READ: Patch Magtanong’s Miss International 2019 speech

MANILA, Philippines – Patch Magtanong ended her Miss International 2019 journey with a Top 8 finish on Tuesday, November 12, at the Tokyo Dome, Japan.

As part of the competition, each of the Top 8 finalists were asked to give a speech on the pageant’s theme, “Cheer All Women.”

Here’s the transcript of Patch’s speech:

When I was younger, I found it strange that I was subjected to different standards as other boys my age. When I got older and even more so when I became a lawyer, I began to question these standards and challenge them.

Why should women live in fear of harassment, violence, and discrimination when basic human decency calls for respect, tolerance, and compassion? To cheer all women means to support all women regardless of the race, religion, or background, but not only these – it also means, to remove all the barriers that prevent women [from reaching] their full potential.

Miss International does this by fostering a global culture of women empowerment and gender equality, and through this platform we can ensure that no woman anytime and anywhere is left behind.

– Rappler.com