An email containing the “final answer” of Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman has been circulating all over the internet. I think it’s not only I who have been awed with her smart reply to the question:
“What do you say to the people of the world who have typecasted Filipinos as nannies?”
How many people do you know would have answered the way she did with:
“I take no offense on being typecasted as a nanny. But I do take offense that the educated people of the world have somehow denegrated the true sense and meaning of what a nanny is. Let me tell you what she is. She is someone who gives more than she takes. She is someone you trust to look after the very people most precious to you – your child, the elderly, yourself. She is the one who has made a living out of caring and loving other people. So to those who have typecasted us as nannies, Thank you. It is a testament to the loving and caring culture of the Filipino people. And for that, I am forever proud and grateful of my roots and culture.”
Recently, I’ve been to a few Filipino forums and accidentally stumbled upon this post claiming that Lara’s answer is actually a hoax:
That wasn’t Quigaman’s winning answer. Miss International traditionally doesn’t have a final question. The finalists each do a speech about what their cause is and what they would do if they were Miss International. Her speech was about helping children and their need for education.
Source: Filipino.ca
Whether or not it’s a hoax doesn’t diminish my admiration for Lara. I just thought that records should be set straight and credits should be given where it is due. The fact still remains, though, that our Precious Lara Quigaman had bested 51 other beautiful and brainy women from all over the world to become this year’s Miss International.
Honestly, i don’t care if it’s a hoax or not.
She really deserves ms intl title.
She rocks!
though I haven’t watched the competition. She deserves to win the crown. “ibang iba ang pinoy” hehe
This is the speech of Precious Lara Quigaman, the 2005 Miss International winner. And I quote:
“Here in Miss International our main mission is to promote peace and good will right?. And if given the wonderful opportunity to be Miss International, I will organise fund raising events that will benefit less fortunate children from all over the world focusing on free education and improving their quality of life. In this way we are teaching our youngsters that there is hope for them and we not only develop friendship between other countries but we’re also making way for a brighter future. Because I have always believed that our hope and our future lies in the children. Thank you very much.”