The most recent leg of Miss Universe Catriona Gray‘s homecoming tour was a stop at the Office of the Vice President. She is said to have been welcomed by the Vice President’s staffers wearing her signature Philippine flag-inspired ear cuffs. The courtesy call to VP Leni Robredo was made at the Office of the Vice President in Quezon City.
VP Leni congratulated Catriona by saying “this is our opportunity to tell you how proud you made all of us, not only because you won the crown but also because you presented the best of the Filipino.” She also stated:
We want to thank you for giving us this honor. We want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to thank you personally for making us proud to be Filipinos, for giving us a reason to be united again as one people. Maraming, maraming salamat sa iyo
A program and some tokens were also prepared in celebration of the title and source of pride that Catriona brought back home to the Philippines. All aspects looked to be carefully thought out, with each one reflecting an advocacy of the beauty queen. According to VP Leni, “What we’re presenting to you this morning in our very short program are things that we would want to share with you because we really share some similar advocacies. Yung pinakauna, ‘yung advocacy mo with regard to children [The first is with regards to your advocacy for childen.]”
It was a special musical number prepared by children who are part of the OVP’s Angat Buhay Youth Project. Gray has been known to champion the youth as one of her main advocacies from even before she won the crown. She also recently spoke up against the lowered age of criminal liability.
Following that, she was given a malong representing the Maranao community in Marawi. The item was made by weavers from Marawi City who are also beneficiaries of the Angat Buhay program. Gray, a supporter of Philippine textiles herself, often wears these kinds of clothing to represent and support the regions they come from.
The last gift from the OVP was the “Catriona robot” made by the award-winning students of Dr. Yanga Colleges in Bulacan. She also recieved a grand piano from the Phantom of the Opera production team.
In response to the warm reception, Catriona had this to say:
I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you so much for having me. It’s been such an honor representing our country internationally. I will dedicate this year and beyond to purposeful service and giving back to our country.
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