Miss Philippines Bea Rose, Miss International 2013!

ITINANGHAL na Miss International ang ating kababayang si Bea Rose Santiago sa katatapos na 53rd Miss International pageant na ginanap sa Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall, Tokyo, Japan kahapon, Martes, December 17.

Tinalo ni Bea Rose ang iba pang 66 katunggali sa Miss International mula sa iba’t ibang lugar.

Sinasabing humanga ang mga judge sa naging sagot ni Bea Rose mula sa katanungang “What I will do if I am crowned Miss International.”

Binigyan sila ng 30 segundo para masagot ito.

At ang sagot ni Ms. Bea Rose, “The whole world saw how my country suffered,” Santiago said, referring to the devastation caused by super typhoon “Yolanda” in parts of central Philippines. “One by one, other countries helped. I would like to thank who helped my country in our darkest hours. You have opened my heart and eyes on what we can do to help each other.

“If I become Miss International, I would uphold international camaraderie. I will work to sustain the spirit of sympathy and spirit of hope. As long as we work together, there is hope.”

Bago ang timpalak pagandahan, iginiit ni Bea Rose na iniaalay niya naturang kompetisyon sa mga survivor ng Yolanda.  “I’m dedicating my pageant for the Haiyan or Yolanda victims. I’m not going there just as Bea Santiago, but as Miss Philippines. If I win or if I make it, that would bring happiness to them and make them proud.”

Nasungkit naman ni Miss Netherlands Nathelie Den Dekker ang crown bilang first runner-up, samantalang si Miss New Zealand Casey Radley ang second runner-up, at sina Miss Colombia Lorena Hermida at Miss Hungary Brigitta Otvos ay nakasama sa Top 5.

Bale ito ang ikalimang pagkakataong nasungkit ng Pilipinas ang Miss International title. Nanuna nang itinanghal na Miss International sina Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Melanie Marquez (1979), Aurora Pijuan (1970) , at Gemma Cruz-Araneta (1964).

Nakapasok naman sa Top 15 ang mga bansang Gibraltar, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, United States, Lithuania, Iceland, Russia, Thailand, at Spain.

Sa kabuua, nakatatlong korona na ang Pilipinas sa mga timpalak pagandahan. Naunang nakuha ni Mutya Johanna Datul ang Miss Supranational 2013 noong Setyembre na sinundan ni  Megan Young bilang Miss World 2013 noon ding Setyembre.               (HNT)