Filipina Miss Universe Catriona Gray finally came home to the Philippines on the last days of February for a grand homecoming befitting a queen – and she showed the universe how to wield her woman power and crown, to pursue positivity and the interests of children.
Catriona Gray was welcomed by the nation with parades, tributes, and a concert prepared by the Miss Universe Organization, Binibining Pilipinas Charities, and Araneta Center – and she did not disappoint.
The Filipina beauty queen tirelessly and energetically greeted people who came out to the streets for the parades, her audiences in television appearances, and participated in the thanksgiving concert party but it was on her last official day on February 27 where she showed where her heart and passion runs deep – in the midst of children.
Catriona Gray gave the world glimpses of the children with whom she found her “silver lining despite adversities,” the children whose care, education, and protection she advocated as she won the Miss Universe crown in December 2018.
The influential Filipina met and even sang her song made for the children of Young Focus from the slums of Tondo, Manila with whom she has been working with even before Miss Universe, proceeded to Mandaluyong to visit the Love Yourself center for HIV awareness, on to Quezon City for Smile Train Philippines, and the orphaned children housed by Fr. Tony Labiao at St. Peter’s Parish Church.
Here are photos and a video from Catriona Gray’s charity visits organized by the team of Stella Marquez Araneta:
Young Focus Philippines, Tondo
Early in the morning of Wednesday, Catriona Gray reunited with the children of Young Focus in Tondo with whom she has worked with even before the pageant. Gray shared on her social media that Young Focus has gathered enough financial support for the year 2019 after mentioning the charity at the Miss Universe pageant.
“We’re not only looking for the silver lining but working together to create a silver lining for our country’s children,” wrote Gray, referring to her crown-winning response on Miss Universe.
The Filipina Miss Universe, who is also a musician, sang her song especially made to campaign for the children’s access to quality education.
Love Yourself, Mandaluyong
LoveYourself Volunteer-Ambassador, Catriona Gray, visited the organization that provides
HIV counseling, testing, treatment, and life-coaching. Catriona is known to advocate HIV awareness among the youth.
Referring to the stigma surrounding HIV Gray said, “It shouldn’t be associated with all this fear. It should be seen just like getting your heart check up, your blood sugar check up.”
Smile Train
The children of Smile Train Philippines showed Catriona how they can finally smile after getting cleft palates surgery from Operation Smile. The beauty queen took pictures with the kids and encouraged them to keep smiling.
Father Tony Labiao’s drug war orphans
Catriona Gray visited, danced, and fed the children who lost their parents due to the anti-drug campaign and are now housed by Father Tony Labiao of St. Peter’s Parish church ministry Abot Kamay Alang-alang sa Pagbabago (AKAP) Pamilya Program. Catriona told the children, “Never forget that you are loved and wanted, and that God loves you.”
WATCH the videos of #CatrionaHomecoming stories here:
Also here
READ more Catriona Gray’s advocacies here:
Catriona Gray comes home, champions the protection of Filipino children
Comment below your positive vibes send off to Catriona Gray as she goes back to New York City to continue her reign as Miss Universe.
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