Precious Day declared

Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza has signed Executive Proclamation 760, declaring Oct. 5 as "Ms. International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman Day.

"She has proven once again that beauty, charm, talent and the wit of the Filipina stand out among the rest. I believe this special day should be devoted to her. It will be recorded in history that Oct. 5, 2005 was when she visited Manila City Hall. At this very moment, the most beautiful woman in the world is a Filipina. That is why we are thankful to her," Atienza said.

Quigaman is the fourth Filipina to win the Ms. International beauty title, breaking a 26-year dry spell.

Former winners were Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Aurora Pijuan and Melanie Marquez.

Quigaman, who was accompanied by her mother Precy, said she was surprised by the warm welcome she received yesterday since it was merely a courtesy call to the Manila mayor.

Also present were Ms. Chinatown Mary Grace Sy and Ms. Manila April Tanhueco.

Quigaman said she would want to help the country solve its problem on street children.

"That is something I want to prioritize first, and I will try to organize some fund-raising events with the help of other organizations," she said.

Quigaman later paid Senate President Franklin Drilon and other senators a visit in support of the sponsorship of the Comprehensive Juvenile Justice System Bill.

Quigaman shared the limelight with Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan’s daughters, Francesca and Miel, who were also at the Senate during the senator’s sponsorship of the bill.

Quigaman said she wanted to support the bill and learn more about the issue.

She was accompanied by her mother as they toured Pangilinan’s office, then to Drilon’s and the rest of the senators.