Rousing welcome for beauty queen

The nation will join hands in welcoming back Precious Lara Quigaman, the newly crowned Miss International 2005, on Monday and celebrate the pride and honor she has given the country at the prestigious international beauty tilt.

On her way from Tokyo, Japan, where the beauty contest was held, a warm reception awaits the beauty queen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arranged by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities.

President Arroyo will welcome and congratulate Quigaman at Malacañang before the newly crowned beauty queen heads off to a welcome parade along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has urged city residents and Makati-based companies, particularly those on Ayala, to give Quigaman a warm welcome through confetti from high-rise buildings.

"Makati, a world-class city, is honored to receive a world-class Filipina," Binay said in a statement.

The grand parade is expected to start at 3 p.m.

The new Miss International will celebrate her triumph with a welcome party at the home of Bb. Pilipinas at the Araneta Center.

Quigaman, a 23-year-old fashion model and freelance web writer, bested 50 other contestants form all over the world at the prestigious Miss International held at Tokyo, Japan.

She joins the ranks of Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), and Melanie Marquez (1979) as the fourth Filipina to win the Miss International beauty title. — Michael Punongbayan