Miss Universe contestants Le Hang of Vietnam, Jaime-Lee Faulkner of Great Britain, Cheryl Chou of Singapore, Jenny Kim of Korea and Kiran Jassal of Malaysia help pack meals for needy pregnant women during the Rise Against Hunger event at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City yesterday.
 

MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina yesterday led 56 other contestants in repacking fortified rice for 100 pregnant women in Porac, Pampanga and Candelaria, Zambales.

The event was part of the Department of Health (DOH)’s First 1,000 Days to end malnutrition and low birth weight in the Philippines, in partnership with the non-government organizations Rise Against Hunger Philippines, Pass It Forward and Miss Universe Charities.

In a speech delivered at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City where the repacking was conducted, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial thanked the Miss Universe contestants for their help.

“The food packs that you are packing today will go to about 100 pregnant women so that we will reduce low birth weight and stop malnutrition among newborns and stunting among the children of these pregnant women,” she said.

“You are doing a lot of help and changing the world for the better, one pregnant woman at a time here in the Philippines. So thank you very much for your support and assistance to the DOH,” Ubial noted.

Under the program, each of the beneficiaries will be provided with a pack of fortified rice for one meal a day starting in February. The food packs are available in champorado, chicken arroz caldo, beef stew and ginataan, among others.  

The food packs were donated by Rise Against Hunger and fortified with 23 essential vitamins and minerals and meet one-third of the nutrition requirement of pregnant and lactating women.

Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and 29 candidates visited Baguio City yesterday.

They picked strawberries and witnessed a Panagbenga-like street dancing and flower float parade from Upper Session Road to the Baguio Country Club.

Panagbenga is the Baguio Flower Festival, the Philippine version of the Rose Float Festival in Pasadena, California. Panagbenga lures hundreds of thousands to the city every February.

“It is an honor that international beauties come to the city,” said Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan. “It was just unfortunate that the usual Panagbenga parade route was shortened because of time limitations.”

As early as 6 a.m., residents lined the streets to see the beauty contestants.