Nagpahiwatig si Michele Gumabao na ikinonsidera nito ang “last minute” na pag-atras sa idinaos na coronation ng first ever Miss Universe Philippines (MUP).
Pag-amin ito ni Gumabao sa layuning matuldukan na ang kontrobersyang bumalot sa nasabing pageant partikular ang usap-usapang nangyaring dayaan.
Ayon sa 28-year-old athlete mula Quezon City, sinubukan nitong huwag magpaapekto sa mga natanggap na “cryptic messages” hinggil sa resulta bago pa man ang big day.
“I didn’t mind them. I chose to have fun. I chose to spend time with the girls. I chose to spend time with my sisters, and I chose to spend time for myself and just have fun,” bahagi ng emosyonal nitong pahayag sa kanyang 25-minute video.
Gayunman, bandang alas-3:00 ng madaling araw nitong October 25 coronation ay narinig daw niya ang mga bagay na hindi nito dapat nalaman.
Hindi na nito direktang binanggit ang ugat ng kanyang “heartbreak” na labis aniyang nagpaiyak sa kanya at katunayan ay nagpasundo na sa kanyang pamilya.
“My car was waiting outside and I could have gone home. But they (family) told me to think about it, that whatever I decide, they’re supporting me 100%. They told me to pray. After that, I took their advice and I slept on it. I woke up the next day and I wasn’t feeling too well. But one candidate told me and asked me, ‘What’s your purpose?’ And that made me realize why I was there. It made me realize that I was there because I had a purpose and that was to glorify God. I had a purpose and that was to empower myself, so that I can empower other people. And I held true to that until the very end,” dagdag nito.
Una nang inihayag ni Gumabao na maglalabas ito ng kanyang official statement para sa ikakatahimik ng isyu.
“I am speaking up for myself. I am empowering myself. I am fighting for my story. I am fighting for my experiences.”
Kung maaalala, ang half Indian mula Iloilo na si Rabiya Mateo ang kinoronahang Miss Universe Philippines kahit isa sa napaulat na paboritong manalo ay ang Miss Quezon City na second runner-up lamang (third place).
Si Gumabao ay minsang naging “binibini” candidate at naging kinatawan ng Pilipinas sa Miss Globe 2018 kung saan siya ay nagtapos sa Top 15.
