PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA
More than a month after her most unusual and talked about win as Miss Universe 2015, the queen is finally home.
Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach arrived at 6 a.m. Saturday from Bali, Indonesia.
“Mabuhay!” she greeted excited media and airport personnel who have been waiting for her since dawn at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
“I know it’s quite early but I appreciate you taking time to come here,” the most beautiful woman in the world said. “[But] I don’t want to reveal too much because I’m saving all my stories and my experiences for the press conference, and I hope you guys can [all] attend so I can share with you more.”
Wurtzbach’s grand press conference, which will have both local and foreign media, is scheduled Sunday at Novotel Manila, Araneta Center, in Cubao, Quezon City.
The Cagayan de Oro lass, who won the Miss Universe crown on December 20 in Las Vegas, said she is excited about her homecoming.
“I wasn’t able to sleep last night because I was so excited, and every time I think about my trip back here, I would tear up a little bit because I feel like it’s been so long. I have so many things to share and I can’t wait to share them all with you,” Wurtzbach said.
She spent some time at the airport’s exclusive Presidential Lounge before heading to Novotel Manila where she will be staying for the duration of her week-long homecoming.
Where’s the crown?
Though the beauty queen was dressed regally, something was obviously missing: her $300,000 crown.
Wurtzbach explained that she was not wearing the crown because they were uncertain what kind of welcome she would receive given her early morning arrival.
She shared that it is customary for a Miss Universe winner to wear a replica of her crown especially in public appearances with huge crowds. Wurtzbach, however, said Filipinos will see the real thing.
“Sabi nila, deserved ng Pilipinas yung real deal kaya ang dala namin ay yung totoong korona [The Miss Universe Organization said the Philippines deserves the real deal, that’s why we brought the real crown]. I brought home the crown!”
Wurtzbach said she is excited about her ticker tape parade where she hopes to see as many of her countrymen as possible; catching up with her “Binibini sisters,” most of whom also did well in their respective international competitions; and the tribute show organized by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., which promised her the victory walk she never had on her coronation night.
“I don’t know what to expect, they haven’t been revealing much,” she added.
By noontime, Miss Universe’s official Twitter account showed Wurtzbach in a very touching reunion with her family.
A video showed the beauty queen hugging her mother and aunt inside her hotel suite, with the tweet, “So happy this moment was captured. There is no better feeling in the world than coming home to family.”