A Filipino-Chinese model and children’s health advocate from Nueva Vizcaya was crowned Miss World Philippines 2015 during a pageant held at the Solaire Resort Casino in Paranaque City on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Hillarie Danielle Ang Parungao, 24, beat 25 other candidates to represent the Philippines in the Miss World 2015 competition to be held on Dec. 19 in Sanya, China. In addition to winning the crown, she took home several special awards, including: best in swimsuit, best in sports challenge, best in fashion runway and best in long gown.
Parungao also excelled in the question and answer portion of the competition during the Top 13 semifinals and Top 5 finals.
“My philosophy always relies on compassion which can open doors to challenges in life. In compassion, we get to understand people, and in understanding people, we become a better society,” she said, according to Manila Bulletin.
“Let us not forget why I will be on stage, and that is so I can get a bigger platform (the crown) to speak and do more for the children.”
In an interview with Philstar, Parungao, who placed third runner-up when she represented the Philippines in the Miss Asia Pacific World pageant last year, said she entered the pageant because she believed it would open more opportunities for her and allow her voice to be heard.
“[I] have an advocacy and I really want to focus on that. And I was looking for a better venue for that. A better venue for me to have a voice and what would be [better] than Miss World Philippines,” she said.
The 5’7’’ beauty queen recently started a program, “Katuwang: A Fight Against Child Mortality,” which aims to eliminate child mortality by spreading awareness on health needs and issues facing children. She has so far organized volunteers in informing families about proper nutrition intake and carrying out regular physical tests of children, Manila Bulletin reported.
Additionally, in September, she put together a fun run to raise funds for health programs for children.
The first, second, third and fourth princesses of the pageant were Marita Cassandra Naidas, Mia Allyson Howell, Maria Vanessa Wright and Emma Mary Tiglao, respectively.
