Miss Universe Asia Chelsea Manalo/MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES FACEBOOK PHOTOS
When Miss Universe Asia Chelsea Manalo sat with INQUIRER.net upon returning from the international competition, she shared her desire to continue working for her national organization’s advocacy initiatives.
And the queen had her wish granted immediately when the Miss Universe Philippines organization (MUPH) took her to see the children under the care of Hope 4 Change in the Philippines in Tondo, Manila, on Saturday morning, Dec. 21.
The event took place just a day after thousands of well-wishers greeted Manalo at her homecoming parade at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City
In an earlier interview, she told INQUIRER.net, “I’m hoping [that] I’m still working on some factors that I can work with the oranization on [the] advocacy that is close to my heart, which are the youth.”
Manalo spent time with the children supported by the nonprofit organization, which MUPH said is “dedicated to eradicating the effects of hunger, illiteracy, and disease ravishing impoverished communities.”
MUPH Pres. Jonas Gaffud has been a long-time benefactor and supporter of Hope for Change in the Philippines, and the national pageant’s winners have been helping the organization.
Manalo distibuted gifts provided by MUPH Executive Vice President Voltaire Tayag, and shared meals with the children courtesy of MUPH Vice Pres. for Global and National Search Mags Cue.
“Having the opportunity to interact with the children is something that Chelsea really cherishes. She loves being an ‘Ate,’ or big sister figure to them,” Tayag told INQUIRER.net.
“Because Hope 4 Change is an organization that gives these children access to education, I told them that Chelsea waited until after college graduation before joining another pageant. So it’s best to listen to their parents and treasure their education,” he added.
And after the outreach activity, Manalo went to Taguig City to get up-close with even more fans for a “Parade Walk” at “The Lights of Christmas” Park, where she ushered the festive illumination in the vicinity along Lakeshore Highway in Lower Bicutan.