MJ's friends, fans, relatives pray for her success
TOURISM • 01:37 AM Thu Jan 8, 2015
1,182
By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
MJ during her visit in North Cotabato last year after winning the Bb. Pilipinas. (Photo By Ferdinandh Cabrera)
TULUNAN, North
Cotabato – Family, friends, fans and practically all Cotabatenios pray, and
praying hard, that Mary Jean Lastimosa could bring home the 2015 Miss Universe crown.
In her
hometown in Barangay Sibsib, Tulunan, North Cotabato, town mates pray and vowed
to hold rosary prayers so the country’s bet in the world’s prestigious beauty
pageant could make it.
A gay
beautician who personally know MJ,” Ms. Lastimosa’s nickname here, said
confidently that she can make Filipinos happy by January 25 in Doral, Miami,
Florida.
She is our
pride, sana maiuuwi niya ang korona,” the beautician said.
A vendor at
Sibsib public market told MJand Ipinapanalangin namin and panalo mo (we pray for
you victory).”
Raprap
Hambala, head of a special division of North Cotabato provincial government and
served as close coordinator of the country’s Miss Universe 2014, was sad he
could not accompany his townmate.
I will pray
for her success while watching her on live TV coverage come January 25,” he
said after his desire to accompany her was denied due to visa issues.
MJ sent him an
SMS, encouraging him to appeal his case before the US embassy. Time constraint
hinders him to do so.
I may not be
physically beside her in the US during the pageant night, my prayers
My visa was
denied for one reason or another, but I am confident she has the edge because
of the trainings that she underwent her, that is our ace, we pray and we pray
hard, the provincial government is giving her the full support,” Hambala said.
Gissele
Tiamson-Dalumpines, MJ’s close friend in Barangay Sibsib, recalled that she was
pregnant when they met months before the pageant night last year.
She touched
my tummy as if blessing my child,” Dalumpines recalled.
Her other
child, Nefetari, was MJ’s avid fan and cried hard when she did not meet the
country’s bet in her last visit in Tulunan.
To appease
Neftari, MJ sent a video message greeting on her birthday.
As personal
friend and number one supporter, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza was
confident MJ could make it. The governor
said she has the gut feeling Ms. Lastimosa could bring home the prestigious
title.
Mendoza mulls
flying to the US for the January 25 pageant night.