Muntik nang masungkit ni Samantha Bernardo ang kauna-unahang korona ng Pilipinas para sa Miss Grand International.
Kinoronahan bilang first-runner up si Samantha sa katatapos lang na coronation night ng nasabing international beauty pageant na ginanap sa Bangkok, Thailand kagabi, March 27.
Si Miss USA Abena Appiah ang nakakuha ng titulong Miss Grand International 2020; second runner-up si Miss Guatemala Ivana Batchelor; third runner-up si Miss Indonesia Aurra Kharishma; at fourth runner-up si Miss Brazil Lala Guedes.
Sa kaniyang opening speech, binigyang-diin ni Samantha ang kahalagan ng kapayapaan bilang ‘lasting legacy’ natin sa mundo.
As a malaria-free Philippines spokesperson, I have always lived up to my faith in humanity, cultural understanding and respect for others. These are what I will continue to stand for if I become your next Miss Grand International.
As we face a C0VlD-19 free world, join me as we work together in mending our conflicts and focusing on what truly matters. We are living under one sky so let us all live peacefully where love is our language, humanity is our race and peace is our lasting legacy in our world.
Sa ‘question and answer’ naman ng Top 5 finalists, tinanong ang mga kandidata kung ano ang pipiliin nila — ang pagsasara ng bansa para sa kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan kahit na maapektuhan naman ang ekonomiya, o ang pananatiling bukas ng bansa para makapagpatuloy pa rin ang takbo ng ekonomiya.
Ayon kay Samantha, mas pipiliin pa rin niya ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan.
I will always choose the people, because without its people, a country will never be a country. We will never be Philippines without Filipinos, you will never be Thailand without Thai.
So it is a must that we should take care of our people first.
I stand here for love and peace and unity because there will always be a solution no matter what our problems in this life. And I think if we come together as people, as one united world, then we can have a better place to live in. I hope after this pandemic C0VlD-19 happened, we can be a better citizens.
Sa final round naman ng ‘question and answer,’ pinapili sila kung kanino nila ibibigay ang pinakahuling bakuna para sa C0VlD-19 — sa isang 15 years old o sa isang 70 years old.
Mas pinili ni Samantha ang senior citizen.
My heart goes to the senior citizen because my mom is turning into senior citizen and I experienced the loss of my dad four years ago and I cannot afford to lose my mom. My heart goes to them because they are the most vulnerable during this time.”
A 15-year old has the stamina to fight the C0VlD-19 pandemic and with proper exercise and healthy living they can live with it. I know as well that every citizen here will choose and never afford to lose their parents and so I will choose senior citizen.
