Lumaganap nitong mga nakaraang araw ang snippets ng Miss Universe 2023 rehearsals sa El Salvador.
Makikita sa ilang clips ditong ginamit ng pambato ng Pilipinas na si Michelle Dee ang salitang “Filipinas” imbes na “Philippines” sa kanyang introduction.
Ito kasi ang opisyal na lengguwahe ng bansang El Salvador.
Read: Michelle Dee: The beauty, brains, and talent behind the Miss Universe PH 2023 crown
Sa eksklusibong panayam ni Dyan Castillejo kay Michelle na lumabas sa YouTube page ng ABS-CBN News kagabi, November 13, 2023, sinabi niyang meron din siyang lahing Espanyol pero hindi naman siya fluent sa Spanish language.
Aniya, “Of course, I'm not fluent in Spanish but I do have Spanish heritage.
“I am a Marquez. So, gratefully, a lot of our languages, a lot of our words have a lot of similarities with the Spanish language.
“So I'm able to decode and use context clues to understand.”
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At nag-aral daw talaga siya ng Spanish bago pa siya tumulak papuntang El Salvador.
Sabi ni Michelle, “I did, of course. I studied right after I won Miss Universe Philippines.
“Of course you have to study the place that you're going to, the culture.
“You don't want to come empty-handed.
"And of course, I want to represent the Philippines in the best way possible.
"And that includes doing the extra mile and trying to learn the language, trying to be more engaging as well.”
Read: Michelle Dee strong contender in Voice for Change category of Miss Universe 2023
Sabi naman ni Dyan na ang mga Espanyol ay magkakaroon ng pagtatangi sa mga taong winiwika ang kanilang salita.
Pag-sang-ayon ni Michelle, “That's actually true because during rehearsals, I believe you were there when we were doing our introductions, Day 1 pa lang, actually even before arriving in El Salvador, I knew I wanted to say 'Filipinas.'
“But it was after the first time I said it, a lot of the Latinas said, 'Oh, I love that you said Filipinas, Filipinas, Filipinas.'
“And I guess some of the footages came out from our practice rehearsal yesterday.”
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Ayon kay Michelle, gustung-gusto niya ang rehearsals dahil nakaka-bond niya ang maraming kandidata mula sa 85 bansang maglalaban-laban ngayong taon.
Parang hindi na raw kumpetisyon ang nangyayari kapag nagkakasama na sila.
Aniya, “Of course, it doesn't feel like a competition. It doesn't.
“I mean, it doesn't feel like a competition, personally, where you're going to, I guess, sabotage, or think ill about your fellow competitors or delegates.
"Because essentially, we're all here for the same purpose.
"We're all so driven and empowered.
"And one of my biggest takeaways has always been to build that relationship with so many like-minded girls as well.
"So I just love being able to connect with people, knowing their stories, what drives them, what makes them passionate.
"And I think you can see that I really just like getting to know as many people as possible.
"And of course, rehearsal is fun because we're allowed to rehearse in flats.
"So, hindi masyadong nabubugbog mga paa namin.
"But it definitely has been fun.
"It has been such a question on how the prelims, Natcos, the finals, would be.
"And now that we're slowly inching towards completing the show, it's very exciting because a lot of us just want to make sure that our supporters back home enjoy the show, enjoy the production.”
Read: Michelle Dee admits getting “helpful tips” from Catriona Gray, Pia Wurtzbach, R’Bonney Gabriel
Mapapanood ang Miss Universe 2023 live mula sa El Salvador sa darating na November 19, 9 a.m., sa Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Metro Channel, at iWantTFC.