Top 5 empowering presents these MUPH 2021 candidates want to gift to Pinays
Every Filipino woman deserves to know she is strong—strong enough to overcome difficulties and tenacious enough to thrive in face of adversity. Sure, words are very powerful when it comes to empowering a woman, but gifts can produce the same amount of confidence, too.
At the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines 2021 preliminary Q&A, the 28 candidates were asked to name something they could add-to-cart and send to all Filipinas to help them during this pandemic.
These ladies believe that women need not to receive the fanciest or most expensive presents, but gifts that inspire and lift their spirits up—no matter how simple it is.
Below, we've listed down the top five gifts that these queens want to share with fellow Pinays.
1. Affirmation cards/book
Taguig's Katrina Dimaranan and Pangasinan's Maureen Wroblewitz could both agree that everyone could need a little boost of motivation through positive affirmations.
Dimaranan shared that in high school, she would use sticky notes and write motivational notes which "would inspire me and really set my day."
"Now, especially during this pandemic where we are hurting as people and hurting as a nation, it's so important for us to really inspire ourselves, and by then can we only inspire others," she said.
While for Wroblewitz, she thinks that motivational books could "help us get through the worst times."
"I think we all need a little bit of positivity every day," Wroblewitz answered.
2. Mirror
Call it vain, but looking at yourself in the mirror can actually be a good thing for you. Sam Santamaria of Parañaque and Princess Khrista Singh of Pasig would like to give compact mirrors to Filipino women.
In an answer for another question, Singh shared that she sees herself in the mirror "with confidence" and "with grace." She added: "I carry myself in the most beautiful way and I've never seen myself before." That's why she want every Pinay to "look at themselves and to see how proud they are of themselves and to see their own beauty" through a mirror.
Santamaria believes the same thing. For her, "you don't need anyone to tell you how beautiful you are," but just by looking at yourself in front of the mirror and to be reminded of your unique beauty will bring "a day of feeling amazing."
3. Sanitary Pads
Miss Bukidnon Megan Digal wants to normalize period talk by supporting, empowering, and educating women—especially young girls—and communities about menstruation.
"[Menstruation] is something that sometimes is considered a taboo topic for Filipinos. We are sometimes very shy and embarrassed about it but it's a reality," Digal said.
By giving Filipinas access to sanitary pads, she wishes that "every Filipina can openly discuss" and "be empowered" about her period.
4. Journal
If Cebu City bet Beatrice Luigi Gomez were to add something to her Lazada cart, it would be a journal. She says that having an outlet to write about yourself or an account of your day can help one's mental health especially during in a time of a pandemic.
5. Hair curler
For Chella Falconer of Misamis Oriental, a hair curler has been the "most essential" item throughout her Miss Universe Philippines journey because it made her feel beautiful—which is what she wants for other Pinays to feel.
"I felt really beautiful. I felt like a mermaid wearing my, my curls" she shared. "And I do think that if I send it to every Filipina out there, they would feel beautiful, they would be confident in themselves. Because once you become confident in you, you treat people better, you become happier as an individual and you become someone you've always wanted to be. And that is someone I am now, I am phenomenal."
Screenshots from KTX