The Philippines’ bet for Miss Universe Maxine Medina said she would be willing to take up a translator if need be, adding that she is proud to use such a beautiful language like Tagalog.
“Napakaganda ng Tagalog (Tagalog is a beautiful language),” Medina said at the sidelines of a food packing event of the Miss Universe Organization in partnership with the Department of Health dubbed “Rise Against Hunger.”
Medina on Wednesday led the packing of food items such as congee, ginataan, champorado and fishflakes with the rest of the Miss Universe contestants at the Conrad Manila Hotel, Pasay city.
Medina said she was able to talk about the use of language with Miss Universe title holder Pia Wurtzbach and they agreed that there was nothing wrong with speaking in the native language.
“There was this one time, Pia and me are talking and we said ‘it’s nice that we are talking in Tagalog,’” Medina said.
The beauty queen said she would be willing to take up a translator if she needed just to give the country a back to back victory.
“Wala namang masama kung mag-translator tayo. (There’s nothing wrong if we request a translator). I’m here also to win,” Medina added.
Asked if she would request a translator, Medina said: “I will request if I have to.”
Medina drew online backlash after netizens noticed that she was uncomfortable speaking in English, raising concerns that she might not perform well in the question and answer portion of the coronation night./ac