Ni ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

DALAWAMPU’T limang taong gulang na modelo mula Brazil na nugsusulong ng diversity in beauty ang kinoronahang Miss Asia Pacific International 2017 sa pageant na ginanap sa Resorts World sa Pasay City kahapon ng umaga.

Miss Asia Pacific International Francielly Ouriques of Brazil (center) is flanked by (from left) fourth runner-up Ilene De Vera of the Philippines, third runner-up Morgan Doelwut of the Netherlands, first runner-up Acacia Walker of New Zealand, and second runner-up Valeria Cardona of Honduras during the coronation night at the Resorts World Manila in Parañaque City on Wednesday night, November 29, 2017. Photo by Jansen ROmero

Tinalo ng crowd favorite na si Francielly Ouriques ang 41 iba pang mga kandidata sa titulo na nagsusulong ng love and appreciation ng cultural, physical, at spiritual diversities.

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Fourth runner-up si Miss Philippines Ilene de Vera ng Cebu City sa pageant, ang pagpapatuloy sa winning streak ng mga Pilipina sa international beauty contests.

Napanalunan din ni Ouriques, may taas na 5’8, ang special awards gaya ng Best In Swimsuit, Best in Festival Costume at Miss Sheridan. Ang kanyang body measurements ay 35-25-38.

Sa final interview, tinanong ang Top 5 candidates ng iisang katanungan: “Do you think the advocacy of fostering love, appreciation and unity in diversity is relevant in this day and age? Why or why not?”

Ang sagot ni Ouriques: “Absolutely. Fostering love nowadays is essential. I believe that we are all equal before God and all of us should be able to respect love and spread good things among everybody. Respect, unity and love are things that my parents taught me and everybody should foster them. Thank you very much.”

Kabilang din sa Top 5 sina Miss New ZealandAcacia Walker, 1st runner up; Miss Honduras Cardona Valeria, 2nd runner-up; Miss Netherlands Morgan Doelwijt, 3rd runner-up.

Ang iba pang mga kandidata na nakapasok sa Top 15 ay Nicaragua, Mongolia, Costa Rica, Japan, South Africa, Russia, Colombia, Peru, Cook Islands, at Egypt.

Ginawaran ng special awards sina Miss Cook Islands Lydia Simonis-Tariu, Miss Talent and Miss Photogenic; Miss Australia Louisa Brown, Miss Congeniality; Miss HondurasCardona Valeria, Best in Evening Gown; at Miss India Sonika Roy, People’s Choice.

Ang Miss Asia Pacific International pageant ay tinaguriang mother of all pageants sa Southeast Asia. Ibinalik ito noong 2016 pagkaraan ng 10 taong pamamahinga.

Sinimulan noong 1968 bilang non-stock, non-profit organization corporation na naglalayong isulong ang tourism ng Pilipinas sa labas ng bansa, ang orihinal nitong pangalan ay Miss Asia Quest Inc. at ito ang simula ng 48 taon ng beauty pageantry sa Pilipinas.

Ang Filipino beauty queens na nakilala sa sikat na beauty pageant ay sina Ma. Del Carmen Ines Zaragoza (1982), Gloria Dimayacyac (1983), Lorna Legaspi (1989), at Michelle Aldana (1993).