Miss Universe Pia, a daddy’s girl

If there was anything that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach said she regretted, it was that her father was no longer around to witness her bring home the crown.

“If there’s something that I want to change in my life, it would be that,” said the 26-year-old stunner during her Jan. 27 homecoming at ABS-CBN, where she has been a talent since age 13.

“I was a daddy’s girl. I wish I had more time with him (her German father, Uwe Wurtzbach, passed away two years ago). Although there was always a way to talk to him, it wasn’t easy to do, because he already had another family.”

Born and partly raised in Germany, Pia became the family’s breadwinner in her preteen years after her parents separated when she was 9 years old.

In her chat with “Mornings @ ANC” host Ginger Conejero, Pia recalled: “Dad knew that I was a runner-up in 2014. When I signed a contract to compete in Miss Universe in 2015, I remembered him because it happened on Aug. 24, his birthday. I teared up because I was thinking that maybe this was his gift to me—or his way of saying sorry that he wasn’t around. I took it as a positive sign. I’d like to think that he is watching over me.”

She joined the Binibining Pilipinas pageant three times before she finally bagged the Miss Universe title. In 2014, she placed first runner-up. The following year, she was eliminated early on in the competition.

She said her dad and Filipino mom Cheryl imparted important lessons to her while she was growing up. “Dad was very firm—that’s the one important thing he taught me. When I was a little girl, he would spoil me by giving me Barbie dolls and treating me like a princess, but when it was time to get serious, he was really serious. That’s a quality I have until now.”

Her mom advised her not to “take things too seriously. They’re exact opposites. He was so serious, while my mom is a comedian,” she said. “My younger sister (Sarah) is strong-willed. She seems to be so sure of herself, while it usually takes me longer to decide on something. I remember she once told me, ‘Go, Pia! Join (the pageant) again!’”

In an interview with Bernadette Sembrano for “TV Patrol,” Pia said the crown she carries is heavy, “figuratively.”

She explained: “It entailed responsibilities that did not end after the pageant    night—although I no longer feel like I still have something to prove. I’m now more concerned with having to make the most out of my yearlong reign. I am also given a (once-in-a-lifetime) chance to represent the Philippines and be the voice of the Miss Universe Organization.”

She said she did not give up on the crown “because I hate losing; Also because it doesn’t feel right to just let go (of a dream) because it didn’t happen right away, on the first attempt. I believed that I could win it!”

Asked to choose between her crown and love, Pia picked the former. She said falling in love would happen “when I’m finally done with the responsibilities that go with the crown.”

For the program “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Pia shared with host Atom Araullo how she was like when in love. “I’m very passionate, which makes it  dangerous. When I’m in love, I tend to focus too much on that person. I cannot allow this to happen at the moment. I need to prioritize.”

To Julius Babao of “Bandila,” she admitted to having “dated” British-Filipino soccer player Phil Younghusband, but denied going out with President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Pia arrived at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City shortly after 10 a.m. On the red carpet, she was greeted by flag-waving Kapamilya employees and serenaded by an eight-piece orchestra.

She then had brunch with network executives, Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III (chair), Carlo Katigbak (president and CEO), Cory Vidanes (channel head), Mariole Alberto (Star Magic head) and Charo Santos-Concio (former president and CEO).

Lopez, in his welcome speech, told Pia: “You came back with a crown on your head—it’s a fairy tale that came true!”

Katigbak, before proposing a toast, admitted he was one of the judges at the 2014 Binibining Pilipinas pageant. “I just want to say that it wasn’t my fault (you lost). I voted for you,” the Kapamilya exec said. “Not only are you the most beautiful woman in the universe; you’ve also shown us the meaning of courage, perseverance and determination.”

When it was her turn to address the network bosses, Pia said, with her voice breaking: “I have memories in every corner of this compound. I started my show biz career here when I was very young. This was also where I went to school (ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center), so I was here every day! Returning to my old home feels overwhelming.”

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