Patricia Javier. Image: Philippine Daily Inquirer/Armin P. Adina
MANILA, Philippines—Actress Patricia Javier gained a lot of insights when she took part in an outreach program in Tokyo in December, and said she learned a lot from her first charity activity in Japan.
“I never thought there were homeless people in Japan,” Javier told the Inquirer in Filipino at the sidelines of the victory party for the newly crowned queens of the Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Inc. (NQULI) at the Windmills and Rainforest restaurant in Quezon City on Jan. 6.
She is both the national director for the Philippines and international director of NQULI, which held the coronation program of Respect: Noble Queen of the Universe at the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 29.
“After our coronation, we had a collaboration with the Mrs. Tourism Ambassador International Japan pageant organized by Myla Villagonzalo-Tsutaichi, who was our awardee too,” Javier said. Tsutaichi received the “Most Prominent Women Empowerment” award from NQULI.
Javier said Tsutaichi, crowned Mrs. Tourism Ambassador International in Malaysia in 2020, helped with her coronation program in Tokyo and lent kimonos used by the participants. Tsutaichi also served as Japanese interpreter.
The Japanese pageant organization held a gift-giving activity at the Yoyogi Park in busy Shibuya. There, Javier noticed that the homeless people in Tokyo “still have nice clothes on, they’re decent.” Moreover, the Japanese people “are so courteous,” she shared.
She also noted the contents of the relief packages distributed in the event. “There weren’t any [instant noodles] or sardines. We gave fresh apples, pies, cakes, pastries, Starbucks coffee,” Javier said.
The actress said that after the event she spoke with NQULI founder Eren Noche to suggest changes in their own charity events in the future. “Wouldn’t it be nice if, for a change, we give items bought at S&R? It will be good to hear the beneficiaries say ‘Wow, this is the first time I’m trying Spam!’” she continued.
NQULI also turned over its own donation to their chosen beneficiaries in the Philippines. During the queens’ victory party, Javier and Noche handed out P20,000 each to the FAME (fashion, arts, music, entertainment) Foundation, Hope for Lupus Foundation and Doc Rob’s Foundation.
“Every year, after our coronation, we try to give back to our beneficiaries,” Javier said. But this time, she said, they did not tap any sponsors or businesses to partner with them.
“Businesses have just opened, we want to be sensitive to the owners. So we just pooled our resources, us queens so we can mount the coronation program, and have an amount to donate to the beneficiaries,” Javier continued.
Former Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez was crowned 2022 Noble Queen of the Universe. She represented the Visayas. Three more Filipino participants received titles—Noble Queen International Leira Buan from Mindanao, Noble Queen Earth Sheralene Shirata from Luzon, and Noble Queen of the Universe Ltd. Marjorie Renner who represented the United States. /ra
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