Miss World finalist Tracy Perez shocked with rice supply from Pinoys in Puerto Rico

By: Earl D.C. Bracamonte - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino migration to countries across the globe not only serves as an important source for the national coffers, but also serves another very important factor in international pageants - their very presence!

The last time I checked, Filipinos live in, at least, 66 countries and territories worldwide: from as far north in Nuuk, Denmark (in Greenland) to the southernmost confines of the Antarctica, where research teams are granted access.

Pageant fans would readily agree that whenever a Filipina entrant makes it to the final round, especially in the "Big Five" competitions - Universe, World, International, Earth, and Supranational - the show's host would usually remark that half of the Philippines is "in the house."

A case in point would be the recent Miss Universe edition in Eilat, Israel. Host Steve Harvey had to call the attention of Filipinos in the crowd, at least three times, for them to bring their cheers to a minimum when Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez was called as one of the 16 semifinalists. Pandemonium ensued when she was called in the top 5!

But there were other similar instances when Pinoy cheering would break the house down - notably in 2015 when Pia Alonzo Wurtzback was, after four-and-a-half minutes, proclaimed the rightful winner. And so were the moments when Megan Young won Miss World 2013 in Indonesia, or Catriona Gray's victory in Bangkok as Miss Universe 2018, or even Venus Raj's Top 5 placement in 2010 in Las Vegas.

Yet, when you come to think of it, while Pinoys may seem to come in droves, they're not actually that many. But what makes them noticeable is because they stick together and really pour their hearts out. In Albania, for example, Miss Globe 2021 Maureen Montagne related that there were only about 139 Filipinos in the entire state, but they all rallied behind her.

There is a big difference between a small number actually present in the pageant venue and a populous horde who are some place else. And when the Pinoys cheer, they don't do it quietly!

So when Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico the first time, she was surprised to know that a sizeable Filipino community lived and worked in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation. And so when their meals did not include rice, she got hungry and homesick most of the time. That's when Pinoys would send home-cooked meals for her. And her hunger pangs and homesickness were assuaged. With San Juan having an identical climate with the Philippines, she felt at home again.

So you see, Pinoys will always look out for their own - especially in a foreign land. They instantly warm up to new arrivals, most especially our beauty queens. The next time you watch an international pageant, make sure you notice the Filipinos in the crowd - and you'll never take them for granted again.

Tracy Maureen Perez: Ready for the world

Tracy Maureen Perez (Miss World Philippines Organization Facebook)

by Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

Miss Philippines Tracy Maureen Perez is ready for the world as she remains in the top fighting form for the Miss World 2021 beauty pageant, which will be held in Puerto Rico on March 16.

During an intimate catch-up huddle at Pandan Cafe in Quezon City on Feb. 2, Perez said that she’s slowly but surely getting the momentum back in time for the finals.

“I’ve worked the hardest to be where I am, and I’m proud of that. I basically came from scratch, And they see that. They don’t see a beauty queen, they see a person. And that’s very important,” she said.

Perez, 28, also said that she doesn’t feel any pressure now being the official flag bearer of the Philippines. “I don’t really think about it much. My co-candidates told me that I’m different from what they envisioned Miss Philippines to be.”

With the guidance of Miss World Philippines National Director Arnold Vegafria and the expert supervision of Aces and Queens trainers, Perez is confident she can prep herself up again for competition within a month’s time.

“If there’s one thing I learned from my Miss World journey so far, I just always have to stick to what I know. It pays to just be yourself because they know if you’re putting up a facade,” she said. “That’s also my takeaway from our previous queens, that there’s really no formula. At the end of the day, it’s just faith. It’s about you performing and just being prepared for anything.”

Only the Top 40 candidates have been invited to go back to Puerto Rico for the finals and the Cebuana beauty queen is one of them. Perez is one of the 15 winners of the pageant’s fast-track challenges. They will be joined in by 25 delegates who were chosen by the judges.

The 15 fast-track winners are: Cote D’ Ivoire, Mexico, Mongolia, India, England, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, United States, Paraguay, Cameroon, Nepal, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Botswana.

The 25 judges choice for the Top 40 are: Poland, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Colombia, The Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, France, Ecuador, Guinea, Bahamas, Malaysia, Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Somalia, Chile, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Iceland.

When the Miss World 2021 pageant was postponed again in December due to COVID-19, Perez said she was unfazed.

“It could be frustrating for some, but I tried my best to compose and calm myself because it’s something I couldn’t control. I’ll just take it as a blessing that I’ll have more time to prepare,” she said.

Tracy was able to take some time off as she took her first US trip and spend the holidays with her relatives in Oceanside, San Diego, California. She returned to Manila mid-January, just in time to mount her battle plan to hold her own relief operations for the victims of typhoon Odette, which also hit her hometown in Argao, Cebu.

“I’ve been in contact with relatives and friends in Cebu during the height of the typhoon, so I know the situation. Some areas still don’t have power yet. Even our house in Argao was hit, but not as badly as the other areas.”

Perez said that she is also privileged that her outreach project for the single mothers in Cordova, Cebu, had been selected as her beneficiaries of her Beauty With A Purpose Challenge.

“During the Miss World preliminaries, I think that was one of my proudest moments – not because I was being recognized – but more because I had fulfilled my mission for them. That’s the time I realized that there have not been as many efforts addressing the struggles of single moms. So when Miss World organization selected my project, I knew I had done my rightful part,” she also said.

Perez continued to talk in detail about her plan for solo parents.

“It’s all about capabilities training, giving them the skills to earn a better livelihood, specifically BPO and computer training. We’re also bridging the gap for them by hooking them up with their eventual employers. One of our partners in the project is a BPO owner. So, they’re literally ready to take them under their wings very soon.”

The Miss World 2021 beauty pageant will be telecast on CNN Philippines on March 17.