How Patch Magtanong is preparing for Miss International 2019

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Oct 03 2019 11:57 AM

Binibining Pilipinas International 2019 Bea Patricia “Patch” Magtanong. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Bea Patricia “Patch” Magtanong is excited to leave for Tokyo, Japan this month for the Miss International pageant.

The lawyer-beauty queen will fly out on October 25 to take part in the two-week pre-pageant activities, with the coronation night set on November 12.

“We’ve been preparing and every day has been so busy,” she told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday. “Pero sobrang excited ko nang pumunta sa Japan.”

Magtanong is pushing for social justice in her Miss International 2019 campaign, leveraging her experience as a law student in the University of the Philippines.

Before joining Binibining Pilipinas, she has been vocal about her advocacy for prisoners’ rights.

“I wanted to widen it to social justice kasi at the end of the day, that’s what lawyers fight for, di ba? I want to incorporate that into being a beauty queen and having a louder voice,” said Magtanong, who passed the 2018 Bar Exams.

“And I think it’s something that more people can be sympathetic towards rather than just prisoners because injustice is something universal, mas madaling intindihin,” she continued. “And I think Miss International will be a good platform to share that.”

When asked which aspect of her preparations she concentrated on, Magtanong replied: “Actually, we really took time with the styling, the wardrobe. Kasi for Miss International, they’re very fashionable… They really pay importance to that kasi Japan is very fashion-forward. So that took a lot of time.”

“Many people would think na 'di masyadong importante ‘yun, pero how you look is your first impression, 'di ba? I think everything else naman I have a good handle on, polishing na lang,” she added.

MENTORING

Aside from training with her team, Magtanong also has regular conversations with her predecessor, Ahtisa Manalo.

She said Manalo, who finished first runner-up to Venezuela’s Mariem Velazco last year, has been giving her tips on competing in Miss International.

“I was actually with Ahtisa yesterday lang, pero madalas kaming mag-usap,” Magtanong shared. “She was reassuring me again, and her number one advice to me was to have fun. Kasi when she was there, parang she took her competition too seriously that she forgot to bond with the girls.”

“I think all of us are so set on winning a crown, [pero] kailangan mong ma-remind na it’s still an experience na once in a lifetime. It’s gonna pass by so fast, kaya take time to enjoy it.”

Many pageant fans, and even Manalo, previously expressed confidence that Magtanong will bring home the Philippines’ seventh Miss International crown.

The lawyer-beauty queen admitted to feeling the pressure, but said she is not the type to “expect anything.”

“Basta what I plan to do is to do my best. I will kill myself doing my best,” she stressed. “And if that will land me the crown, thank you. Pero kung hindi, at least wala akong regrets. Alam ko na I did everything.”

https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/10/03/19/how-patch-magtanong-is-preparing-for-miss-international-2019