MANILA – Filipina beauty Mutya Johanna Datul is back in the country after winning the 2013 Miss Supranational pageant over the weekend.
The 21-year-old stunner from Isabela said she is overwhelmed by her victory after joining a string of local pageants to help out in her family's finances.
“Honestly, parang nananginip pa rin ako. Nung tinawag ako, sobrang gulat na gulat ako. Kahit nung pagkagising ko, natakot akong tignan 'yung damit ko na baka pantulog siya. Kasi nakatulog ako na naka-make up and iyon pa rin ang damit ko. And then sabi ko, ‘Oh my God totoo pala.’ Ngayon unti-unti nang nagsi-sink in sa isip ko na ako yung nanalo,” she told ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual.
Datul bested 82 other candidates from around the globe and also won Miss Personality in the beauty contest.
Asked about her win, she said: “I think hindi sa walk or sa smile. Sa isang candidate, kapag lumalaban ka, ang kalaban mo diyan, 'yung sarili mo, 'yung nasa isip mo.”
She added: “Lagi kong iniisip na kahit anong mangyari, kahit magaganda ang mga kalaban ko, kahit mas matangkad sila sa akin, lagi kong iniisip na sa akin 'yung crown. Positive thinking ang naging edge ko kahit sobrang stressed.”
Datul’s victory comes with a cash prize of $25,000, which she intends use for the medical expenses of her mother who has a blood disorder, as well as to help her father send her siblings to school.
“I’m the breadwinner of the family. 'Yung father ko may work as a policeman pero hindi enough. Ako 'yung nag-volunteer na tulungan ang father ko kasi mahirap talaga na isa lang ang kumakayod sa family,” she said.
“Si mother ko, mabuti naman ang kalagayan niya pero lifetime na ang medication niya. She has a problem sa blood pero sobra niyang strong and alam ko na hindi siya ganun naaapektuhan sa karamdaman niya. Ako daw ang inspiration niya pero siya din ang inspiration ko,” she added.
While she is delighted to bring home some cash, Datul said what she really wanted was to bring home the crown for the Philippines.
“Yung importante sa akin, 'yung crown talaga. Kahit wala na akong matanggap [na ibang premyo], 'yung crown lang talaga para makapagbigay ako ng karangalan sa Pilipinas at makapagbigay ako ng saya sa pamilya ko,” she said.
Datul said she could never thank the Binibining Pilipinas Inc. enough for opening her doors to such opportunities, citing those who helped her prior to the competition as her inspiration to do her best in the pageant.
“Minold nila ako. Sobrang thankful ako kasi sobrang supportive nila, from the clothes, talagang everything. Doon ko nakita na kailangan kong magpursige kasi pinakita nila sa akin na kahit wala na silang tulog and pahinga, para lang maayos ang mga gamit ko,” she said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
