Resolutions commend Miss U Catriona Gray

Separate resolutions have been filed in the Senate congratulating and commending Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray for bringing "great honor, glory and recognition" to the country and the Filipino people.

At the resumption of the Senate session Monday, January 14, after a long holiday break, the resolutions were endorsed in the plenary as Gray started her reign in New York City, USA early this month.

The resolutions were filed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Nancy Binay.

Sotto, in his Senate Resolution 975, cited Gray for besting 93 other candidates from different countries during the 67th Miss Universe Pageant held on December 17, 2018 at IMPACT Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand.

"Whereas, Catriona Elisa Gray's outstanding performance deserves to be commended and praised for the great honor, glory and recognition brought to our country and the Filipino people," Sotto's resolution stated.

He said Gray's victory has placed the Philippines in the fourth spot in the list of countries that have the most number of Miss Universe title holders.

Gray is the fourth Filipina to win the crown next to Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973) and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (2015).

Aside from the Philippines, other countries with most Miss Universe titles are USA (8), Venezuela (7), Puerto Rico (5) and Sweden (3).

Zubiri's resolution highlighted Gray's work in raising awareness for various causes and her involvement in various organizations such as the Love Yourself organization which focuses on HIV awareness and the Young Focus organization that started a fundraising program for building a preschool for children in Smokey Mountain.

"Whereas, Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray clinched the crown for the country with her empathic answer to the final question, where, when asked for the most important lesson she has learned in life, she brought up the plight of impoverished children in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and a necessity of using her platform as a spokesperson to help these children see a more hopeful future," Zubiri said.

During the question and answer portion for the final three bets of the pageant, the contestants were asked about the most important lesson they have learned and how they would apply it in their time as Miss Universe.

"I think if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have smile on their faces," she said.