“Let’s make believe that all of a sudden, you have a million dollars, what’s the first thing you would buy and why would you buy it?”
That was the question given to Margarita “Margie” Moran when she competed during the Miss Universe pageant back in 1973.
Moran bagged the crown and became the Philippines’ second Miss Universe titleholder after giving a practical and realistic answer to that question.
“A house and lot because it’s the most expensive thing and I can’t afford it. If I had a million bucks, I’ll buy a house and lot and live by myself and other people of course,” she said back then.
On the other hand, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray gave her own take on the sae question when it was asked to her during her homecoming concert held on February 24 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gray went on to say that she will use the money to provide financial assistance to Young Focus Philippines, an organization that provides quality education to children in impoverished areas such as Tondo, Manila.
“A million dollars? I would go to Young Focus and I would tell them where would they want their new center to be because it’s really what they need. They have so many passionate teachers who want to teach, they have so many children who want to have access to education but they don’t have the space,” she said.
Gray added that she already makes enough money for herself so she would rather just share the money to those who need it most.
“I don’t need a million dollars. I am happy with where I am. If you can bring change to someone, it’s more fulfilling than bragging, ‘Yes, I have a lot of money’, but I just changed my own life. If you are able to share it with other people, mas fulfilling ‘yon,” she added.
Her answer earned loud applause from the audience and commendation from Boy Abunda who hosted the show.
Gray has been vocal about her chosen advocacy which is education, as well as her work with Young Focus Philippines.
She even mentioned her experiences in Tondo with Young Focus during her final word in the Miss Universe pageant.
“I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is poor and very sad. And I’ve always taught to myself to look for the beauty of it and look in the beauty of the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And this I think if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have smile on their faces,” she said.
