At COC filing venue, Miss World PH 2021 gives speech for frontliners

Newly-crowned Miss World Philippines 2021, Tracy Maureen Perez, gave a brief speech on Thursday, October 7 in support of the country’s pandemic frontliners – but not at a venue you would expect.

At Sofitel’s Harbor Garden tent in Pasay, amidst people filing their certificates of candidacy for the 2022 national elections, Perez took the podium where aspiring government officials made their post-filing speeches, and gave a quick message.

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“Habang ako po’y naghahanda para maiuwi ang korona at karangalan para sa ating bansa…inaalay ko din po ang aking boses at ang aking plataporma upang maisulong ang karapatan ng ating mga frontliners. Noong ako po ay tinanong kung ano po ang pinakamahalagang aral na dapat nating matutunan pag natapos na ang pandemya, ang pinakatumatak po sa akin ay nawa’y mabigyan natin ng halaga ang mga simpleng bagay na madalas nating binabalewala: ang ating kalusugan, ang ating oras sa ating pamilya, at higit sa lahat, ang mga taong binubuwis ang kanilang buhay upang tayo ay maprotektahan. Sila po ang ating ‘modern heroes.’ Sila po ang ating frontliners,” she said.

(As I prepare to take home the [Miss World] crown for our country, I also offer my voice and my platform in order to further the rights of our frontliners. When I was asked what the most important lesson was that we should all learn after this pandemic is over, I mostly hoped that we would give value to the simple things we often take for granted: our health, our time with our family, and most of all, the people who risk their own lives in order to protect us. They are our modern heroes. They are our frontliners.)

Why Sofitel?

Perez was there to accompany film producer and former actor Jayke Joson, who was the first nominee of the new Frontliners Partylist.

Joson was present at the oath-taking of Arnold Vegafria, National Director of the Miss World Philippines Organization, into the PDP-Laban Party. Vegafria is also presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao’s longtime business manager, and is himself running as mayor of Olongapo.

Melvin Matibag, PDP-Laban secretary general, said Joson was a “close friend of Pacquiao and is supporting Vegafria and PDP-Laban.” – Rappler.com