Geneva Cruz named the Philippines' sexiest vegetarian

Tens of Thousands of Votes Were Cast to Help PETA Pick the Winner at PETAAsiaPacific.com

Manila — Singer and actor Geneva Cruz has been crowned the Philippines' Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity for 2011 after a fierce, month-long battle that recently ended at PETAAsiaPacific.com. Geneva narrowly beat out Delara frontwoman and TV personality Lougee Basabas for the title. Other popular contenders included actors Yasmien Kurdi, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, and Raymond Bagatsing, actress Alicia Mayer, and international stars Natalie Portman, Hayden Panettiere, Russell Brand, and Leona Lewis.

Geneva has appeared on the covers of several magazines, including FHM, Uno, and Maxim. Her fame grew after the album that she released with pop group Smokey Mountain went double-platinum. Not long after that, her first solo album, I Like You, went platinum. She recently performed at a sold-out show on Valentine’s Day.

Geneva has been vegetarian since she was 15 and made the decision to switch to a compassionate diet after she interacted with animals in their natural environment while filming a shampoo commercial. "[We] were in this location in Palawan where all the animals were just roaming free! Free! All I had to do was feed one of them and say 'Natural!' We kept doing that, take after take. … I couldn't take it anymore. Not after that." Now a staunch vegan, Geneva says, "For me, being vegan is not about the diet. It's really about my love for all creatures."

"There's no easier way to put passion in your life than to put compassion in your diet," says PETA Asia Vice-President of International Operations Jason Baker. "Geneva knows that going vegetarian is the best thing that you can do for animals, the Earth, and your health. Plus, she's living proof that being vegan keeps you slim and sexy."

The complete list of vegetarian celebrities who were in the running in this year's poll is available at PETAAsiaPacific.com.

PETA names healthy kitchen's Boca Burger the Philippines' best veggie burger

Large Selection of Delicious Meatless Burgers Gives Filipinos Reason to Celebrate

Manila — If you've made a New Year's resolution to adopt a healthier diet, you're in luck. More and more restaurants are offering meals that are lower in fat and cholesterol and higher in fiber and other nutrients—and vegetarian foods are fitting that bill. The Boca Burger at Healthy Kitchen wins PETA's prize for the country's best-tasting veggie burger—but there are plenty of other tempting veggie burgers to be found in the Philippines. Rounding out the top five are the following:

· The Vegan Tofu Walnut Burger at Corner Tree Café, Jupiter, Makati—also named Healthiest
· The Streamliner at Johnny Rockets (can be made vegan by asking for a wheat bun and no butter or cheese), Eastwood, Quezon City—also named Meatiest
· The GWDC Vegeburger at Green Wok Deli & Café (with soy mayo!), Quezon City—also named Best Value for Money
· The Veggie Salsa Mex at Good Burgers (can be made vegan by asking for no mayo or cheese), C5 and Greenhills—also named Best Burger-on-the-Run

Receiving honorable mention are veggie burgers from the Hard Rock Café; Murray & D'Vine; Baguio's Bliss Café; M2M at the Renaissance Hotel; Jeepney Café at the Intercontinental Hotel; Ima's Gulay Bar in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; the Fort Serendra's Arama; Makati's Herbal Nook and Greens in Quezon City. All the veggie burgers at these locations can be made vegan—just ask for no cheese, butter, or mayo.

Why are vegan burgers growing in popularity in the Philippines? Consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. On today's factory farms, cows are routinely branded, dehorned, and castrated without any painkillers. Pigs are castrated, and their tails and teeth are cut or broken off—also without painkillers. Chickens are drugged and bred to grow so rapidly that they become crippled from supporting the weight of their own massive upper bodies. Birds' throats are cut while they are still conscious, and many are scalded to death in defeathering tanks.

"There are as many fast and delicious veggie burger options as there are reasons to choose a veggie option," says PETA Director Jason Baker, who is also the group's resident food critic. "Making it meatless—and better yet, vegan—is good for your health, the environment, and especially animals."