MANILA, Philippines – Following her triumph in Las Vegas — which ended a 42-year title drought — our new Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was rousingly welcomed by adoring Filipinos who shared in the immensity and pride of her achievement. To show the world — the universe — how to go around the metropolis in style, Pia opted for a classy, luxurious Audi A8 as “carriage” during her much publicized Manila homecoming.
“Magandang umaga, everyone! Off to work today!” Pia beamed on her Instagram video post a few days ago where she appears comfortably seated in the backseat of the four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car from the famous German carmaker. In addition to the A8, an all-new Audi Q7 was also made available to her Miss Universe entourage.
Pia will be in the country for nine days before she flies back to the US. Her hectic homecoming schedule included a courtesy call on President Aquino in Malacañang and a trip to the Senate where she was presented with a Citation of Excellence for winning the 64th staging of the Miss Universe pageant — last won by Margie Moran in 1973.
Even as she secured the crown in December, Wurtzbach also endeared herself to people through the poise and grace she displayed amid Steve Harvey’s infamous announcement blunder during the Miss Universe pageant. Pia also handily won the admiration of many by substantively answering the questions posed before her during the crucial last rounds of the globally-televised pageant.
She called people’s attention to timely and crucial advocacies, namely HIV/AIDS awareness. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently hailed Wurtzbach as a “new champion for children and young people who are at risk of HIV.”