-Minded. I was honored when I was invited to the Miami Fashion Week and I enjoyed it a lot. I attended the show of the Piña collection of various designers. Even here in the Philippines, designers are pushing for green fashion. It’s really up to us, on how we are going to patronize this type of clothing.

All in the Mind. To be beautiful, you need to get enough rest. Never stress yourself. If you have a positive outlook, it will reflect on you. If you think that you look good, you will look good. It’s all psychological.

Plans. After I turn over my crown, I plan to go back to school, possibly next semester because of time constraints. I hope to be able to juggle school and work.