Beauty from Danao is Philippine bet to Miss Global Universe 2019

CEBU, Philippines — Letelle Sabas Perez, a 21-year-old from Cambanay, Danao City, is the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Global Universe 2019 pageant which will hold its coronation night tomorrow, June 23, in Singapore.

The Cebuana, handpicked for the pageant, is among 20 candidates competing in the international tilt, with the rest of the delegates coming from Kenya, Malaysia, USA, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, China, Algeria, Japan, Thailand, Borneo, South Korea, Ghana, Myanmar, Russia, France, Singapore, India, and Belgium.

The fourth of five siblings, Letelle, who studied Airline Management at the Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) in Lapu-Lapu City, has won local competitions such as Miss Karansa Festival Queen 2012, Mutya ng Kabataan 2014 and IAU’s Miss Airline Management 2017. She has also represented Danao City in the Sinulog Festival.

In an interview for “BANATanay,” (an online show of The FREEMAN’s sister publication, BANAT News) she said that it must have been her fighting spirit which led organizers to choose her to represent the country.

Letelle, a passenger service agent, used to doubt herself. She has since become determined to curb those thoughts and pursue her dreams.

Miss Global Universe 2019, which considers itself as a “globalization gateway to women empowerment,” began on June 19 and has since given its candidates a tour like no other. The ladies have visited the islands of Batam and Ranoh in Indonesia, for one.

During the recent talent showcase, Letelle gave the audience a taste of Danao City’s Karansa Festival.

The Miss Global Universe 2019 hopefuls will also be vying for the Best in  Swimwear, Best in Evening Gown, and People’s Choice awards.

As she performs for the international audience, Letelle hopes to highlight the country’s tourism, not only as her way of helping locals, but to also instill a sense of national pride among Filipinos by doing well in the competition.

“I should be the next Miss Global Universe because I joined with a purpose which is to raise my advocacy of promoting tourism,” she said.

Letelle said she is proud to be a Filipina because of our culture’s warmth, as seen in how we welcome the rest of the world and how tourists seem to not get enough of the country.

“We are able to put smiles on people’s faces. We are very hospitable. Maayo jud ang Filipino.”