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Catriona Gray to Tondo children: 'I hope I made you all proud'
Catriona Gray finally came back to visit and celebrate her win with the children of Young Focus Foundation, a Tondo-based nonprofit organization that gives support to children Wednesday morning.
“I hope I made you all proud,” Catriona told the children.
During her speech, Catriona said that it felt great to finally be back to see the children, who became Catriona's inspiration for her now well-known answer in the Q&A portion of the Miss Universe pageant.
READ: Catriona's final word at the Miss Universe Q&A
In the Final Word portion, Catriona was ask what the most important lesson she's learned in her life was. She referenced her work with the children of Tondo.
According to Mark Soriano, the spokesperson of Young Focus Foundation, after Catriona became Miss Universe, more children have dreamt of becoming just like her and become a beauty queen.
Asked what her advice to the kids were, Cat said to study.
“Study hard before you become a beauty queen so you know what to answer. Always enrich your mind. And keep dreaming,” she said.
Paul and Anne Van Wijgerdens, founders of the organization, thanked Catriona for all of her support, and for calling the public’s attention to Tondo during Miss Universe.
Because Catriona shed light on these Tondo children, enough funds have poured in enough to cover the school budget for an entire academic year, Paul shared.
As a sign of gratitude, Young Focus gave Catriona a shirt with the letters encapsulated in a silver outline to represent the silver lining Catriona mentioned in her speech during the pageant and also to symbolize the hope she brought to the organization, said Paul.
According to Soriano, Catriona has been a volunteer for Young Focus since 2016 when she first signed up with her mother, Normita Ragas Magnayon-Gray.
She continued supporting the advocacy and even funded one of the Young Focus buildings in Tondo, Manila, taking part in the clean-up during renovation as well, said Soriano.
Before leaving, Catriona promised the children that she will be coming back all year round. — LA, GMA News
