Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) — Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on Vice President Leni Robredo at the Quezon City Reception House.
The 25-year-old Filipina-Australian was welcomed by Robredo’s staff who were wearing the beauty queen’s iconic “Three Stars and the Sun” ear cuff, as well as the beneficiaries of the vice president’s programs and barangay captains from Naga City in Bicol.
Gray was entertained by the Lipa City Youth Orchestra, a group of children and students from Project GiftED.
Robredo showed Gray the “Catriona Robot” created by students of Doctor Yanga Colleges Foundation in Bulacan to the delight of the beauty queen. The robot supposedly can mimic Gray’s signature lava walk.
Gray received a “malong” (traditional “tube skirt”) made by displaced residents of Marawi City who are also beneficiaries of Robredo’s Angat Buhay program.
Robredo lauded how Gray represented the country in the international stage.
“This is our opportunity to tell you how proud you made all of us … not only because you won the crowd, but because you presented the best of the Filipino,” the vice president said.
Gray, meanwhile, vowed to give back and spend the whole year serving the country.
“Enough small changes or acts of good will or good things can make a difference when put together,” she said.
Gray and Robredo then held a closed-door meeting.
In the afternoon, Gray also paid courtesy calls on the Senate and Tourism Secretary Berna Puyat.
Days after winning the title in Bangkok, Thailand, Gray met with President Rodrigo Duterte last December 20 at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay before she flew to New York City.
READ: What Duterte asked Miss Universe Catriona Gray
Gray is the fourth Filipino to bring home the coveted title, joining Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran and Pia Wurtzbach who won in 1969, 1973 and 2015 respectively.
