"I’m proud of my Filipino roots," the 5 ft. 6 in. Miriam continues. "I may not have lived in the Philippines my whole life but my parents have raised me as a Filipino. I appreciate Filipino values like close family ties. This has made me closer to my parents and open up to them especially during my growing up years. I even asked my dad about boys! That’s how open we are! Back in the US, I would participate and attend Filipino cultural presentations. So, I’ll never forget the Filipino in me."
Miriam was a Psychology student at Mt. San Antonio College in Los Angeles before she came to the Philippines.
"The people here are friendly. The food is great. Since I’m a vegetarian, I like pinakbet and other vegetable dishes. I also like suman and puto. The Philippines has the best beaches like Dakak and a host of other wonderful places to go to such as Tagaytay and Baguio which are near Manila."
Miriam, the daughter of Noly Chui and the former Lilian San Jose, wants to become a successful performer. This is also why she has been here for a year and a half. "I’ll be attending acting workshops and voice lessons next week. I love dancing and hosting," she says.
Miriam, who describes herself as "open-minded, straightforward and idealistic" says that in life, "It is always important to keep one’s feet on the ground."
Asked what makes her different from other women her age, Miriam, a former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner, replies, "I was just lucky to win in a pageant. But what sets a woman apart is her motivation and courage to achieve her dreams. That’s what I think counts most." –Jerry Donato