The rising costs of necessities and the ongoing fuel crisis have left everyone more mindful of their finances.
For Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, being financially conscious starts with knowing exactly where her money goes and making deliberate choices on how she spends.
"I think I'm really [matipid] in general," she told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview on May 20, 2026.
The quick interview took place on the sidelines of her launch as the face of Belo Genesis Lift, held at Belo Nexa in One Ayala Mall, Makati City.
Catriona keeps a close eye on her monthly budget.
She said, “I'm a conscious consumer of where I spend my money. I like to have an awareness where my budget for each month is going.”
While being very hands-on with her finances, Catriona shared that her approach to being matipid has evolved beyond personal spending.
Over time, she has become more intentional about using her platform to support causes and communities affected by today’s economic challenges.
"Siguro, yung awareness ko has broadened in a sense na I've become very proactive with the groups that I work alongside. I just did an outreach with Waves for Water.”
Waves For Water is an international non-profit organization that provides clean and accessible drinking water to communities in remote and disaster-affected areas.
As part of her work with the group, Catriona helped bring five water filtration systems and a 2,000-liter rainwater catchment tank to Sitio Katugasan in Siquijor.
Through this experience, she developed a deeper awareness of how the fuel crisis affects essential needs, often in ways that are not immediately visible.
It also pushed her to be more mindful not just of her own situation, but of the realities faced by others.
Catriona explained: “Kasi yung fuel crisis means something different for those who use generators to get their weekly supply of water.
"So siguro, I'm really conscious, not only of my own situation, but I'm trying to consider what life is like for all Filipinos, not just people like me, who I consider myself privileged in this situation."
Catriona also stressed the importance of empathy, even when issues don’t directly affect someone. For her, awareness plays a crucial role in navigating today’s challenges.
She said: "I never want to have a feeling na kung hindi na-affect sa akin directly, then why should I care?”
"'Cause I think we need to be aware. We need to see everything that's going on with our own eyes."
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