The Muntinlupa representative for Miss Universe Philippines 2020 could be Miss Congeniality personified. Maricres “Cris” Valdez Castro is one lady whose mission in life is to spread gentle warmth and happiness to people around her. And this is most evident in all the other beauty pageants she took part in prior to this. A shoulder to lean on and a sisterly presence to look up to – that’s her alright.
Cris is proud of her advocacy for #AdoptionAngels which addresses the plight of 1.8million abandoned children living in the Philippines. She believes that every child deserves a loving home. During one of her regular visits to its center, she prayed and played with the little ones and taught them about how they are Princesses in God’s kingdom and worthy of love. Her activities are reminiscent of the charitable deeds as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa once.
Now during this quarantine period, she has been sharing her time in Logistics Monitoring for the NGO called “Lawyers for Doctors” where they help supply and equip frontliners across 41 hospitals in Metro Manila, Palawan, Bicol and Davao. She has also been using her social media presence to inspire and call action. Thus far, three designers from two different organizations have donated over 300 masks and PPE suits in Manila and in the US. On Top of this, she negotiated for ventilators to be shipped from Washington to Philippine General Hospital in cooperation with friends in politics – former Brigadier General Oscar Hilman and Hon. Ria J Covington. The Filipino-American community deeply wants to help the Philippines during this difficult time. And at home, she started sewing masks by hand and gardening with her family to encourage fellow kababayans to grow in the backyard.
Lastly, she helped raised funds and food for orphanages such as the Tuloy Foundation, Meritxell Children’s Home, and have partnered with Target Fitness Muntinlupa to promote selling their t-shirts for a cause to feed hungry families in Metro Manila.
Sweet charity. This young woman’s heart is in the right place all the time. I hope many other individuals will try to emulate her good example.
Cris is the kind of person whose smile is always heartfelt.
Siya ung laging ginagawang MUSE sa school tapos madalas manalo kasi mahaba ung buhok, maganda posture, tapos magaling sumagot kc laging kasali sa honor roll sa classroom.
Rachelle Anne Go ang itsura nya… mukha rin cyang talented.
Why MUP 2020 has so many fillers? She’s not going to win the crown, I tell you. Not even a runner up spot. Chweh!
@ VINA YU Fillers…..
Kasi nga, nagpa-franchise sila. Of course, you DON’T embarrass the AP’s by rejecting whomever they send or is assigned to them. Bear in mind a good number of the AP’s are managers/handlers themselves.
‘Eto ang kaigihan ng casting – such as what happens at the BBP Screening. The organization can cherry pick from hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants.
Maricres Castro reminds me of Trish Bantigue, the Fil-American who was among the first to file for candidacy but backed out for lack of residency.
Mr. Tinio, I suggest you advise MUPO to conduct a Fan Poll for Best Advocacy. Prize money to go to the winning beneficiary. This can be a great way to put the spotlight on those causes that may deserve more attention, or obscured by more popular/conventional ones.
Pretty and cute .. .. but she is no beauty queen
She needs to concentrate on her profession and work hard so she and her kids won’t be homeless.
She looks like Michelle gumabao
Haha! Chaka noh? Walang dating lotlot kahit Miss Globe unplaced.
Her advocacy reminds me of Charlotte Aryanna, 1993 Miss Teen USA, who spent most of her life in foster homes, went on to win the the crown. She eventually used the platform to be a spokeperson for foster children.