Matapang na sinabi ni Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Roberta Tamondong na hindi pa tapos ang kanyang laban sa Miss Grand International pageant na talaga namang naging stunning sa pre-pageant event na “national costume” competition.
Sa isang post, ipinasilip ng dalaga ang kanyang costume at binigyang-pugay niya si Pura Villanueva Kalaw, ang kauna-unahang “beauty queen” ng Pilipinas matapos bansagang “Queen of the Orient” noong 1908.
“Nawa’y tulad ni Pura Villanueva Kalaw ay makamtan ko din ang pagiging unang reyna at ang gintong korona, para tumindig bilang isang babae at isang Filipina,” sabi ni Roberta sa kanyang caption.
Sa isa pang hiwalay na post sa Instagram ay ibinandera niya ang ilang litrato ng kanyang “full costume” at pinangalanan niya ito bilang “Unang Reyna.”
Muli niyang nabanggit sa IG post na nais niyang sundan ang yapak ni Kalaw at makuha ang kauna-unahang korona ng Pilipinas sa Miss Grand International pageant.
Hanggang ngayon kasi, hindi pa nakukuha ng bansa ang titulo sa nasabing kompetitisyon.
Pero naging “first runner-up” tayo noong nakaraang taon dahil kay Samantha Bernardo at noong 2016 dahil naman kay Nicole Cordoves.
Ayon sa caption, “This work of art was made to introduce contemporary audiences to the original Pinay beauty queen, who created a new prototype for the modern Filipina.
“It was a set of diverse elements that was part of her journey to be the first miss manila queen of carnival.
“Purificacion Villanueva y Garcia was only 22 years old when she became the first ‘Queen of the Orient’ in the first Manila Carnival in 1908. This makes her the first Filipina beauty queen in our country.
And I am hoping that I will follow in Pura’s footsteps and become the first Filipina to win the Miss Grand International competition and receive the golden crown,” sabi niya.
Magaganap ang “coronation night” ng Miss Grand International competition sa October 25 sa Indonesia.