Megan undaunted by Haiti accident; another Pinay wins; 2013 Miss Earth 5 Best in Swimsuit

MANILA, Philippines - During her recent visit to the U.S., 2013 Miss World Megan Young took a side trip to Virginia, her birthplace, to visit relatives and childhood friends.

“She stayed with the family of her half-brother Calvin and went back to London on Nov. 7,” said Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre. “As Funfare has been reporting, included in Megan’s return trip to the U.S. was to raise funds for the Philippine General Hospital’s Pediatric Ward and the Tuloy Foundation Center, a facility for street children.”

In New York, Megan forged a partnership with the NY-based Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) headed by Fe Martinez for the mounting of a fund-raising dinner ball last Nov. 20 at Doubletree by Hilton in Newark, New Jersey.

“A special program was held, featuring the best Filipino talents in the East Coast area,” reported Funfare’s NY-based “beauty expert” Felix Manuel. “Steve Douglas, Miss World Organization (MWO) events director, praised the Filipinos for their resilience.” In that event, a check for $20,000 was turned over to the MWO for the Yolanda victims.”

Megan is expected in Manila Nov. 27 to 29, to help raise funds for the Yolanda victims and visit Tacloban City, which bore the brunt of Yolanda. After a few days, she might go back to New York. It’s not sure yet if she’s spending Christmas here. In June next year, she will grace the 116th Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York, organized by PIDCI.

While in New York, Megan also admitted that the accident in Haiti where she fell with kids when the second floor of a school building collapsed was an eye-opener.

“What happened is more of a reason for us to all the more reach out and give what these children need,” Edmund quoted Megan as saying, obviously undaunted by the Haiti accident. MWO head Julia Morley was critically injured in that accident and was flown to Florida for surgery. “We’re hoping that she gets well soon,” added Megan who promised to return to Haiti.

More on the “beauty” front

Still another Pinay has just won a beauty title — Amber Delos Reyes as 2013 Miss Teen ExpoWorld Universe at a pageant held in Guatemala last Nov. 21 as part of the Festival de Belleza ExpoWorld 2013, a six-in-one beauty contest. Other winners were Mini Miss ExpoWorld Internacional 2013 Mariangel Sanchez, USA/Latina; Mini Miss ExpoWorld Universe 2013 Gabriela Paixao, Brazil; Miss Petite ExpoWorld Universe 2013 Charlot Toledo, Nicaragua; Miss ExpoWorld 2013 Thais Ransolin, Brazil; Miss ExpoWorld Universe 2013 Gabriela Brooks, Portugal; Mister ExpoWorld Internacional 2013 Hector Molina, Guatemala; and Mister ExpoWorld Universe 2013 William Raidi, Brazil.

Meanwhile, adjudged 2013 Miss Earth Top Five Best in Swimsuit (Group 1) during the prelims on Nov. 21 at the poolside of F1 Hotel, The Fort, Taguig City, were: Miss South Africa Ashanti Mbanga, Miss Slovak Republic Lucia Slaninkova, Miss Colombia Diana Carolina Ortegon, Miss Philippines Angelee Delos Reyes and Miss Austria Katia Wagner.

— Reported by Celso de Guzman Caparas