TRANSCRIPT: Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Top 5 Q&A

This year’s top 5 candidates answered two questions during the Q&A segment of the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 finals on Sunday, October 25 in Baguio City.

The first question was unique to each candidate, while all 5 had to answer the same second question.

The candidates were given 30 seconds to answer each question.

Here are their respective questions and answers:

Michele Gumabao, Quezon City

If you are under strict quarantine and isolation, what is the most important mobile app for you and why?

The most important app during this quarantine was my bible. Having faith in the midst of this pandemic was very vital to me not only for my mental health but also for my sanity. It got me through the toughest of times, it helped me get through others in the toughest of times, and it keeped (sic) me centered and it keeped (sic) me grounded and that’s the most important thing that I would need in a pandemic.

This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?

As we all know, pageants are a very, very inspiring event, not only to the Philippines but to every country who supports pageantry. It is important to stage a pageant and to show the Philippines that we are much more than our setbacks and our failures and we are able to overcome our adversity. Having a pageant symbolizes hope, and right now on this stage, that is who we are.

Kimberly “Billie” Hakenson, Cavite

What advice will you give to a first time voter for the 2022 elections?

We have fought long and hard for our right to suffrage, and this is not something that we should waste. For us to be able to complain, and be able to appreciate the things that we have as Filipino citizens, we have to vote, we have to participate in selecting our leaders.

This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?

I am someone who is usually an independent person, but because of this beauty pageant, I realized that I needed to ask for help, that I needed to reach out to people, and same goes for everyone else. To be able to survive something as big as this pandemic, altruism should be practiced and cooperation is always the key.

Pauline Amelinckx, Bohol

What factors influence you in deciding what to buy or post online?

The factors that help me decide that is basically what I want to put out there, what I want to show the world about myself, how I want to portray myself. What matters most is that we know who we are, that we are true to our authentic selves, and that we always try our best to show and share that to the rest of the world and hopefully inspire them to do the same.

This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?

I think pageants are now an amazing platform to show that not all our dreams are cancelled, they’re just put on hold. And for us, we’re just lucky to make this one dream come true, to stand here, to spread hope, to rally people together in action and conversation and spark change, and together, I’m sure, we can make a positive impact out there on this stage. That is the essence of beauty pageants in the time of a pandemic.

Rabiya Mateo, Iloilo City

If you could create a new paper currency with the image of any Filipino on it, dead or alive, who would it be, and why?

If I were given the chance, I would want to use the face of Miriam Defensor-Santiago. For those who don’t know, she was an Ilongga, but what I admire about her is that she used her knowledge, her voice to serve the country, and I want to be somebody like her, somebody who puts her heart, her passion into action, and after all, she is the best president that we never had.

This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?

As a candidate I know I’m not just the face of Iloilo City, but I am here carrying hope and as a symbol of light in the darkest times, and as of the moment, I want to help my community, I want to use my strength to make an impact, and that is the essence of beauty pageants, it gives us the power to make a difference,

Maria Ysabella “Bella” Ysmael, Parañaque

To a child who has never seen a pageant, how would you describe a beauty queen?

I would tell that child that a beauty queen is somebody who is first and foremost a human being. She is somebody that is proud of who she is, but most importantly, she is somebody that brings hope when she wears that crown on her head, it’s not just because she is the most beautiful girl in the room, but it’s because she’s the woman that inspires hope, she’s the woman who inspires love and productivity and somebody being authentic. And a beauty queen…

This pandemic has made clear our priorities, essential and non-essential. Where do pageants stand in this time of crisis?

In my experience with the pandemic and being in one of the most prestigious pageants in the Philippines, I’ve realized that pageants are something that can give Filipinos hope, and something that can give Filipinos something to look forward to. It’s something that we as Filipinos, as a pageant-loving nation, it’s something that we’re so proud of, it’s something that gives us life, and that’s the relevance of what the pageant is. We help each other out, we help other people, and we help ourselves grow, we help each other prosper through any negative aspect.

– Rappler.com