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| Ms. Philippines: Speaking for Filipinos worldwide |
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"ABSOLUTELY amazing" was how she described the city of Las Vegas, awed by its numerous hotels and the fact that it sits in the middle of the desert. But it is the people in this city and the entire United States that Maria Venus Raj—the Philippines’ bet to Miss Universe 2010—continues to amaze. At the swimsuit poster shoot at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas last week, members of the international media covering the Miss Universe activities were pleasantly surprised that the raven-haired Asian could speak English exceedingly well.
Similarly, staff members of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO)—who view ladies from the Philippines as prim and proper—see Venus’ confidence and candor unexpected.Still, those who would be most amazed will perhaps be the Filipino-American community in the US. For it will come as a surprise that the 22-year old Bicolana is making it her main mission to promote Filipinos to the world. An even bigger task, she said, than her other goal of bringing home the Philippines’ third
Miss Universe crown."I hope I am representing our country very well," she told Asian Journal in an interview minutes after the swimsuit photo shoot.
Venus indicated that she wants to take advantage of her current position and popularity to tell the world about the strengths of the Filipino people."When you’re famous, people listen to you. People will think what you are saying is right. You have the opportunity to say what you want to say," she had said.
And it seems the universe conspired to help her with this goal because MUOsingled her out earlier this month to promote the pageant in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, CA.In media interviews since arriving to the US, she would let the public know that her countrymen are intelligent and assertive people, belying the common impression that Filipinos are meek and submissive.With pride, she also talked about her job at a local government agency in her hometown, after having graduated with honors with a degree in Communication. She also told them about the humblest of beginnings when she described their family home that is in the middle of a rice field where there is no electricity.
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