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A food pack full of love – this was what the Miss Universe candidates were told as they packed food items as proceeds for pregnant women in need.

Wearing their sashes proud that bore the names of their countries, the Miss Universe ladies sashayed and waved then helped volunteers in packing food items like beef congee, fish flakes, champorado and ginataan during the food packing event dubbed “Rise Against Hunger” held at the Conrad Manila Hotel, Pasay City on Wednesday.

The Miss Universe Organization partnered with the organization Rise Against Hunger and the Department of Health to pack food items with volunteers.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial told the beauty queens that the food packs will be donated to 100 pregnant women in a bid to reduce premature births among mothers and malnutrition among newborns.

“You’re doing a lot to help in changing the world one pregnant woman at a time,” Ubial told the ladies.

miss universe — Miss Universe bets help pack food items in the Rise Against Hunger event. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Jomar Fleras, executive director for the organization Rise Against Hunger, advised the ladies to put some heart into the food packs to make the indigent beneficiaries feel their love.

“When you pack your meals, you put a piece of your heart there so that children will feel your love,” Fleras said

The Philippines’ bet Maxine Medina said she was glad to give back to her country.

“I feel good that I’m giving back to the community,” said Medina who hopes to score a back-to-back win for the Philippines on January 30 after Pia Wurtzbach ended the country’s 40-year drought in 2015.

Miss Ecuador Connie Jimenez said she was blessed to have this opportunity to help.

“I feel blessed to work in this kind of project, because we’re helping each other, we’re helping our brothers and sisters,” she said.

Miss USA Deshauna Barber said she considers addressing world hunger as one of the most important causes to take up.

“I think it’s important that where you’re coming from, you can on focus on international relations and causes that impact us all around the world. And world hunger is on top of the list,” Barber said.

Besides helping, the ladies also get to have some fun, she added.

“I think it’s amazing, and packing too – we’re having a good time, we’re also here for a very important reason,” Barber said. IDL