Fil-Swiss Miss Earth wants to promote green causes in PHL

Filipino-Swiss Miss Earth-Switzerland 2010 Liza Andrea Kuster, wants to promote environmental causes in the Philippines, where she was born more than 20 years ago. A news release of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Kuster, a model and businesswoman, recently met with Ambassador to Switzerland Leslie Baja to convey this message. According to the "Pageant Updates" website, Kuster said, if she ever won the Miss Earth contest, "I would collect money in Switzerland and donate it to the projects in Manila. The wish to help comes from the bottom of my heart." Kuster also said, "Even at a young age, I have been involved in humanitarian and environmental projects." Baja expressed support for Kuster's advocacy and encouraged her to visit the Philippines regularly to help promote environmental causes. Although she was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and Swiss father, Kuster grew up in Switzerland. During their meeting, Baja encouraged Kuster to inspire other second generation Filipinos in Switzerland to know more about the Philippines. Baja also gave Kuster a tour of the the newly-opened "Sentro Rizal" at the Embassy Chancery. The DFA said "Sentro Rizal" was one of the embassy’s projects this year for the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. Rizal visited Switzerland in 1887 and visited the cities of Basel, Geneva, Berne, Schaffhausen and Lausanne. Forum of Filipino-Swiss professionals Baja is scheduled to meet on September 24 in Zurich other second generation Filipinos belonging to an organization called Network of Integrated Pinoys or NOI-P, a group of Filipino-Swiss professionals. The group was established last year to promote a greater awareness about the Philippines among second generation Filipinos. There are around 10,000 Filipinos in Switzerland and are among the most respected foreign nationals in that country. - VVP, GMA News