www.filipinosmakingwaves.com DECEMBER 2018 VOL. 7, NO. 12 TORONTO, CANADA Merry Christmas Baby Jesus lies on a bed of red and white Poinsettias (the national colours of Canada). The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Happy New Year 2019! Once again, the Philippines shined on international stage Catriona Gray is Miss Universe 2018 The 24-year-old, Catriona Gray, who beat off 92 contestants to take the coveted Miss Universe crown in Bangkok earlier this week, has thanked her country, saying she could not have done it without its support. In a video posted by the official Miss Universe account, Gray gushes: "I just want to say thank you to the Philippines, my country. You know, you guys have supported me all through this and if not for you, I would not have had the endurance or spirit to do what I do." The model touched down in Manila on Wednesday (December 19) to a hero's welcome, as she was greeted by a large crowd gathered to congratulate her on her title win. She told waiting press she was "so happy" to be back in the Phil- ippines, and said she was looking forward to getting started on her charity work and spending Christmas with her family. Former Miss Philippines and Miss World, Gray garnered a lot of attention during the competition for her incredible confidence, impressing even supermodels with her catwalks. With the backdrop of the Philippine flag, the beautiful Catriona Gray walked with confidence and pres- For her evening dresses, she chose to work with Filipino design- ence. She spoke with sheer determination saying, “I stand here not as one, but for the 104 million er Mak Tumang, who created two stunning gowns depicting the Filipinos!’ She won the 2018 Miss Universe title with flying colors! heritage and culture of their country. Catriona will spend her year-long reign as Miss Universe work- ing closely with the organisation and carrying out charity work. Related story on Page 3 In particular, she will become an ambassador for HIV/AIDS awareness, after losing a close friend to the disease. Page 2 Filipinos Making WAV ES DECEMBER 2018 DECEMBER 2018 Filipinos Making WA V ES Page 3 CANADA ~ PHILIPPINE NEWS WAVES Balangiga bells' return fuels Miss Philippines to historical curiosity in east Samar Miss Universe: Gray’s win reminds us of our previous winners As Catriona Gray becomes the fourth Filipina Miss Universe, we take a look back at the country's history with the pageant By Sophie Prideaux ty today. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech after witnessing the official handover Beauty pageantry is big of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Margarita Moran business in the Philippines. Samar on December 15, 2018. (Alfred Frias/Presidential Photo) Miss Universe 1973 The final of the Miss Uni- MANILA -- The Department The DOT expects an influx of ment projects. verse competition is circa 1973: Full-length por- of Tourism (DOT) on Satur- tourists desiring to see the watched by almost every trait of Maria Margarita Mo- “Foremost of these is the day said the return of the three Balangiga Bells along household in the country, ran of the Philippines, Miss improvement of the Balangi- Balangiga Bells to Eastern with the old church in East- and the national pride that Universe 1973, wearing a ga Incident Marker, funded Samar, 117 years after it was ern Samar, where they will comes from the competition tiara, a sash, a scepter, and a under DOT-Yolanda Com- taken to the United States, be stored. is palpable from both the cape with her gown. (Photo prehensive Rehabilitation will fuel curiosity among contestants and the audi- by CBS Photo Archive/Getty These bells are seen to boost and Recovery Project worth local and foreign tourists ence. Images) tourism activities not only in PHP9.7 million, which was alike in the history of the the town but the whole East- downloaded to the LGU,” Today, then, marks an im- Full-length portrait of Maria region. ern Samar. disclosed Tiopes. portant day for Filipinos, as Margarita Moran of the Phil- “We, at DOT, are so happy Miss Philippines Catriona ippines, Miss Universe 1973, “Eastern Visayas is really The improvement includes for the people of Eastern Gray is crowned Miss Uni- wearing a tiara, a sash, a rich in history and among landscaping and beautifica- Samar as the homecoming of verse 2018. sceptre, and a cape with her those historical places that tion of the park and the Balangiga Church bells may gown. CBS Photo Archive/ can help in improving our small museum located at the yet turn not only Balangiga The 24-year-old model beat Getty Images tourism is the town of Bal- back of the marker to make town but the whole of East- off 92 competitors to take angiga which has figured it more presentable to tour- After doing some part-time ern Visayas (Region 8) into the title. She is the fourth prominently in both the Phil- ists and pilgrims who will be modelling for fashion de- an emerging tourist destina- Filipina beauty queen to be ippine and American histo- visiting the town. signer Auggie Cordero and tion," Tourism chief Berna- named Miss Universe in the ry,” Puyat added. incandescent badgering dette Romulo-Puyat said in a The Balangiga Incident competition's history. from family and friends, DOT-Eastern Visayas Re- Marker is the work of Na- statement. Here, we take a look back at Margarita Moran decided to gional Director Karina Rosa tional Artist Napoleon "In time for the Christmas the previous Filipina win- enter the Binibining Pilipi- Tiopes said the agency had Abueva, inaugurated on the season, this is one of the best ners, and where they are nas aged 19, going on to take been assisting the local gov- 102nd commemoration on gifts the region could ask now... the crown. She won the right ernment unit of Balangiga in September 28, 2003. for," she added. to represent her country at the area’s tourism develop- Gloria Diaz the Miss Universe pageant in (Continued on page5 ) Miss Universe 1969 Athens, Greece shortly after- Gloria Diaz became the first wards. She took the 1973 Philippine growth 2nd fastest Filipina to take the title of Miss Universe title, along- Miss Universe back in 1969. side the Miss Photogenic She was scouted by a com- title. in Southeast Asia: ADB petition aficionado while Once her reign had ended, studying in college, who Margarita married and com- The Philippine gross do- Darussalam, Indonesia, convinced her to join the pleted her qualifications in By Leslie Gatpolintan mestic product (GDP) re- the Philippines, and Thai- sixth edition of the Binibin- business, before moving to mained strong at 6.3 per- land but declined in Ma- ing Pilipinas, the country’s London to study a Masters MANILA-- The Philippines cent in the first three laysia,” the report said. national beauty pageant. She Degree. She has headed sev- is expected to become the quarters of 2018, though became a crowd-favourite However, the Update iden- eral private companies second fastest growing during the Miss Universe moderating from 6.8 per- throughout her life, and had economy in Southeast Asia tified the escalating trade competition, largely down to cent last year. a career in television and after Vietnam over the conflict as the largest her wit, and was crowned film, hosting Margie on Min- next years, supported by Investment was the big- downside risk, even after winner aged just 18. robust public and private gest contributor to the leaders of the People’s danao and producing a multi investment, the Asian De- growth, followed by Republic of China (PRC) During her reign, Gloria -awarded movie, Bagong Buwan (New Moon). velopment Bank (ADB) household consumption. and the United States travelled widely with the Miss Universe Organisation, said. agreed to a 90-day truce Moran is also well known The ADB also retained its supporting the causes it ad- precluding any new tariffs for her work promoting In a supplement to its growth forecast for South- vocates, and became a pub- to allow time for bilateral peace as part of the Minda- Asian Development Out- east Asia at 5.1 percent for lic figure thanks to many negotiations -- which also nao Commission on Women look 2018 Update report 2018, assuming robust public and television events lends businesses a wider Organisation and recently as consumption and infra- in the United States. released on Wednesday, window for frontloading an ambassador-trustee of the ADB maintained its structure investment. trade. Gloria went on to pursue an Habitat for Humanity Philip- economic growth outlook “Robust domestic demand acting career in the Philip- pines. for the Philippines at 6.4 “The truce on trade tariffs continued to drive growth pines, where she became agreed by the United percent this year and 6.7 in the sub-region. Infra- very successful and highly percent for 2019. structure spending re- (Continued on page6 ) recognised. She remains a mained strong in Brunei Filipina television personali- (Continued on page5 ) Page 4 Filipinos Making WAV ES DECEMBER 2018 PHILIPPINES ~ CANADA NEWS WAVES I’m an American, but I’m head over heels in love with Canada (Reprinted from author Lorraine Koury’s submission to The Globe and Mail) Dear Canada, vated us was, yes, the ste- husband and I get a little reotype: Everyone is so emotional, because for us, You need to know that my very polite, so very nice. Canada, this sums you up husband and I weren’t Such a small, subtle thing; in four words.