BAGUIO CITY – Aside from the host nation’s bet Maxine Medina, there is a huge chance Filipinos will also root for the candidate of New Zealand in the upcoming 2016 Miss Universe pageant.
Twenty-four-year-old Kiwi Tania Dawson is actually a half-Filipina whose mother was born in Baguio City and was raised in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan.
Yesterday, Dawson received a warm reception here, the hometown of her mother Margarita Palabay who migrated and married in New Zealand.
Margarita and her friends were on hand to proudly cheer for Dawson, one of 28 beauties who went here as part of the annual pageant’s activities.
“Masayang-masaya kami at lahat ng pamilya at kaibigan ko ng anak ko ay nandito ngayon para sa suporta kay Tania at malaki ang pasalamat namin dahil nasama siya dito sa Baguio,” said Margarita.
The young Dawson also dropped by Pangasinan to visit the rest of her relatives.
The candidates rode four beautifully arranged Panagbenga flower floats prepared by the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Baguio (HRAB) while another one arranged by the Baguio Country Club had reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.
“Ang gaganda ng mga kandidata, ang saya-saya at sulit na sulit ang paghihintay ko at nakakawala ng pagod,” said Myra Mora who waited together with her two children.
They were greeted by about 20,000 spectators in this city.
The 2016 Miss Universe pageant coronation night will happen on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena. (ZALDY COMANDA)