WINAKASAN ni Catriona Gray ang kanyang reign bilang Bb. Pilipinas-Universe sa pangakong laging itataas ang bandila ng Pilipinas saanman siya naroroon.

“Philippines, I will forever raise our flag, thank you for choosing me as your queen,” sabi ni Catriona sa madla na nanonood sa coronation ng bagong Binibining Pilipinas queens nitong Linggo sa Cubao.

Sa kanyang emotional farewell speech, ipinahayag ni Catriona ang pasasalamat sa mga Pilipino at ibinahagi niya rin kung paano niya na-‘conquer’ ang tatlong bundok sa kanyang journey para masungkit ang Miss Universe crown.

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“I knew that I had a big role to step up to once the Miss Universe-Philippines sash was placed across my heart and along the way I had to surmount three mountains,” aniya.

Ang una, aniya, “was conquering herself”.

“Like every single person I had to overcome the fear that comes from within, the fear of falling short, the fear of failure, the fear of not measuring up, but I conquered my fear with faith. Faith that God had purposely set me on this path and that he would not give me a burden too heavy to carry and faith in myself,” sabi ni Catriona.

“I knew that I was and am not perfect but I knew I’m determined and I knew that out of all 95 women that I was to compete within Miss Universe, I would be the one and only Filipina and that gave me strength,” sabi pa niya.

Ibinahagi rin ng reigning Miss Universe kung paanong nakatulong ang suporta ng kanyang team, mentors, at mga Pinoy para tumayo at ipakita sa mga nagsasabing hindi niya kakayanin ang laban, na kaya niya.

“My Team Catriona were my backbone and my safe place and I wouldn’t be standing here if not for every single one of them and for all of you and as an only child whose family was away for the entirety of this journey they also gave me a family,” sabi ni Catriona.

More than conquering herself, and others, binanggit ni Catriona na ang pinakamahala ay ang magawa at mapagwagian ang mga bagay “for a purpose”.

“I looked down at the lettering over my heart that said ‘Philippines’ and I felt its weight knowing the history, challenges, and triumph of the Filipino people. I thought of the children of tondo and of my countrymen, I may only be one person but now I have the opportunity to serve a hundred and four million Filipinos, and I knew I was doing this para sa Pilipinas,” sabi pa niya.

Tinapos ni Catriona ang kanyang speech sa pagsasabing there is a ‘king or queen’ inside of each Filipino at may abilidad ang bawat isa to ‘conquer the universe’ as well.