The National Costume Theme had contestants donning a wide array of costumes that are designed to highlight the country’s biodiversity
The 2024 Miss Universe Philippines theme this year highlights the island nation’s Philippine Flora & Fauna. The National Costume Theme had contestants donning a wide array of costumes that are designed to highlight the country’s biodiversity.
Contestant Tamara Ocier donned a beautiful costume highlighting the Tacloban monitor lizard, also known as the Samar water monitor lizard, which the locals call “halo.”
The costume was designed by Charlotte Rodriguez, who wrote on Instagram how the costume was designed to inspire.
“Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban, Tamara Ocier, embodies the goddess of the sun. Iridescent and golden, ever changing and evolving. Her statuesque figure is embraced by The Tacloban Monitor Lizard, known to the locals as ‘Halo.’
“An ancient symbol of fearlessness and transformation located in the isolated regions of Tacloban and Region 8. The goddess ushers humanity back into their true place as sanctuary makers.”
“In the face of difficulties like destruction and climate change, the monitor lizard ‘Halo’ serves as a reminder of the significance of resilience and adaptation for both wildlife and human communities.
“Like the Taclobanons, the monitor lizard’s ability to thrive in a variety of habitats despite environmental changes symbolizes resilience and adaptability.”
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The Samar water monitor lizard (Varanus samarensis) has a snout to vent length of about 530 mm and a total length of 1,400 mm . It is black and yellow in coloration and has broken yellow stripes on its tail and a yellowish throat and belly. It can be found on Bohol, Calicoa, Leyte, and Samar. Primarily terrestrial in nature, this diurnal lizard is seen on the forest edges and feeds on small animals and dead animal matter.
