Hindi na hawak ng Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) ang franchise ng Miss Universe Philippines kaya ang Bb. Pilipinas International ang binigyan nila ng importansiya sa koronasyon ng 57th Binibining Pilipinas na naganap nitong Linggo ng gabi, July 11, 2021.
Ginunita at binigyang-pugay sa coronation night ng Binibining Pilipinas ang mga Pilipinang nagwaging Miss International at nagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa.
Kabilang dito sina Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013), at Kylie Verzosa (2016).
Sa live interview ng pageant host na si Nicole Cordoves kay Bea, ibinahagi ng former Miss International ang kanyang pakikipaglaban sa chronic kidney disease niya na nagsimula noong 2018.
Canada-based na ngayon si Bea.
Tunay na inspirasyon si Bea dahil limang araw sa isang linggo ang dialysis treatment sa kanya habang naghihintay na matupad ang kidney transplant surgery niya.
“I’m currently waiting for my transplant. I’m currently undergoing dialysis five times a week. I actually have my machine in my room,” pagbabahagi ni Bea tungkol sa kanyang kundisyon.
Tanong ni Nicole, “I actually heard that you had to undergo training for yourself para you can administer this at the comfort of your own home.
"So, despite the pandemic that we’re facing, you also have your own health condition. Saan ka humuhugot ng lakas?”
Sagot ni Bea, “It’s either you get better or you get bitter, and it’s really that simple.
“You have to take what life or what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, a better version of yourself or it will consume you.
“I don’t want my pain to make me a victim. I want my story, my battle to make me someone else’s inspiration.”
Sa kabila ng mga pinagdaraanang pagsubok ng kanyang kalusugan, nananatiling positibo ang mga pananaw sa buhay ni Bea.
Hindi rin malilimutan ni Bea ang mga karanasan niya bilang Miss International.
Saad niya, “My experience as Miss International and as a beauty queen and KF [Kagandahang Flores] was full of awesomeness, smiles and just positive energy.
“That energy inspires confidence. I learned that if you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining so I always think positively.
“You have to think positively and you are braver that you believe and stronger that you think and I think that’s the kind of mindset I choose to live by.”