DINIDEDMA na lang ni Maxine Medina, ang pambato ng Pilipinas sa 65th Miss Universe pageant, ang mga negatibong komento tungkol sa kanyang kakulangan sa pagsasalita ng English, gaya nang puna ng dating Miss Universe na si Gloria Diaz na dapat daw siyang kumuha ng interpreter sa pagsagot sa question and answer portion ng pageant.

Wala raw siyang panahon sa intriga at ini-enjoy na lang niya ang napaka-hectic nilang schedule at maging ang paghahanda para sa big night sa Enero 30.

Sa panayam kay Maxine sa Filipina Royalty Event sa Okada Manila nitong Sabado, aniya, “I’m having fun. All of the moments I’ve been with the candidates they’re all asking me questions about the Philippines. I’m really, really proud of it. I’m really proud that we’ve been going around each island and I’m really excited to show them and they’re all enjoying it now. They’ve been asking me Tagalog words. I’m actually teaching them how to say ‘Salamat po,’ the ‘ate,’ ‘kuya’ that they can use here in the Philippines while they’re staying here.

“I’m enjoying it. Every moment of it because this is once in a lifetime. Paulit-ulit kong sasabihin ‘yun kasi I’m enjoying every moment of it.”

Model at interior designer si Maxine at mas binibigyang halaga niya ang ibinibigay na advice sa kanya ng ating reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

“She doesn’t want me to be pressured too much. She just wants me to enjoy being me, being myself because Miss Universe is different now, you have to break that stereotype of being just like a beauty queen, just like a queen.

You have to give it all, your character, what you can be, that you can prove them all that you can be anything.

“Pia and me were talking and then someone said, ‘Oh it’s nice to hear you talking in Tagalog.’ So that’s why I got the idea na why can’t I speak in Tagalog? You should be proud of it. Same with the other candidates, they’re all proud of their languages. I will let you know if, you know, I will have a translator or I’ll be talking in Tagalog or English,” aniya.

May dahilan daw si Maxine kung bakit siya sa sumasagot sa English kapag iniinterbyu.

“Well what I think is that Miss Universe somehow needs someone who can really speak in English, a little bit of speaking in English because, you know, they need someone to reach out to these children, to reach out to the whole world. Like no matter what language you have, you can just connect with them through English. Well, English is an universal language and that is how I can connect with the other candidates, with the other nationalities. And that’s the only way at least you’re able to share the message of Miss Universe,” paliwanag ni Maxine.

May sagot siya sa pahayag ng ni Gloria Diaz na huwag siyang umasa ng back-to-back win para sa Pilipinas.

“Well, everyone seems to think that because Gloria Diaz is also a candidate who won in another country. Let’s see on the pageant itself. No, I’m not affecting myself with that. Everyone thinks that way and who knows? We can have a back-to-back (win). Venezuela did that. In her own hometown. I’m not affecting myself so much about that because I’m here actually to focus to win the crown again for the Philippines,” sey niya.

Umaasa si Maxine sa malakas na suporta ng ating mga kababayan.

“Of course. Well, I think all of the Filipinos will be rooting for me. All of the Filipinos are believing in me and that’s something that I can hold on (to). Kaya natin ito. Mga kababayan, sana suportahan n’yo ako all throughout this journey of mine and don’t forget to vote. There’s four ways to vote for Miss Universe. Number one, you have to download the voting application through the Miss Universe website, and through the Miss Universe application, and through Miss Universe Twitter,” paalala’t lambing ni Maxine sa lahat. (ADOR SALUTA)