Image: Instagram/@catriona_gray
MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray released Tuesday another video about the Philippines, this time showcasing Filipinos’ strength in times of trials.
In a video titled “This is Visayas,” the beauty queen from Albay traveled to Tacloban City, Leyte and met a survivor of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” which hit the country in 2013.
“Yolanda” survivor Catelyn Manatad lost both of her parents when the typhoon hit Tacloban, but she remained to have a positive perspective in life.
“My life is a blessing. Di ko pwede isipin na porket nawala yung parents ko, I have to kill myself. Because maybe they saved me,” she said.
Manatad admitted that losing a loved one was very painful, but said: “They may not be there physically pero mararamdaman mo na may magsusupport sayo emotionally and spiritually.”
Hearing Manatad’s story made Gray see “everyone in a new light” and it kept her wondering, “How is it that they could lose so much, but still find the will to live or find a reason to keeping going?”
The 24-year-old beauty queen thought, “Maybe I thought the answer could lie in the history of Leyte.”
With the chance to represent the culture of the Philippines internationally, Gray interviewed a local artist of from Tacloban Dante Enage.
“Noong mga nakaraang siglo, ang aming mga ninuno ay may mga marka sa katawan. Ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon, ang sining ng pagtatato ay unti unting naglalaho pero ang pagiging mandirigma ay nananalaytay sa aming dugo,” Enage said.
This is what inspired Gray’s bodysuit with “authentic tattoo designs” from Pintados patterns for her national costume in Miss Universe.
“I think after this trip and just hearing all the stories and thinking what it would be like to be in their shoes,” Gray realized.
She ended the video by saying: “There is a warrior inside of us and there is a warrior inside of Filipinos.” /jpv
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