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MANILA, Philippines – After doing a series of interviews in New York, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach sat down for her first interview with Philippine media, talking about the effigy issue in Colombia and coming home to the Philippines.
In an interview aired on ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda, Tuesday, January 5, Pia said she heard the news about the effigy and admitted to being surprised about it. But before reacting to the incident, she did her research.
“Nabalitaan ko ‘yun at saka nung nag research ako ng kaunti, nalaman ko na part pala ng tradition nila na every New Year, sinusunog nila yung bad memories para hindi na maulit sa susunod na bagong taon. Kaya sa akin kung hindi ako sanay sa ganung tradition, parang medyo bago siya para sa akin… iyan ang kinaganda ng Miss Universe, may matutunan ka tungkol sa mga customs ng ibang mga bansa. ‘Yung iba medyo nakakagulat pero ganun talaga,” she said.
(I heard about it and when I did my research, I found out it was part of their tradition that every New Year, they burn bad memories so these won’t happen again. So if I’m not used to it, it’s definitely new for me… that’s what’s good about Miss Universe, you learn the different customs of other countries. There are others that are very surprising, but that’s how it is.)
Over the weekend, a Colombian named Noider Almanza Barraza was criticized online after posting a video of effigies dressed as Pia and Miss Universe host Steve Harvey being burned. Many Filipino netizens reacted, saying the Colombians were still bitter about not winning the Miss Universe crown, following Harvey’s mistake of announcing Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner during the pageant’s coronation night on December 20.
Noider later apologized and took down the video and photos.
Homecoming in the Philippines
Meanwhile, Pia said that she’s looking forward to her homecoming in the Philippines very soon. However, she is not yet sure when she will be back due to her hectic schedule as the new title holder.
“But once I find out, I will let everybody know for sure,” Pia said.
She added: “Naku, excited na rin ako, and sa tingin ko diyan ako maiiyak talaga pag nakauwi na ako, kasi na mimiss ko na ang Pilipinas eh. Parang ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakauwi. Parang ‘yun yung feeling ko… pero excited na ako. I don’t know what to expect really pero sana malapit na [akong umuwi].”
(I’m very excited and I think I’ll cry when I go home, because I really miss the Philippines. I haven’t been home in a long time. That’s what I feel… but I’m very excited. I don’t know what to expect, but I hope I can go home soon.)
If there is one food Pia misses in the Philippines, it would definitely be pandesal (bread).
“Kailangan bagong luto ‘yun. Kailangan mainit-init pa at saka meron recipe iyan. Hindi mo naman magagawa iyan dito kung hindi aalsa ng maayos. Yung palaman Cheez Whiz, mga ganun,” Pia said laughing.
(it should be freshly baked. It must be hot and there’s a recipe for it. You cannot just do it here because it will not taste good if not baked properly. It has to have spreads, like Cheez Whiz, stuff like that.)
Pia also said that she’s grateful to the friends she made in the pageant who spoke up and defended her during the controversy. She also thanked her family and friends, especially beauty camp Aces and Queens led by Jonas Gaffud, who trained her for the competition.
“I hope that I made you proud and this is the fruit of our labor and ‘yun masaya lang ako. (I’m very happy). They were my family away from family. And of course Binibining Pilipinas is also instrumental to my victory,” she said.
As for her message to Filipinos worldwide, Pia said: “Mga kababayan, maraming salamat po sa pagsuporta at pagboto ninyo sa akin. Mga kakababayan ko diyan sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo, maraming salamat na inabangan ninyo yung Miss Universe at tinulungan niyo ako na maka-advance sa bawat part ng competition. Malaking tulong yung suporta niyo sa akin. Sana napasaya ko po kayo and iyon lang po talaga ang importante sa akin na maging proud kayo sa akin at mapatunayan ko na I deserve to be Miss Universe Philippines and I will win Miss Universe. And yung pagkapanalo ko dinededicate ko sa inyong lahat, inaalay ko sa inyo. Excited na ako umuwi, magkita-kita po tayo soon.”
(To my fellow countrymen, thank you so much for the support and votes you gave to me. To my fellow countrymen in the Philippines and the whole world, thank you for watching Miss Universe and helping me advance to every part of the competition. Your support was a big help to me. I hope I made you happy and that’s what’s important for me, that you are proud of me, and I prove that I deserve to be Miss Universe Philippines, and that I will win Miss Universe. And I dedicate my win to all of you. I’m very excited to go home and I will see you all soon.) – Rappler.com
More Miss Universe on Rappler:
Post-Miss Universe
- WATCH: Pia Wurtzbach gets her Miss Universe walk
- WATCH: Pia Wurtzbach’s first interview as Miss Universe 2015
- Stella Araneta on Miss U:’ I’m Colombian but I would choose Philippines’
- Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez speaks up on announcement mix-up
- Colombians burn Pia Wurtzbach, Steve Harvey effigies to ring in 2016
- Colombian apologizes over video of burning Pia Wurtzbach effigy
Pia Wurtzbach as Miss Universe 2015
- Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach’s New Year message: ‘I’ve never been more proud to be a Filipina’
- See Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as a doll
- Artist sketches Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as a Disney princess
- Pia Wurtzbach to Miss Colombia: Fate has a plan for you
Coronation night
- WATCH: Miss Universe Germany upset over PH win
- PH’s Pia Wurtzbach wins Miss Universe 2015
- Mix-up seen ’round the universe: Host Steve Harvey announces wrong winner
- WATCH: Miss Philippines, Miss Colombia speak up on Miss Universe 2015 mix-up
- Pro-US bases? Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach should get a briefing, activists say
- What happened? Netizens chime in on #MissUniverse2015 mixup
- WATCH: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s triumphant winning moment
- LIVE BLOG: Miss Universe 2015 coronation night
- Palace, politicians: Thank you, Pia, for this Christmas gift
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- Miss Universe PH Pia Wurtzbach sends out message before finals
- Miss Universe PH 2015 Pia Wurtzbach asks #AlDub fans: Support me
- IN PHOTOS: Miss Universe 2015 candidates share makeup-free selfies
- LOOK: Miss Universe PH 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s national costume
- IN PHOTOS: A glimpse of the national costumes at Miss Universe 2015
- IN PHOTOS: Miss PH Pia Wurtzbach at Miss Universe preliminaries
- Miss Universe 2015: Miss Myanmar recovers from preliminary competition stumble
- Photo recap: Miss Universe 2015 preliminary competition
- Miss Universe PH Pia Wurtzbach: I’m not going to waste my victory
- Miss Universe 2015 pageant gets a confirmed date
- 5 things to know about Miss Universe PH Pia Wurtzbach
- IN PHOTOS: Miss Universe PH Pia Wurtzbach’s official Miss Universe photos
- Miss Universe PH Pia Wurtzbach: Work around your weaknesses
- Emotional Pia Wurtzbach recalls challenging road to Miss Universe
- WATCH: Pia Wurtzbach wins Miss Universe PH crown
- IN PHOTOS: Recap, Miss Universe 2014-2015 coronation
- HIGHLIGHTS: Miss Universe 2014 coronation night
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