Maxine Medina: If I need an interpreter, I’ll get one

Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina said that she is open to having an interpreter if she reaches the Q&A portion of the prestigious international pageant, which will be held on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Filipina beauty queen has proudly praised Filipinos as being globally competitive and well-versed in English, but she is also equally proud of her mother tongue.

“Napakaganda ng Tagalog,” she said in an interview on Wednesday. “The other day, Pia and I are talking, and the candidates said, ‘It’s so nice to hear you speak in Filipino!’”

Medina added, “Wala namang masamang magpa-translate. I'm just here to win... Kung kailangan ko ng interpreter, kukuha ako.”

The Philippines' bet to the Miss Universe pageant this year is among the 56 candidates who joined the #IRiseAgainstHunger program and helped prepare 100 boxes of food packs for the less fortunate and the malnourished.

IN PHOTOS: Miss Universe candidates lend helping hands for #IRiseAgainstHunger program

After no more than half an hour, #IRiseAgainstHunger volunteers and the candidates have packed over 40 boxes of food packs @gmanews pic.twitter.com/uQlPeUQ0pY

— Bianca Rose Dabu (@biancadabu) January 18, 2017

Miss Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida hopes the Filipino language will take center stage in international pageants someday.

“Sana there will be a time na makapagsalita tayo sa sariling wika natin. Tapos lahat ng tao sa buong mundo—buong universe—naririnig nila 'yong native language," she said in an interview.

Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Venus Raj believes that she could have given a better answer had she been allowed to use her mother tongue.

According to Raj, “They [Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.] said, ‘No, you don’t need [an interpreter], because the Philippines is actually known as [an] English-speaking [country], so hindi mo kailangan.’ Pero kung ako lang talaga, gustung-gusto ko. I really want. My answer could have been different. I could’ve framed it in a way na... wow.”

“But it did not happen and, well, everything really happens for a reason,” she added.

— BM, GMA News