Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray on Monday expressed alarm over the high statistics of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, but said “there is a good side.”
“We are having that spike in statistics because people are having access to testing,” she said during her send-off party with Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Jehza Huelar in Quezon City.
“So more people are knowing their status, more people being informed and educated in finding access to either treatment or support,” the 24-year-old beauty queen from Albay added.
Gray is active in her volunteer work for Love Yourself Philippines, an organization dedicated to HIV awareness, education, counselling and testing.
“I’ve seen every process. I’ve been tested myself. It’s really just empowering people to take that step to get tested, to know your status,” she said.
The beauty queen reminded everyone to not let “fear hold you back” because testing means “looking after yourself, love yourself and looking after others.”
“So if I, as a spokesperson could just encourage people to get tested, to get educated, that would be the best thing impart in them,” the Filipino-Australian stunner added.
Gray is set to fly to Bangkok, Thailand for her bid to win the country’s fourth Miss Universe crown on December 17. /muf