Will Miss World Philippines Hillarie Danielle Parungao’s chances at the 65th Miss World pageant in China diminish by the Spratlys’ territorial dispute between China and the Philippines? That will be known when Miss World 2015 culminates at the Beauty Crown Grand Theater in Sanya, China on Dec. 19.
The stunning 24-year-old commercial model and graduate of nursing is up to the challenge of following in the footsteps of Miss World 2013 Megan Young, the country’s first Miss World.
She has undergone intensive preparation including shooting of her video “Katuwang,” a personal program aimed at alleviating childhood mortality which was shot in her hometown, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.
“Through this initiative, I wish to create awareness on the issues and challenges that affect families from getting access to quality and affordable healthcare in my province, and hopefully, throughout the country as well. I intend to use my title as Miss World Philippines to lobby for support from LGUs to jumpstart a campaign to save countless numbers of young lives and enable them to live a full healthy life,” Parungao said of her advocacy entry for the Miss World Beauty with a Purpose competition.
“As I embark on this journey, I would like to encourage all of my fellow countrymen to have another look on what Miss World is truly all about, and to join me in my quest to bring home our second Miss World title,” Parungao added. She will compete against more than a hundred contestants from all over the world wearing Filipino-designed gowns by the likes of Randy Ortiz, Bing Cristobal, Mark Tumang and Cherry Veric.
Cory Quirino, chairman of CQ Global Quest, Inc., license holder of Miss World Philippines, has continued its partnership with the Tuloy Foundation and the Philippine General Hospital to give support to the plight of street children and provide affordable healthcare to the less fortunate Filipinos.
Early this year, reigning Miss World Rolene Strauss and Miss World Organization President Julia Morley inaugurated the new pediatric ward at PGH name Beauty with a Purpose, for terminally ill cancer patients, which aims to provide quality and affordable treatment to more people.
“Miss World is a beauty pageant like no other because it expects its candidates to transcend the traditional definition of beauty-namely, women who are empowered, committed and purposeful,” Quirino said.